Music is one of the most powerful tools retailers have for shaping customer behavior. In today's competitive retail environment, atmosphere matters just as much as products, pricing, and customer service.

The right background music does more than fill silence, it can influence: 

• How long shoppers stay
• How they perceive your brand
• How comfortable they feel in your store, and 
• What they buy

From boutiques and grocery stores to dealerships and shopping centers, selecting the right playlist can have a meaningful impact on the customer experience.

Finding the Right Sound for Your Store

There is no universal playlist that works for every retail environment. The ideal music strategy depends on your store type, target audience, brand personality, and customer expectations.

• Trend-forward clothing boutiques often benefit from contemporary pop, indie, and R&B that reflects current culture.
• Grocery stores typically perform well with familiar hits that appeal to a broad demographic.
• Car dealerships benefit from relaxed, low-pressure music that supports longer visits and major purchasing decisions.
• Auto service centers often use upbeat classics that help reduce perceived wait times.

As a result, choosing music based on your brand—not personal preference—is critical. (This article includes examples of styles we curate, not a guaranteed playlist as catalog contents may change)

The most effective retail music programs are built around the customer experience, not individual song preferences. The right playlist can help reinforce your brand, shopping behavior, and help create an environment customers want to return to. Our musicologists work closely with businesses to create custom stations that reflect their unique identity and goals.
- Nate, Pandora CloudCover Musicologist

Top Songs & Playlists for Clothing Stores & Boutiques

Fashion retailers range from luxury boutiques to fast-fashion chains, and each requires a different soundtrack. Music should reflect the style, energy, and aspirations of your target customer.

Ideal Music Characteristics

Genres: Indie pop, contemporary pop, alternative, and R&B

Tempo: Mid-tempo

Volume: Low to Moderate

Top 10 Songs

1. "Levitating" – Dua Lipa
2. "Golden" – Harry Styles
3. "Flowers" – Miley Cyrus
4. "Espresso" – Sabrina Carpenter
5. "Sunflower" – Post Malone & Swae Lee
6. "Adore You" – Harry Styles
7. "Electric Feel" – MGMT
8. "Good as Hell" – Lizzo
9. "Cool" – Jonas Brothers
10. "Blinding Lights" – The Weeknd

Top Songs & Playlists for Grocery & Convenience Stores

Grocery and convenience stores serve a wide range of customers throughout the day. There is high foot traffic, and customers come from a wide range of demographics. Music should feel familiar, positive, and broadly appealing. 

The tempo of the music can affect shopper behavior. Fast-paced music is better suited to convenience-focused trips, whereas slower music may encourage more time in the store, resulting in a bigger cart size. In most cases, the music in a grocery store should encourage fast-paced browsing. 

Ideal Music Characteristics

Genres: Adult contemporary, classic hits, and soft rock

Tempo: Mid-tempo

Volume: Moderate

Top 10 Songs

1. "September" – Earth, Wind & Fire
2. "Come On Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners
3. "Walking on Sunshine" – Katrina and the Waves
4. "Don't Stop" – Fleetwood Mac
5. "Africa" – Toto
6. "I'm a Believer" – Smash Mouth
7. "Take It Easy" – Eagles
8. "You Make My Dreams" – Hall & Oates
9. "Brown Eyed Girl" – Van Morrison
10. "Everywhere" – Fleetwood Mac

Top Songs & Playlists for Big Box & Warehouse Stores

Large-format retail stores—like home improvement, sporting goods, or general merchandise stores—need music that keeps energy high without becoming distracting. Because these environments often feature large open spaces and higher ceilings, music should remain clear and upbeat.

Ideal Music Characteristics

Genres: Classic rock, upbeat pop, and country

Tempo: Mid to fast

Volume: Moderate to high

Top 10 Songs

1. "Here Comes the Sun" – The Beatles
2. "All Star" – Smash Mouth
3. "Mr. Brightside" – The Killers
4. "Shut Up and Dance" – WALK THE MOON
5. "Life Is a Highway" – Tom Cochrane
6. "Sweet Home Alabama" – Lynyrd Skynyrd
7. "American Kids" – Kenny Chesney
8. "Best Day of My Life" – American Authors
9. "Good Time" – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
10. "Adventure of a Lifetime" – Coldplay

Top Songs & Playlists for Shopping Centers

Shopping centers need music that appeals to a broad audience while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere in common areas. 

In many cases, there are dozens of tenants in a shopping center. The music needs to appeal to a broad demographic range while still maintaining a cohesive feel for the entire center. In common areas, the music should be broadly appealing and uplifting.

Ideal Music Characteristics

Genres: Acoustic pop, soft R&B, and upbeat indie

Tempo: Mid-tempo

Volume: Low to moderate

Top 10 Songs

1. "Watermelon Sugar" – Harry Styles
2. "Sunflower" – Post Malone & Swae Lee
3. "Budapest" – George Ezra
4. "Riptide" – Vance Joy
5. "Ho Hey" – The Lumineers
6. "Better Together" – Jack Johnson
7. "Put Your Records On" – Corinne Bailey Rae
8. "Sunday Best" – Surfaces
9. "Good Life" – OneRepublic
10. "Home" – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Top Songs & Playlists for Car Dealerships

Car dealerships are high-consideration environments where customers often spend significant time researching, comparing, and making purchasing decisions. To support the significant financial decision-making process, music should foster a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere that reduces pressure.  

Ideal Music Characteristics

Genres: Adult contemporary, soft rock, and smooth jazz

Tempo: Slow to mid

Volume: Low

Top 10 Songs

1. "Fly Me to the Moon" – Frank Sinatra
2. "Put Your Records On" – Corinne Bailey Rae
3. "Wonderful Tonight" – Eric Clapton
4. "Easy" – Commodores
5. "Dreams" – Fleetwood Mac
6. "Come Away With Me" – Norah Jones
7. "Sailing" – Christopher Cross
8. "Your Song" – Elton John
9. "Home" – Michael Bublé
10. "What a Wonderful World" – Louis Armstrong

Top Songs & Playlists for Auto Service Centers

Music in automotive service environments helps reduce perceived wait times and create a comfortable atmosphere for customers. 

In auto service centers, customers are often waiting longer than they would like to be, so music should alleviate some of that friction without demanding attention. 

Ideal Music Characteristics

Genres: Classic rock, country, and feel-good pop

Tempo: Mid to Fast

Volume: Moderate

Top 10 Songs

1. "Life Is a Highway" – Tom Cochrane
2. "Happy" – Pharrell Williams
3. "Take It Easy" – Eagles
4. "Sweet Caroline" – Neil Diamond
5. "Good Vibrations" – The Beach Boys
6. "Chicken Fried" – Zac Brown Band
7. "American Girl" – Tom Petty
8. "Old Time Rock and Roll" – Bob Seger
9. "Cruise" – Florida Georgia Line
10. "You Make My Dreams" – Hall & Oates

Top Songs & Playlists for Car Washes

Car washes benefit from high-energy music that creates a fun, memorable experience during a relatively short visit.

Ideal Music Characteristics

Genres: Pop, Dance, Feel-Good Hits

Tempo: Fast

Volume: Moderate to High

Top 10 Songs

1. "Can't Stop the Feeling!" – Justin Timberlake
2. "Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift
3. "Good Time" – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
4. "Firework" – Katy Perry
5. "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
6. "Best Day of My Life" – American Authors
7. "I Gotta Feeling" – Black Eyed Peas
8. "Dynamite" – Taio Cruz
9. "On Top of the World" – Imagine Dragons
10. "Walking on Sunshine" – Katrina and the Waves

Top 100 Songs for Retail Stores

No matter what type of retail store you operate, some songs consistently perform well across a variety of environments. Pandora CloudCover musicologists curate playlists that balance familiarity, energy, broad appeal, and brand compatibility.

Rather than relying on a static playlist, retailers benefit most from professionally managed stations that continually refresh music selections while maintaining a consistent brand sound. 

Our musicologists recommend the following songs as examples that balance familiarity, energy, broad appeal, and brand compatibility, which can work across a wide range of retail environments, including boutiques, grocery stores, shopping centers, big box retailers, dealerships, and specialty stores:

1. "Levitating" — Dua Lipa 
2. "Blinding Lights" — The Weeknd 
3. "Flowers" — Miley Cyrus 
4. "Espresso" — Sabrina Carpenter 
5. "Watermelon Sugar" — Harry Styles 
6. "Good as Hell" — Lizzo 
7. "Can't Stop the Feeling!" — Justin Timberlake 
8. "Shake It Off" — Taylor Swift 
9. "Firework" — Katy Perry 
10. "Happy" — Pharrell Williams 
11. "Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars 
12. "Shut Up and Dance" — WALK THE MOON 
13. "Best Day of My Life" — American Authors 
14. "Good Time" — Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen 
15. "On Top of the World" — Imagine Dragons 
16. "Adventure of a Lifetime" — Coldplay 
17. "Higher Love" — Kygo & Whitney Houston 
18. "September" — Earth, Wind & Fire 
19. "You Make My Dreams" — Hall & Oates 
20. "Everywhere" — Fleetwood Mac 
21. "Africa" — Toto 
22. "Come On Eileen" — Dexys Midnight Runners 
23. "Take It Easy" — Eagles 
24. "Here Comes the Sun" — The Beatles 
25. "Brown Eyed Girl" — Van Morrison 
26. "Sweet Caroline" — Neil Diamond 
27. "All Star" — Smash Mouth 
28. "Mr. Brightside" — The Killers 
29. "Riptide" — Vance Joy 
30. "Budapest" — George Ezra 
31. "Ho Hey" — The Lumineers 
32. "Better Together" — Jack Johnson 
33. "Put Your Records On" — Corinne Bailey Rae 
34. "Sunday Best" — Surfaces 
35. "Good Life" — OneRepublic 
36. "Send Me On My Way" — Rusted Root 
37. "Haven't Met You Yet" — Michael Bublé 
38. "Come Away With Me" — Norah Jones 
39. "What a Wonderful World" — Louis Armstrong 
40. "Fly Me to the Moon" — Frank Sinatra 
41. "Valerie" — Amy Winehouse 
42. "Love on Top" — Beyoncé 
43. "Sugar" — Maroon 5 
44. "Feel It Still" — Portugal. The Man 
45. "Electric Feel" — MGMT 
46. "Safe and Sound" — Capital Cities 
47. "Pompeii" — Bastille 
48. "Wake Me Up" — Avicii 
49. "Cake by the Ocean" — DNCE 
50. "Classic" — MKTO 
51. "Shivers" — Ed Sheeran 
52. "Island in the Sun" — Weezer 
53. "Friday I'm in Love" — The Cure 
54. "Walking on a Dream" — Empire of the Sun 
55. "Life Is a Highway" — Tom Cochrane 
56. "American Girl" — Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 
57. "Chicken Fried" — Zac Brown Band 
58. "Cruise" — Florida Georgia Line 
59. "Steal My Sunshine" — Len 
60. "Accidentally in Love" — Counting Crows 
61. "Bright" — Echosmith 
62. "Dog Days Are Over" — Florence + The Machine 
63. "Young Folks" — Peter Bjorn and John 
64. "Tongue Tied" — Grouplove 
65. "1234" — Feist 
66. "Home" — Phillip Phillips 
67. "Better When I'm Dancin'" — Meghan Trainor 
68. "Bud Like You" — AJR 
69. "Shiny Happy People" — R.E.M. 
70. "Love Somebody" — Morgan Wallen 
71. "Honey, I'm Good." — Andy Grammer 
72. "Hall of Fame" — The Script 
73. "Walking on Sunshine" — Katrina and the Waves 
74. "Geronimo" — Sheppard 
75. "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" — Natalie Cole 
76. "I'm Yours" — Jason Mraz 
77. "Brighter Than the Sun" — Colbie Caillat 
78. "Home" — Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros 
79. "Hold My Hand" — Jess Glynne 
80. "Dancing in the Moonlight" — Toploader 
81. "Dreaming" — Smallpools 
82. "The Middle" — Jimmy Eat World 
83. "Walking in Memphis" — Marc Cohn 
84. "Somewhere Only We Know" — Keane 
85. "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" — Adele 
86. "Say Hey (I Love You)" — Michael Franti & Spearhead 
87. "Brave" — Sara Bareilles 
88. "Better Days" — Dermot Kennedy 
89. "Golden Hour" — JVKE 
90. "Sunroof" — Nicky Youre & dazy 
91. "Good Mood" — Adam Levine 
92. "Sunday Morning" — K-OS 
93. "Roll With It" — Steve Winwood 
94. "Walking Away" — Craig David 
95. "Stolen Dance" — Milky Chance 
96. "Dreams Tonite" — Alvvays 
97. "Electric Love" — BØRNS 
98. "Take a Picture" — Filter 
99. "Lovely Day" — Bill Withers 
100. "Better Together" — Luke Combs

Rather than playing the same 100 songs repeatedly, use this list as a foundation for a larger, professionally curated station. Retail environments perform best when playlists are refreshed regularly and tailored to the store's brand identity, customer demographics, and traffic patterns. Pandora CloudCover’s musicologists can handle this for you.
- Nate, Pandora CloudCover Musicologist

How Our Musicologists Curate Retail Store Music

Creating the right retail playlist involves much more than choosing popular songs.

‍Pandora CloudCover musicologists evaluate the following:

• Brand personality
• Target demographics
• Customer journey
• Store layout
• Traffic patterns
• Peak and off-peak hours
• Desired shopping behavior

Using this information, they build custom stations designed to support business goals while creating a positive customer experience. The result is a carefully curated soundtrack that feels authentic to your brand and consistent across every location.

Why Retail Stores Trust Pandora CloudCover

Retailers choose Pandora CloudCover because it combines licensed business music for background use with professional curation and easy management tools.

Benefits include the following:

• Fully licensed music for background business use
• Retail-specific music stations
• Custom station creation
• Multi-location management
• Scheduling and dayparting
• Centralized controls
• Expert musicologist support

Whether you operate a single storefront or hundreds of locations, Pandora CloudCover helps deliver a consistent and engaging customer experience. Plus, you can get started with a free 14-day trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of music should I play in my retail store?

The best music depends on your store type, target audience, and brand personality. Music should support the shopping experience and reflect your brand identity.

Can I play my personal Spotify or Apple Music subscriptions in my retail store?

No. Personal streaming services are not licensed for commercial use in public business environments. A dedicated business music solution ensures appropriate licensing for background music is handled correctly.

Does background music actually increase retail sales?

Research has shown that music can influence shopping behavior, browsing time, customer satisfaction, and purchase decisions when aligned with the brand and environment.

Can Pandora CloudCover build a custom playlist for my retail store?

Yes. Pandora CloudCover's musicologists can create custom stations tailored to your brand, audience, and business objectives.

How loud should background music be in a retail store?

Music should be clearly audible without interfering with conversations, customer service interactions, or announcements. The ideal volume varies based on store size and customer traffic.

References

• The Effects of Background Music Tempo on Consumer Variety-Seeking Behavior: The Mediating Role of Arousal. (August 2023). Frontiers in Psychology.
• How Music Tempo Influences Consumer Preferences for Advertising with Different Regulatory Focuses: Shopping in Jumping Tempo. (April 2024). Journal of Advertising Research.
• Understanding How Music Influences Shopping on Weekdays and Weekends. (December 2022). Journal of Marketing Research.
• Impact of Ambient Music on Consumer Perceptions and Impulse Buying Behavior With Moderating Role of Gender. (June 2024). Sage Open.