How to Choose the Right Background Music for Your Business

Many businesses treat background music as an afterthought, often defaulting to personal playlists or whatever feels convenient. Over time, this can create distractions, inconsistency, and an atmosphere that doesn’t quite match the space.

Choosing the right background music is less about genre and more about understanding your environment, your customers, and how the space operates day to day.

Start with the purpose of the space

Before choosing any music, it helps to be clear about what the space is for and how people use it.

Ask simple questions like:

• Is this a fast-moving or slow-paced environment?
• Are people here to focus, relax, browse, or socialise?
• Is conversation central to the experience?

The answers should guide your music choices more than personal preference.

Consider customers and staff together

Background music affects both customers and staff — often for long periods of time.

Music that feels engaging for a short visit can become tiring or distracting over an eight-hour shift.

The best choices support comfort, predictability, and low distraction for everyone in the space.

Pay attention to tempo and energy

Tempo often matters more than genre. Fast, high-energy music can make spaces feel lively, but may increase stress or reduce comfort over time.

Slower, consistent tempos tend to work better for:

• Long stays
• Waiting areas
• Work environments

Some businesses benefit from changing tempo at different times of day, but abrupt shifts should be avoided.

Minimise lyrics and sudden changes

Prominent lyrics and highly recognisable songs can pull attention away from the environment.

In many commercial spaces, this can:

• Interrupt conversation
• Compete with staff communication
• Create uneven shifts in mood

Background music works best when transitions are smooth and the overall tone remains consistent.

Think in playlists, not individual songs

Individual songs matter less than how they work together over time.

Well-designed background playlists are:

• Balanced in energy
• Free from sudden stylistic jumps
• Suitable for long, repeated playback

This is why curated playlists often perform better than manually assembled ones.

Treat music as part of the environment

Background music should be considered alongside lighting, layout, and service — not as a separate element.

When music fits naturally into a space, it fades into the background while improving how the space feels overall.

If customers notice the music too much, it’s often a sign something needs adjusting.