In the fast-paced world of restaurant management, it can be hard to believe that the right music choices can have a tangible impact on your bottom line. But research shows that music can play a powerful role in enhancing the guest experience and, ultimately, increasing sales. At Altaura, we specialise in creating on-brand music strategies that not only complement your restaurant’s ambiance but also improve customer satisfaction and drive sales.
Here’s why strategic music curation matters for restaurants and how our research proves its effectiveness.
Table of Contents
- The Power of Strategic Music in Restaurants
- Random vs. Strategic Music: Understanding the Difference
- The Research Project: How Music Impacts Sales
- Empowering Your Staff Through Music Strategy
- Partner With Altaura for a Winning Music Strategy
1. The Power of Strategic Music in Restaurants
Music is often seen as a background element in restaurants—something that simply fills the silence. But when chosen carefully, music can do so much more. It can shape a guest’s perception, influence their mood, and encourage them to stay longer and spend more. At Altaura, we combine our expertise in music curation with insights from sound science to create music strategies that align with your brand’s identity and resonate with your customers.
2. Random vs. Strategic Music: Understanding the Difference
In our research, we compared two types of music curation: Random Music and Strategic Music.
- Random Music: This includes music played without a plan or specific selection. It’s often a generic playlist on shuffle, offering no connection to the brand or ambiance.
- Strategic Music: This approach involves designing a music experience that reflects the brand’s identity and takes into account factors like the restaurant’s interior design, customer demographics, and time of day. This type of music curation builds an empathetic experience for guests, contributing to a unique and inviting atmosphere.
3. The Research Project: How Music Impacts Sales
We conducted a study to measure the impact of strategic music on customer spending at The Hunter’s Moon, a London-based restaurant and bar. Over two months, we observed customer behaviour with randomly selected music for one month and then switched to our strategically curated playlist for the next.
Results:
- During the first month with random music, 25% of customers purchased desserts.
- In the second month with strategic music, 37% of customers chose desserts—an impressive 12% increase!
This increase not only highlights the influence of strategic music on customer behaviour but also demonstrates a clear ROI, with a 9x return on investment for our premium service, priced at £89 per month.
4. Empowering Your Staff Through Music Strategy
A well-thought-out music strategy doesn’t just benefit customers; it also supports your staff. With the right music, your team can focus on delivering exceptional service without the added responsibility of choosing the right playlist.
While your operations team handles supply chains, POS systems, and safety regulations, and your marketing team promotes your restaurant on social media, our music strategy can drive sales in the background. Music that aligns with your brand can create an inviting atmosphere that encourages guests to linger, spend more, and return often.
5. Partner With Altaura for a Winning Music Strategy
At Altaura, we’re committed to providing restaurants with music solutions that deliver real results. By partnering with us, you’re not only investing in a strategic service that enhances the guest experience but also driving your sales to new heights.
If you're ready to learn more about how strategic music can benefit your restaurant, or if you'd like to collaborate on a research project, connect with our team of music curation experts today. Together, we can create a soundtrack that boosts your brand, elevates the customer experience, and significantly impacts your bottom line.
And if you're still unsure, because this is just one case & example, check out some more research here from Fast Casual and Motive Metrics.
