Imagine a world without music

As a general rule, we all love listening to music, and when we listen to music it has an impact on our emotions.

Think of a world without music, or at least sound! We can argue that our environment provides us with sound and often when you stop and listen it can be pleasurable in the right circumstances. The sound of waves crashing on the shore, the sound of leaves rustling in the forest, or even the sound of city traffic.

Sound sets the background to our daily lives, but wherever we go there is music. Whether it be on the radio, in the car, at the shopping centre, at the movies, in commercials, having a party, on a TV advertisement or simply to relax at home with a glass of wine it is pretty clear that music plays an important part in our lives.

We all have a preference to a particular type of music, but it provides us with many emotions and feelings whatever the genre that we prefer. If you are looking to cheer yourself up, then how many times have you put that favourite CD on yours? How many times have you found yourself singing along to a great song in the car?

Music has this ability to create an atmosphere to make us happy and create feelings. So, next time you find yourself singing or humming along to song whilst you are shopping and don’t know why, it’s because we connect with the feelings that sound and music creates.

Now That’s What I Call Christmas..

It’s nearly that time of year!  That special time when you’ll be hearing Noddy Holder singing…

‘It’s CHRISTMAS!!!’

Whether you love or hate Christmas songs there will be no chance of escaping the likes of Slade, Bing Crosby or Mariah Careys ‘All I want for Christmas’ whilst you are out shopping for uncle Bobs novelty festive reindeer socks.

But according to research from the music licensing organisations people are much more likely to splash out on gifts when they hear all those good old favourite christmas songs. 1 in 4 people claim to be more generous when buying gifts if Christmas music is played according to PPL & PRS for music (so maybe uncle bob will get something remotely useful as well as the novelty socks after all )

Of course, this is great news for shops and retailers in this day and age where many people are choosing to stay at home and shop online. The right christmas music and festive atmosphere can make shoppers feel good and if the right music is selected then customers are happy and are encouraged to purchase more. For nearly everyone, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without ‘Fairytail of new York’ or ‘Stop the Cavalry’ ringing out from an instore music system whilst we rummage for bargains under the tinsel, twinkly lights and baubles.

Extensive research by Entertainment Media Research said that 95% of people prefer shopping in stores that play music & there is no doubt that use of background music can considerably affect consumer behaviour.

Captive music profile music seasonally, but at Christmas we pull out all the stops and provide all those classics that everyone loves to provide the perfect Christmas soundtrack whilst your customers struggle around with shopping bags full of gifts.

And yes… We do have Slade ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ in our playlists!

Christmas Music for £99 Offer!

Background Music Influences Customer Choice Behaviour

Consumers consider themselves beyond the influence of such factors, however music psychology studies have shown that the right audio has a direct influence on many behaviours beyond conscious awareness. Research has shown that consumer behaviour is highly sensitive to background music in the shopping environment.

Studies show that customers select more expensive wine in a wine merchant when exposed to classical music as opposed to pop music.  We associate classical music with sophistication and affluence; hence shoppers feel in a more ‘higher class’ frame of mind. Since music has the ability to prime certain thoughts, customers were more likely to buy more expensive wine with music that primed thoughts of affluence.

Consumers make decisions in a logical and rational way however, environmental psychology studies point out that very subtle changes in the retail environment can dramatically shape consumer behaviour. This supports evidence that the behavioural economics viewpoint of what consumers do is rather irrational, and is largely driven by the unconscious processing of the external environment.

Although people do not walk around a store evaluating the music at a conscious level, background music is able to influence emotions beyond recognition and exert a powerful unconscious influence over consumer behaviour.

Despite background music being highly controllable by a store or company, many businesses fail to optimise this in-store marketing technique for a number of reasons. Firstly, background music is usually chosen by the management. Secondly, the way in which most companies would test the influence of their retail environment on consumer behaviour is likely to be through attitudinal surveys and other traditional marketing techniques. Acquiring consumer insight in this way largely ignores the unconscious processes that drive their behaviour.

To quote music psychologist Dr Vicky Williamson: “Music positively influences consumer mood/emotional states through psycho-physiological reactions and autobiographical memory associations. It also creates a sense of auditory privacy, so valued in these days of the personal music device, thereby promoting browsing and diluting the conscious passage of time. Silence by comparison can be intrusive, as it throws unwelcome attention on the consumers’ behaviour. By extension, silence can also suggest a lack of care for the quality of consumer experiences.”

PPL music researchers also found that 86% of retailers believe that background music can help to relieve tension and awkward silences for their customers.

You may also like to read:

The Effects of Music in The Retail environment

Attract Customers With The Right Choice Of Music

The right music can have a massive impact on sales. According to research 79% of consumers in the UK have indicated that music encourages them to stay in stores longer.

As today’s consumer becomes increasing more savvy, and consequently demand more from their shopping experience, retailers are constantly challenged with deploying the right in store communications strategies and solutions.

Music & audio can be used to differentiate two otherwise similar shops by producing variations in their atmosphere. This could attract different kinds of customer.

Captive Music understand the businesses objectives that you have for playing music in your retail environment, we apply extensive musical resources and skills to create a unique bespoke music playlist. With access to tens of thousands of music tracks our experienced music consultants balance the mix of artists, styles, genres, eras and tempos to complement your trading style and pattern.

Music is becoming an increasingly important part of the in-store ‘environment’ package and can be a customer’s first impression of a store if they are not greeted by a member of staff.

If you would more information about our services, the benefits of Shop & Retail Radio, In-store music and systems or simply advice on music choices then please contact us on 0208 931 9300.

‘Because Music Matters’

music for retail stores, music for shopping, in store music, background music, royalty free music for business