4 things to consider when curating background music for business

Being a music curator and a big music lover at the same time, you most likely have an opinion on what soundtrack is perfect for a bar, grocery store, or coffee shop. 

However, brace yourself for a variety of opinions from the part of the business you create a playlist for: it appears that owner and employee are also good at matching tunes 😉 

When selecting songs, you should be guided by more than just your preferences and the ideas of your stakeholders. There is something else to take into consideration.

To strengthen your music curation skills, keep in mind these four points:

• Type of business 
• Appropriate music genres
• Playlist schedule and playback duration
• Delivering music to businesses

1. Type of business 

Bars’ music needs, for instance, have nothing to do with the requirements of a supermarket soundtrack. So, you, as a music curator, should start with the definition of business kind and its characteristics. 

The type of establishment is your starting point. Is it a traditional Irish pub or a fastfood restaurant chain? A souvenir shop in the center of the city? Or maybe a neighborhood store? This will help you select tunes that fit the atmosphere of a place and stay aligned with the brand identity.

You should also know the business hours and understand how the café/pub/bar/restaurant/shop occupies during the day. That will help you schedule your music playlists properly. 

To reveal all these essentials, go to the place, chat with the owner and staff, then try to put yourself in their customer’s shoes. Plus, this experience will enable you to estimate the quality of music currently played at the venue and get inspired as a music wizard who wants to improve it. 

2. Appropriate music genres

Tailoring your DJ music playlist to business needs may enhance customer experience and increase revenue at a bar, shop, or restaurant. With the type of establishment in mind, you can clearly outline what will sound appropriate for their customers. 

For example, RnB songs with explicit lyrics are not likely the best choice for a family-friendly fast-food diner, and top-charting hits may sound ridiculous at a reputable wine shop. On the other hand, rock classics can be a perfect match for a pub or bar, as well as a coffee shop’s customers will enjoy jazz and blues instrumentals.  

When you know what genres you may use to build your playlist, things get easier for you since you now have a scope for your music project.

3. Playlist schedule and playback duration

Since most businesses prefer out-of-the-box solutions, treat your DJ music playlist as a standalone music asset. It helps you build it in the best way. 

To meet the business’s needs, pay attention to the playback duration of your playlist. The longest it is, the better. It means staff and guests do not get bored by listening to these songs for a couple of days. 

Also, add tracks suitable for different times, for example, something uplifting till noon that changes with more relaxing tunes in the evening. It is also a great idea to prepare music specials for Friday nights. Finally, try to limit the number of repeats within the same shift to pay respect to employees!

If you make your playlist with our music app for DJs, you can schedule it for a particular time and day. Plus, Moodby DJ allows for playing tracks in shuffle mode, so the playlist stays relevant for a longer time.

Repeating a playlist can bore guests and staff in just a week. You should keep it fresh to preserve its original feel. What’s more, it is important to regularly update a DJ music playlist to deliver the best customer experience. 

In addition, your playlist should stick to not only a business identity but also fit the agenda. People anticipate listening to Christmas music while shopping or spending time with friends at a café in December. They also want to hear something romantic when they go on a dinner date in the first half of February.

Bonus tip: To reveal whether it’s time to revise your creative direction, regularly ask for feedback from the business, customer, and staff part. It is a little bit simpler when there is a jukebox to let guests request songs from your DJ music playlist. Then, you get an idea of their preferences and music tastes. It enables you to make an even better playlist next time. 

4. Delivering music to businesses 

Okay, you finished your playlist. What’s next? How can businesses get and play your song compilation?

As a music curator at Moodby DJ, you have a convenient tool with a large catalog of licensed tracks to pick the best ones. In addition, you get a fast and reliable delivery service. That is how it works.

All playlists you add and stations your publish on Moodby DJ also drop on Moodby Play, a B2B music streaming platform various establishments use to find licensed music and provide a unique ambiance. 

All you have to do is to generate a link to your playlist or station and share it with your clients. Once they sign up and add a place to Moodby Play, they can just hit the Play button — and the music starts. 

Since Moodby Play is available to users in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, and Romania only, you can generate DJ music playlists for venues abroad and scale up your local business. With a good strategy in mind, you can succeed faster!