The Complete Guide to Music for Restaurants
Find the right vibe for your restaurant
You’ve crafted the perfect menu, trained your staff, and designed an incredible space. But what about the sound? The right music for your restaurant is more than just background noise—it’s a critical ingredient that shapes the entire guest experience.
It’s tempting to just plug in a personal laptop and play a playlist from Spotify or Apple Music. However, it’s crucial to know that using a personal streaming service for a business is illegal. Those licenses are for non-commercial, personal use only. Playing them in your restaurant puts you at risk of serious legal action and steep fines.
The good news is that finding a fully licensed, affordable, and powerful music solution for your restaurant is easier than ever. This guide will walk you through not only the “why” but also the “how” of building the perfect soundtrack for your business.
The Science of Music for Restaurants: Turning Sound into Sales
Your competitors might just say music “creates ambiance.” The truth is more scientific. The right music strategy directly influences your customers’ behavior and, as a result, your bottom line.
How Tempo Impacts Your Table Turnover
The tempo, or speed, of the music you play has a direct, subconscious effect on your guests.
- Fast-Paced Music (High BPM): This music subconsciously encourages people to move, eat, and even chew faster. This is an ideal strategy for Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), fast-casual spots, and any business that relies on high volume and fast table turnover, especially during a busy lunch rush.
- Slow-Paced Music (Low BPM): Conversely, slower, more relaxed music encourages guests to linger. They take their time, order another drink, or consider dessert. This is the perfect strategy for fine dining establishments, bars, and lounges where the goal is to increase the average check size per table.
How Genre Affects Perceived Value
The music you play sends a signal about your brand’s quality. In fact, studies have shown that playing specific genres can make customers perceive your food and atmosphere as “higher quality” and be willing to spend more.
For example, a study from the University of Leicester found that when classical music was played in a restaurant, diners spent significantly more on average. The sophisticated sound created a “high-class” atmosphere, and customers’ spending habits rose to match it. The same principle applies to jazz, which can add a level of “cool” or sophistication, making your $15 cocktail feel like it’s worth every penny.
The “Volume” Factor: Finding the Perfect Level
Volume is a dial that controls energy. Finding the right level is a balancing act that depends on your specific concept.
- For Bars & High-Energy Brands: Loud music isn’t a mistake; it’s a tactic. It raises the energy in the room, makes conversation more intimate (as people have to lean in), and can even increase the pace of drink sales.
- For Cafes & Intimate Dining: Loud music is a killer. It forces guests to shout over each other and creates a stressful, chaotic environment. The goal here is “background” music—present enough to be felt but quiet enough to allow for easy conversation.
Make an informed choice! Compare music providers for your business on our Compare Page—free and simple.
A Practical Strategy for Your Restaurant Music
A professional music for restaurants provider gives you the tool for scheduling music in your business, but a great restaurateur knows the strategy behind it. Your music should not be a repetitive 8-hour playlist. It should be alive, changing with the day and the crowd.
The Ultimate Dayparting Guide: Matching Music to the Clock
“Dayparting” is the simple idea of playing different music at different times of the day. Here is a sample strategy:
- Breakfast (7am – 10am): The day is just starting. The music should be calm, positive, and gentle.
- Good: Instrumental, light acoustic, calm “coffeehouse” pop, positive soul.
- Lunch Rush (12pm – 2pm): The energy is high, and turnover is the goal. The music needs to match this pace.
- Good: Upbeat, familiar pop hits, classic rock, high-energy funk. Keep the tempo high.
- Dinner Service (6pm – 9pm): The pace slows down. The focus is on the experience.
- Good: Sophisticated, complex, and worldly. Think classic jazz, soul, light electronic, or worldly music (like Bossa Nova) that adds character.
- Late Night (10pm – Close): The “dinner” crowd is gone, and the “drink” crowd is in.
Good: Time to bring the energy back up. Curated playlists of upbeat hip-hop, electronic, or a lively “bar” mix work perfectly.
Beyond Genres: Matching Your Music to Your Brand
Your music is part of your brand identity. “Country” is a genre, but “Modern Farm-to-Table” is a brand.
- A “Farm-to-Table” restaurant, for example, should avoid generic pop. The brand story is about authenticity. The music should match.
- Try: Folk, Americana, indie singer-songwriter, and bluegrass.
- A modern Taqueria wants to feel vibrant and current.
- Try: Latin-crossover, modern funk, reggaeton, and upbeat Spanish-language pop.
Always ask: does this sound like my brand?
The Legal Guide to Music for Restaurants
This is the most important section many owners ignore. You cannot use personal streaming services for your business. Here’s a transparent breakdown of why.
"What Are PROs?" (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC Explained)
When music is played in a public business, the songwriters, composers, and publishers must be paid. Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) are the groups that “gatekeep” and manage these payments.
In the United States, the main three are:
- ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
- BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
- SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers)
Almost every song you’ve ever heard of is managed by one of these groups. To play music legally, you must pay all of them for the right to do so. (More information on legal music for business licensing.)
The Real Cost of Getting Caught
The PROs are not passive. They actively send representatives to businesses to check for violations. If you are caught playing unlicensed music (including a personal Spotify account), the fines are severe.
Under U.S. copyright law, you can be fined thousands of dollars per song played. A single 10-song playlist could, in a worst-case scenario, result in fines that could shut your business down. It’s a risk that is never worth taking.
Need music for your restaurant? Check out different providers on our Compare Page, fast and free!
The Complete Audio Setup for Your Restaurant Music
Your music is only as good as the system that plays it. A professional setup gives you control and reliability that a simple Bluetooth speaker can’t.
A Guide to Commercial Speaker Systems
- In-Ceiling Speakers: These are the most common and provide the cleanest look. They are great for general, even coverage of background music in a dining room.
- Wall-Mounted Speakers: These are more direct and powerful. They are perfect for bars, patios, or any area where you need the music to have more energy and presence.
- Outdoor/Weatherproof Speakers: If you have a patio, you need speakers that are built to resist water, dust, and temperature changes.
What is Audio Zoning? (Your Secret Weapon)
This is the concept that separates amateurs from pros. Audio zoning is the ability to create different “zones” in your restaurant that can play different music or have different volume levels, all controlled from one system.
Why is this a game-changer?
- Play upbeat funk in the Bar Zone.
- Play calm, instrumental jazz in the Main Dining Room Zone.
- Play a relaxed indie playlist on the Patio Zone.
This gives you total control over the atmosphere in every part of your establishment, ensuring every guest has the perfect experience. Remember, you will need a separate music subscription for each “zone” in your restaurant. You can learn more about “zones” and how they work with a music for restaurant provider here.
How to Find the Right Music for Restaurants Provider
Finding a service that handles all the licensing and technology is the smart, simple, and safe solution. As you compare your options, here are the key features to look for:
- 100% Legal Licensing: The service should explicitly state that it covers all ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC fees for you.
- Large, Ad-Free Library: Look for millions of songs and, more importantly, hundreds of professionally curated playlists for businesses.
- Easy Scheduling & Dayparting: The software should make it simple to schedule your music strategy, so it runs automatically.
- Remote Management: You should be able to control the music at your restaurant from your phone or a web dashboard, anywhere in the world.
- Hardware & App Options: Does it work on an app (iOS/Android)? Does it integrate with systems like Sonos? Or does it require its own dedicated media player?
- Messaging Capability: Many services now allow you to schedule your own promotional messages (e.g., “Don’t forget our happy hour specials!”) to play between songs.
You can use our free Comparison Tool to learn which Music for Business providers offer the features you are looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Music for Restaurants
Q: Can I just use my personal Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music account?
A: No. This is the most important rule. The terms of service for all personal streaming plans (including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc.) explicitly forbid their use in a commercial or public setting. Playing them in your restaurant is a violation of copyright law and puts your business at risk. Simply put, there is no Apple Music for Business, Spotify for Business or Amazon Music for Business.
Q: What are the fines for playing unlicensed music in my restaurant?
A: The fines are severe and can be financially devastating. Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) can and do send investigators to businesses. Under U.S. copyright law, statutory damages can range from $750 to $150,000 per song played illegally. A legal subscription is a tiny fraction of that risk.
Q: What are PROs (like ASCAP, BMI, & SESAC)?
A: PROs are “Performing Rights Organizations.” Their job is to collect royalties for songwriters and publishers. To legally play music, you must have a license from all of them, as they represent different artists. A professional “music for business” service solves this by paying all of these PROs for you, bundling all the licenses into one simple fee.
Q: How much does a legal music license for a restaurant cost?
A: If you try to license directly from all the PROs yourself, it can cost thousands of dollars per year. A much simpler and more affordable solution is a “music for business” subscription. These services bundle all licenses and the streaming platform for a single monthly fee, typically starting around $25-$40 per month for one location.
Q: What is the “best” music for a restaurant?
A: The “best” music is music that matches your brand, your audience, and the time of day. There is no single “best” genre. A fine-dining restaurant should play calm, sophisticated music (like classical or jazz), while a fast-casual spot should play upbeat, high-energy pop to encourage quicker table turnover. Your music should always feel like an extension of your brand.
Q: How does music tempo affect my sales?
A: Tempo has a direct, proven impact on customer behavior.
Slow-Tempo Music: Encourages customers to linger, relax, and stay longer. This is ideal for fine dining or bars, as it’s proven to increase spending on drinks and dessert.
Fast-Tempo Music: Subconsciously makes people eat faster. This is a perfect strategy for fast-casual or QSRs (Quick Service Restaurants) looking to increase table turnover during a busy lunch rush.
Q: What is “Dayparting” and why do restaurants use it?
A: “Dayparting” is scheduling different types of music for different times of the day. A restaurant’s energy is not the same at 10 a.m. as it is at 10 p.m. A smart strategy includes:
Morning/Brunch: Calm, upbeat, acoustic, or light pop.
Lunch Rush: Energetic, familiar pop or rock to increase pace.
Dinner Service: More sophisticated, down-tempo music like jazz, soul, or chill electronic.
Late Night/Bar: Higher energy, upbeat playlists to create a lively bar atmosphere.
Q: Should I play popular, familiar songs or “background” music?
A: This depends on your goal. Familiar, popular music can make a brand feel current and relatable, creating a fun, sing-along vibe. However, less-familiar “background” music (like instrumental jazz or chill lofi) creates an atmosphere where the music is felt but not listened to, which can encourage more conversation among guests.
Q: What kind of speakers or hardware do I need?
A: Most professional services are flexible. You can use hardware you already own, like a smartphone, tablet, or computer, connected to your existing amplifier. For a more reliable “set it and forget it” solution, many providers offer a small, dedicated streaming player that you plug directly into your sound system and internet. Our music for business playback page has pros and cons to each option.
Q: What is a “Zone” and do I need it?
A: The term “Zone” refers to the ability to play different music (or at different volumes) in different areas of your restaurant, all from one system. This is a game-changer. It allows you to play calm music in the main dining room while playing a sports broadcast or upbeat music at the bar. If you have distinct areas, you should look for a service that supports “zones”. Be aware that each “zone” will require a separate music subscription. Learn more about Zones and managing multiple locations.
Q: Can I block songs or create my own playlists?
A: Yes. All professional business services provide only “clean” or “radio-edit” versions of songs, so you never have to worry about explicit lyrics. They also give you the power to block specific artists or songs, and most have powerful tools to let you build your own custom, on-brand playlists from scratch.