When deciding which music solution is right for your business, Spotify, iPods or CDs may seem like the most convenient options. After all, they’re familiar, simple and affordable – right? Unfortunately, they can also be problematic.
Here are 6 things worth considering before using Spotify (and other DIY solutions) in your business. These are also in handy infographic form below!
1. You risk sounding generic
You wouldn’t use the same logo, design or signage of another business – so why play the same playlists? Your music should reflect your unique brand personality and help you stand out in a crowded market.
As Ben, our Head of Music Curation, explains: “as a business owner, you know the importance of getting everything right – from decor to logo, and everything in between. Music is just another key piece of that branding puzzle”. (Read Ben’s full curation tips here.)
Plus, did you know that 96% of customers are more likely to recall (and purchase) from a business that plays music that fits their brand identity?
Your music should reflect your unique brand personality, and help you stand out in a crowded market.
2. It’s time consuming to get right
If you are creating your own playlists or CDs, you know better than anyone the effort involved. Daniele, the CEO of Rossopomodoro UK, estimated it took him over 20 hours a month to research, compile and schedule his restaurant’s music.
Plus, it’s important to repeat this process to keep your music fresh. There are a number of ways to save time managing your business music. What’s it’s important to remember is that while Spotify and other DIY solutions may seem the affordable options, they can end up costing something much more valuable – your time.
While Spotify and other DIY solutions may seem the affordable options, they can end up costing something much more valuable – your time.
3. You can’t schedule music for different atmospheres
Your business will attract different customers and have different atmospheres throughout the week. Your music should shift to reflect and these changes, and match your trading patterns. For example, a gastropub at lunch time might have a more relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere, which wouldn’t be the case on a Saturday evening.
It’s not practical to have your staff interrupt they’re service to manually change playlists or CDs. This is where music scheduling is your friend. It allows you to pre-set when you want certain playlists to play, helping create the right mood at the right time. Unfortunately Spotify and other DIY solutions do not have this functionality.
Click to fill in free sampler form
4. Meddling staff can undermine brand consistency
Music is a great tool for boosting staff morale and productivity, but you don’t want employees getting too handsy with the song selection or plugging in their own phone. This can undermine brand consistency, not to mention, create a confusing atmosphere for customers.
And if your business has multiple locations, brand consistency is even more important. Loyal customers will expect a similar experience no matter which location they visit. In fact, 72% of your customers are more likely to visit again if they like the music.
This is the reason why Crussh Fit Food & Juice Bars moved away from using CDs in their business.
It’s worth investigating a music solution that provides different permissions levels for managers and staff. This means you maintain control over both your music, and your brand.
Loyal customers will expect a similar brand experience no matter which business location they visit.
5. Spotify and DIY solutions are not scalable
With Spotify Premium, you can only have one device playing music from one account at any particular time. Although, you can use a maximum of three devices if you store tracks for offline playback.
This means that if your business plays music in more than three locations you’ll need to pay for multiple accounts. With CDs you’ll have to purchase the same library for multiple locations, too.
These music solutions prove both costly and impractical if business expansion is on the horizon.
6. Did we mention it was illegal…?
We hate to break it to you, but even if you’re paying for a Spotify account or for your CDs, you still need a specific licence to legally play music in a public place.
It’s called a Public Performance Licence, and exists to make sure musicians are being properly credited and rewarded for their work. In the UK, this license is simply called The Music License and is obtained through PPL PRS.
Avoid potential legal issues and fines down the track and ensure you’re playing great music in a fair and legal way for your territory.
Ensure you’re playing great music in a fair and legal way for your territory
What’s next?
There are many great ways to play music – but some are better tailored to business environments than others. When evaluating which music solution is right for your business, carefully weigh up the level of curation, control and flexibility that will help your business perform best.
One music solution to consider is Ambie. With us, you can be confident that you’re always getting great music that matches your brand, is scheduled to fit your changing atmospheres, and is always fresh.
Request your free music sampler here, and hear the difference yourself.
