You put everything you have into food, service and design. But one big thing that fills the air often gets overlooked: the music. Music isn’t just background filler — it’s the subliminal personality of your restaurant. Music affects how your guests feel, how long they stay and how your staff moves through a shift. 

Chosen well, music can help you turn tables faster, keep wait times down and boost revenue. And with Soundtrack, you get licensed, researched, brand-fit playlists built to do exactly that.

Why table turnover matters

You know that table turnover is critical to a restaurant’s success. How many times you can seat a table during a given period makes a huge difference, as higher turnover means serving more guests without adding more seats or staff.

When tables turn too slowly, lines build up, walk-ins leave and regulars get frustrated. After a long day at work, a guest who has to choose between waiting 30 minutes for a table or going somewhere else will take the easy way out: They’ll go somewhere else. Even if they love your food, sometimes sitting down and eating just can’t wait. 

Focusing on turnover the way you focus on food costs and labor is a great way to send positive ripples through the shift. Small improvements combine to add up to higher sales. Music can help you get there.

The power of music in restaurants

Music sets the pace for your entire operation. It creates the atmosphere your guests feel the moment they walk in, and drives the energy your team feels on the floor.

The right playlists keep guests comfortable, engaged and ready to order. They also help your staff manage stress in the kitchen and stay upbeat during service. A smooth, energized house doesn’t just feel better, it performs better.

But this only works when the music matches your brand. Random playlists, popular hits or whatever’s cool at the moment won't deliver the same results.

What is brand-fit music?

Brand-fit music is music that syncs with your restaurant’s concept, menu and interior design, as well as the kind of guests you really want as customers. 

It makes your place feel cohesive and memorable. While generic playlists can clash with your concept, brand-fit playlists reinforce it. 

This isn’t just a theory. Brand-fit music has been proven to boost sales. One study found that brand-fit music can increase sales by 9.1%, with the biggest boosts in desserts (+15.6%), shakes and smoothies (+15%), and side dishes (+11%).

Guests notice when the soundtrack fits the setting. Whether it’s classical notes with a wine list, meandering jazz during a spirited dinner service, or high-energy tracks at a late-night bar, giving your guests music that matches the experience keeps them comfortable — and feeling inspired to order another round.

The science of tempo and chew rate

Music doesn’t just affect the mood of a restaurant, it can also change how fast people eat. 

In a study out of Denmark, participants ate chocolates while listening to music at different tempos. With upbeat music, they ate faster; with slower tempos, they took their time. Music with clearly separated notes also encouraged faster chewing compared to smooth, connected compositions with longer, sustained notes.

This is an insight to remember. You can play faster, more rhythmic tracks during peak hours to help tables turn at a brisker pace. And you can slow it down during late-night drinks when you want guests to linger.

Music as a multiplier

Of course, music won’t fix everything — guests still expect prompt attention and fast service at the table or bar. And your staff still needs the right tools and training to keep up with demand.

But when the basics are in place and everything’s humming along smoothly, music multiplies the vibe. It boosts efficiency, lifts staff morale and keeps the dining room moving. It’s a small lever with a big impact.

How to implement music legally and effectively

Not every streaming service is built for use in restaurants. Many popular music apps aren’t approved to play in public settings, which means that using a consumer app for music can put your business at risk of compliance issues for copyrights and licensing.

Perhaps just as relevant, these apps aren’t designed with brand-fit in mind, and they don’t provide the kind of researched playlists that drive results.

Soundtrack, on the other hand, was designed for business operators. It takes the guesswork out of creating the right atmosphere by providing licensed music and curated playlists built for a wide range of restaurant concepts. 

Soundtrack lets you preschedule playlists around traffic flow and update moods for different parts of the day, so you know your music always matches the moment. Not only does it keep control in your hands, it allows you to share that control exclusively with the trusted staff members you choose.

And because Soundtrack is fully licensed for business use, you don’t have to worry about any legal fine print. You’re free to focus on your guests and your staff while Soundtrack creates the ambience that brings everything together.

It’s not just a restaurant, it’s an experience

Music isn’t just background noise — it’s a business tool that helps you turn tables faster, grow sales and create a dining experience that keeps guests coming back. 

Lots of places serve food and drinks; to set your place apart, it needs to be cohesive and memorable.

With Soundtrack, you can play brand-fit music that completes the circle with your food, service and atmosphere. Happier guests plus smoother shifts equals a stronger bottom line.

Start using Soundtrack to boost your restaurant’s table turnover and revenue today.