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What retail staff and customers think about Christmas music

By mid-November, Christmas music begins playing in shops and malls across the Western world. But what do staff think about the music piped through the tinny speakers of winter-themed display windows?
Posted on February 19, 2022
And, importantly, what do customers think? Does hearing Wham's âLast Christmasâ have a calming effect on customers jostling for last-minute Christmas gifts, or does it send them running for the door?
As a follow-up to the most significant academic study ever made on restaurant music, Soundtrack presents a comprehensive survey of Christmas music.
âAs a company doing intense research on background music, we are fascinated by the effect holiday classics are having on the Christmas shopping experienceâ
He adds that he hopes this study will make retailers think carefully about playing âWhite Christmasâ and âFairytale of New Yorkâ on a loop over the next eight weeks.
"We are fascinated by the effect holiday classics are having on the Christmas shopping experience", Ola says.
In collaboration with the Retail Action Project, we've talked to more than 2,000 customers and retail staff in the U.S. and U.K. about their feelings towards Christmas music.
âItâs crucial that not only shoppers are taken into account when putting together the right holiday playlistâthe wellbeing of those behind the cash registers and on the shop floor should be a huge priority for businesses during the busy festive season," Sars says.
The study includes stocking-filler charts from Soundtrackâs data experts, showing which songs and artists rule the holiday season.

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