With more than 80 per cent of Australian hospitality venues playing Christmas music throughout November and December, OneMusic Australia has released its top tips to help operators strike the right festive note without exhausting staff and customers alike.
As the holiday season ramps up, the music licensing group is urging venues to think twice before hitting play on the usual suspects like Mariah Carey and Michael Buble.
Its data showed 81.9 per cent of venues with an Audoo audio meter played Christmas music in November-December 2024.
OneMusic Director, Catherine Giuliano, told The Shout it has been working with Audoo to install more devices across Australia.
“The research we have collectively gathered is clear; music has more of an impact on business than most realise,” Giuliano said.
“Studies have shown that a lack of music causes diners to spend significantly less time on their meal, while on the contrary loud music drives punters to spend more on drinks.
“If you’re in the high-end market, jazz and classical music has been shown to put customers in the mood to splash the cash.”
OneMusic points out that even the most beloved tracks can grow tiresome, especially for customers already saturated with holiday tunes during visits to different venues, so what are the top tips for a better Christmas soundtrack?
Music curation can make you money
Far from being background noise, music shapes customer behaviour in subtle but powerful ways. OneMusic highlights research showing 61 per cent of patrons will visit a venue just for the music while 79 per cent will stay longer if they enjoy the playlist.
The right music can influence everything from spending habits to table turnover with classical music shown to increase customer spend while soft music encourages lingering and upbeat tunes tend to speed things up which is ideal during peak hours.
Don’t overdo the classics
While “All I Want For Christmas Is You” might keep Mariah Carey wealthy, playing this type of song on repeat can wear thin fast, especially for venue staff.
OneMusic suggests rotating holiday tracks every third song to avoid overload and mixing in remixes or lesser-known holiday tunes to keep things fresh. Importantly, keep it true to your venue’s style. A venue known for jazz should opt for jazzy carols, not EDM remixes.
Match the music to the mood
The music you play should reflect your venue’s atmosphere and identity. For example, a French bistro might benefit from accordion-led holiday tunes, while a retro pub could lean into classic rock Christmas covers.
If you’re running a beachside bar, think reggae or tropical house renditions of seasonal songs. Studies cited by OneMusic show that curated playlists can boost sales by over 9 per cent, while random or mismatched ones can actually deter customers.
Get licensed
Regardless of whether your music comes from Spotify, Apple Music, or even a curated USB stick, if you’re playing copyright-protected music in a commercial setting, a public performance licence is likely required.
OneMusic issues these licences on behalf of music creators both in Australia and globally. A valid licence ensures that artists are fairly compensated and that your venue stays compliant.Consider installing an Audoo device
OneMusic encourages venues to install a free Audoo audio meter which is a small device that recognises songs played in a space and securely sends that data to APRA AMCOS and PPCA, Australia’s key music rights organisations.
The technology ensures that the actual creators of the music you play get properly compensated through royalties.