26%. That’s the kind of lift the right music can bring to your bottom line.
Not through flashy promotions or upselling tricks, but by something as simple as tempo. Guests don’t always notice it, but they feel it. Tempo influences everything: how fast guests eat, how long they linger, and how much they spend. Here’s how to use it to your advantage.
Table of Contents
Slow Music, Longer Visits, More Drinks
Tempo: Feels Under 72 BPM
A famous study by Milliman found that slow, instrumental music encouraged guests to linger longer, which led to a boost in drink sales, without affecting food orders. It’s the ideal vibe for bars, lounges, or late-night dining where your goal is increasing per-table spend through beverages.
Quick note on BPM:
Many soulful or laid-back songs feel slow, even if their BPM (beats per minute) is technically higher. For example, “Let’s Stay Together” clocks in at 102 BPM, but its smooth rhythm and mellow phrasing create the sensation of a much slower pace. What matters most is how the music feels to your guests, not the math behind the beat.
Try these tracks with that slow, stay-awhile vibe:
- “Let’s Stay Together” – Al Green
- “Easy” – Commodores / Lionel Richie
- “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” – Steely Dan
Mid-Tempo Music Drives Food Sales
Tempo: Feels Around 85 BPM
Restaurants looking to boost food sales should experiment with moderate tempo music. Caldwell & Hibbert found that tempos around 85 BPM could increase food sales by up to 26%, especially when paired with music the audience actually enjoys.
This range is ideal for lunch rushes or casual sit-down spots where the goal is a balance between a good vibe and steady table turnover.
Try these tracks:
- “Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
- “Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac
- “Smooth Operator” – Sade
Fast Music, Fast Turnover
Tempo: Feels 120+ BPM
Milliman found that faster music encourages guests to eat and leave more quickly. That’s perfect for busy breakfast, fast-casual restaurants, or late-night venues where you want to serve as many guests as possible in a short window.
Try these tracks:
- “Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
- “Cake by the Ocean” – DNCE
- “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
- “A-Punk” – Vampire Weekend
The Power of Preference
While tempo plays a major role, Caldwell & Hibbert’s study added an important twist: musical preference can outweigh tempo in determining how long people stay and how much they enjoy their visit. In short, playing the right genre or artist for your audience can enhance loyalty and word-of-mouth, even if the tempo isn’t “optimized.”
So whether you’re aiming for fast turnover or lingering vibes, know your crowd.
Final Takeaway
The right feeling BPM can boost food sales by 26%, increase drink orders, or speed up table turnover, just by tweaking your playlist. Matching your tempo to your goals can make a measurable impact.
Want a playlist that matches your business goals? Control Play helps you fine-tune your music strategy, because tempo drives results. Get in touch and let’s build the perfect soundtrack for your space.
