Turn it up: how music sets the tone for your team

The playlist

What’s your favourite song? Is it a banger that gets you pumped for the day ahead, or a slow jam that helps you unwind after a long shift?

Whatever your go-to tune is, music plays an important part in our lives. Studies have shown that it has a direct impact on our happiness. Even listening to sad music can have a positive impact on our mood.

So how can we harness the power of music to help people feel happier, healthier and more motivated at work?

Smells like [science]

Happiness has been the focus of countless scientific studies and research papers, as boffins try to discover exactly what’s behind it.

The truth is, there’s no single happiness factor; happiness comes from lots of short- and long-term elements. But the good news is that it can be learned, as research from Bristol University shows.

In a first-of-its-kind study published in 2024, researchers found that things like meditation, journaling, gratitude and exercise can lead to improved happiness and wellbeing.

And focusing on staff wellbeing can lead to a happy, more productive workforce. Psychology Today has found that happier people tend to be more open to learning new things, more compassionate and patient, and more able to go with the flow.

And during a fast-paced evening shift, where things can instantly change and new challenges can pop up, you need a team that’s able to respond positively and patiently with a smile.

Chart toppers – bangers for busy weekends

Looking to set the right tone for your shift? Then add our chart toppers to your next playlist.

Chapell Roan: Red Wine Supernova

A slice of unadulterated pop from the next Taylor Swift.

Sabrina Carpenter: Espresso

The sound of summer 2024, packed full of sunshine.

The power of [music]

The British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST) has found that music not only boosts our mood, but also helps us relax, concentrate and even release sadness.

BAST’s Music as Medicine study of more than 7,500 people found that it only takes nine minutes of listening to music to improve happiness, and just 13 minutes to improve our concentration.

After nine minutes of listening to uplifting, fast-tempo music, 89% of respondents said they had more energy, while 82% felt ready to take on anything. And after 13 minutes of using music to better focus, 89% said they were able to make decisions more clearly and 91% felt they could do their job better.

Similar results were found when respondents used music to aid relaxation or release sadness. So the right music could be the difference between a fulfilled, happy team and a dissatisfied, frustrated one.

Sound and [venues]

Any good restaurant, bar or hotel puts a lot of thought into its front-of-house music. The right playlist can set the mood for a venue, create the right atmosphere and lead to more sales and repeat business.

But what about back-of-house? The right working vibe, with happy staff who enjoy being on shift, is just as important for a business. And music can be the key to that.

Music can boost the brain’s production of dopamine – one of our ‘happy hormones’ that can lift our mood and reduce feelings of burnout.

So next time you’re crafting that perfect front-of-house playlist for the weekend, think about what’s best for your team as well as your punters. The only question now is, what do you put on repeat?

Chart toppers – mid-shift energy injection

Energy levels looking like they're about to drop, mid-shift? Then stick this in your speakers.

Charli XCX: Guess

A thumping rave tune guaranteed to get you pumped.

Robyn: Dancing On My Own

This high-tempo pop classic always hits the spot.

Perfect [play]

As art forms go, music is one of the most subjective. One person’s Taylor Swift is nails-down-a-chalk-board to someone else, so getting the playlist right is always going to be tricky.

But rather than agonising over specific bands or artists, think more generally about the tempo and style of music you’re playing. And, perhaps more importantly, when you’re playing it.

Research shows that music with an upbeat rhythm, fast tempo and positive lyrics leads to increased energy and happiness. So when it’s a busy weekend shift, for example, this could be the best choice.

Likewise, it was found that music with a slower tempo, simpler melodies and no lyrics was best for relaxation. So when it’s the clean-down after a shift, or during break times, think about switching it up to something more chilled.

There are plenty of pre-made playlists out there to choose from, and don’t forget you can also get your team involved with suggestions for spins. Just don’t blame us if this leads to some… heated debates.

Saturday night’s alright (for [dancing])

Good managers and business owner know staff happiness is key to the success of the business. But you might not have known something as simple as music could have an impact on that happiness.

But the power of music is plain for all of us to see. It’s in our lives every day. We listen to it when we’re happy, when we’re sad and everything in between. So why shouldn’t we harness that power in the workplace?

The sounds of a venue are just as important as anything else, both front and back of house. And just as the right music will keep customers happy and coming back, it will also keep your staff happy to come to work and muck in. So get the tunes on, turn them up, and see what a difference it makes.