Custom Channels creates Internet radio stations for a variety of businesses and brands. One of the most unique is RADIO CHUM, a lifestyle radio station for the community of stand up paddlers. What is stand up paddling (SUP)?

RADIO CHUM plays a wide variety of reggae and island music from the Marleys and Steel Pulse, to Michael Franti and Jack Johnson, and lesser known reggae by groups like Groundation and Rebelution. It’s a music mix rarely heard on FM or Internet radio. Not only is RADIO CHUM online and getting big listening numbers each month, RADIO CHUM plays in sports stores that cater to the stand up paddle community.

We asked the head of RADIO CHUM, who prefers to go by his nickname “Paddle Dude”, what’s up?

CC: Hey Paddle Dude! Why did you put an Internet radio station online for a niche sport like Stand Up Paddle?
PD: There was nothing else like it in the world. Coming from a broadcasting background, I was trying to find that one thing I could do for such an awesome and growing sport…I wasn’t going to help anyone with technique or fitness, so I tried to find a way to bring that to them, from the top SUP pros across the world…radio just made sense being the internet is worldwide.

CC: Describe the mood, attitude or vibe of RADIO CHUM.
PD: The mood is jamming…RADIO CHUM is the soundtrack to Standup Paddling…reggae is just a great vibe that is enjoyed by everyone. Positive Paddle Power for the People!

CC: What’s the reaction from listeners to RADIO CHUM online?
PD: Totally positive…they feel like it is theirs. SUP is a growing sport, and everyone is so passionate about it. We just want to be something fresh and fun they can integrate into their paddle sessions.

CC: What’s the reaction from employees to RADIO CHUM playing in stores?
PD: They love it. RADIO CHUM caters to a fantastic sport that anyone can do…it energizes them, and really gives a little credibility to the sport for customers, because they can say “hey this Internet radio station is 100% about stand up paddling…”

CC: Who picks the music for RADIO CHUM and what’s the criteria?
PD: The Paddle Dude does…but we rely on our listeners to send us great suggestions and because of their input we have added The Hip Abduction, Ashes to Babylon, and The Hemps.

CC: What are some of the other artists that we’d hear on RADIO CHUM?
PD: Oh wow, J Boog, The Green, The Dirty Heads, Tribal Seeds, Bob Marley and his entire family tree. We also play some reggae rock and ska.

CC: Is there one signature song that embraces SUP and RADIO CHUM?
PD: That is very tough. Paddle Dude would have to say Common Kings “Wade In Your Water” or Bob Marley “Positive Vibration”.

CC: You do a lot of messaging on RADIO CHUM – it’s not simply a music channel. Describe the messaging and why you think that’s important for RADIO CHUM.
PD: We treat RADIO CHUM as an SUP information outlet. Without information, it’s just a station you can hear via any service like Pandora or Slacker. We are the voice of SUP.

CC: How do you promote RADIO CHUM? How do people find it online?
PD: We partner with Distressed Mullet, the biggest SUP blog on the internet. We’re also extremely active with Facebook and Twitter.

CC: Would you recommend an Internet radio station to other brands or other types of businesses?
PD: Yes! You can talk about your business, and only your business…and run information that is about your business and brand. The staff at Custom Channels is amazing. We push the envelope with them, and they seem to have an answer for any idea we have.

WOULD YOUR BRAND BENEFIT FROM AN INTERNET RADIO STATION?
If you’d like to start an Internet radio station for your brand, or if you’d like to hook up with RADIO CHUM and play it in your store, contact us at Custom Channels.   info@CustomChannels.net // 303.444.7700

Interesting highlights about Internet radio in the latest The Infinite Dial 2012: Navigating Digital Platforms, a survey of 2,000 Americans from Edison Research and Arbitron.

The usage of online radio has been tracked 20 times in the past 15 years by this survey. That’s experience and accumulated knowledge to better understand online media.

“This year’s increase in weekly usage is the largest year-over-year jump we’ve ever recorded. The increased demand for online audio content, and the ever-expanding variety of that content, shows that online radio continues to be a resilient, adaptive media for the changing needs of today’s consumer,” said Bill Rose, Sr VP Marketing, Arbitron Inc.

That shows us that there’s strong demand and high usage from Americans for Internet radio.  One reason for the increase is mobile listening.  Smartphones are having a profound impact on media and entertainment.  Internet radio is reaching people on-the-go, in addition to at-work and at-home.

INTERNET RADIO’S AUDIENCE

• Online Radio reaches 39% Americans in a month – an estimated 103 Americans.
• Online radio reaches 29% Americans in a week – an estimated 76 Americans.
• Online radio listeners report listening for nearly ten hours per week, or about two hours a day.  That’s a high number considering all of the available entertainment and media choices.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BRANDS TRYING TO REACH CONSUMERS?

First, these are good reasons for brands to use advertising, promotional and sponsorship opportunities both locally and nationally on existing Internet radio to reach this big audience.  Of course, it’s someone’s else content you’re joining in on.

The second take-away is that brands don’t have to be Pandora, Spotify, iHeartradio or a local FM station to have their own Internet radio station.  Lots of businesses and brands are jumping online creating and curating music channels with messaging that are interesting, fun and relevant to their target audience.  Brands such as Life is good, Floyd’s Barbershop, AARP, NoShoesRadio, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches,  MOD Pizza, Chipotle, CMT TV, and Abercrombie & Fitch have an online radio presence.

Remember, too, that Internet radio is sharable.  “I’m listening to…” on Facebook and twitter from a friend is a powerful endorsement.  Let your fans listen and spread the word.

For more advice on Internet radio, or to create your own online channel, contact us here at Custom Channels.  303-444-7700. 

Every consumer-facing business has music playing (with rare exception, and then the quiet is noticeable!).  Too often the music and the service providing the music are taken for granted.  “If it’s on, it’s OK” can be the attitude.  However, if you’re running a consumer-facing business, like a restaurant or retail clothing store, boutique hotel or hair salon, take a few minutes to see if your music service, whether it’s your iPod, Pandora or Muzak, is committing any of these seven sins.

1. DEAD AIR   It’s the space between the songs. When you play a full album, dead air is the 2 to 5 seconds of silence. That doesn’t sound like much time, but it can be very noticeable, can really slow things down, and can sound awkward. Many music systems have dead air between songs as the system figures out what to do next. Dead air is unnecessary and mostly unwanted.

2. EVER-CHANGING VOLUME   Not all songs are recorded the same. Upon playback, it can often sound like someone is turning one song way up then turning another song way down. Many music systems don’t optimize for consistent volume. That can be very frustrating both as a listener and as a business operator when the environment gets too loud or too quiet. You’ve got better things to do than monitor the volume of every song.

3. REPETITION   It’s the number one complaint we hear from employees, managers and owners: same songs played too often. Many music services don’t update their playlists very often. Their total number of songs available to be played at any one time isn’t very high. And many music services don’t used sophisticated music programming software to keep the same songs from repeating at the same time everyday. Repetition can and should be avoided.

4. SONGS THAT DON’T FIT   You like classic rock but not THAT band. You said you wanted current hits but not with THOSE words. You enjoy a laid back feeling but THAT SONG is putting me to sleep. If you’re using a typical music service you may be stuck with listening to THAT, both now and when THAT same thing plays again, and again, and again before a long-awaited update. With today’s choices, you shouldn’t have to compromise with songs that don’t fit your image, mood, vibe and brand.

5. MUSIC MAILED ON DISCS   Really? In 2012 too many businesses are still getting songs delivered to their location every month. Or only every quarter! Mailing discs may still work for Netflix (for the time being) but it doesn’t work for a business that’s trying to sound great everyday. Most business services have already moved to the Internet for many in-store services (like POS transactions) and your music should be Internet-delivered, too.

6. AUTO-RENEWING CONTRACTS   Some music service contracts get signed for a lengthy three-to-five year period. And if you’re not watching carefully (few people are), those contracts auto-renew and lock-in for another three-to-five years with no out. Putting up with a sub-standard music service shouldn’t be like serving a prison term with no hope for parole. Satisfaction with the playlist and the service should be the terms of agreement.

7. TRYING TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING   If you’re trying to get a music service for as cheaply as you can, well, you get what you pay for – probably not the best music mix (and may include several of the sins listed above) but at least it’s better than silence. If you’re scrimping and begrudgingly paying just a few dollars a month, another “dollar a day” is worth it to get a far better, unique service. Remember, music is part of your branding, marketing and image – not a utility.

When you’ve got Custom Channels as your music service, you’ll avoid committing these seven sins.

Internet Radio has liberated brands from being bound only to traditional media outlets to spread their message.

Life is good, the apparel and clothing accessories wholesaler, retailer, and lifestyle brand, has built a loyal fan following over the past two decades. People identify themselves by the clothes they wear and Life is good has managed to become more than just the clothes themselves.  The brand places emphasis on simplicity, humor and humility — along with a positive attitude and an emphasis on music.  One way Life is good stays connected with fans/customers is through their own Internet radio station, powered by Custom Channels.

Titled appropriately “Life is good Radio”, the eclectic playlist is heard online at Life is good’s web site and in select Life is good retail stores nationwide.  So now, fans of Life is good can listen to the brand’s positive vibe on mobile, at home, and at work when they’re not directly shopping and still remain connected to the mood and attitude of the brand.

Custom Channels Q&A with James MacDonald, Director of Good Vibes, at Life is good

CC: Why did you put an Internet radio station on a clothing company’s web site?  
JM: We have been looking for ways to connect our fans with the “Life is good” lifestyle and to give them an optimistic boost that reflected the values of the brand.  Given that we are hosting The Life is good Festival, which is a two-day music event, this was a great chance to use music as a way to give our fans more of the brand.

CC: Who picks the music for Life is good Radio?  
JM: I pick it, along with Custom Channels Music Director Jason Lucero.

CC: What are a few musicians or bands that really embody the optimistic spirit of Life is good Radio?
JM: Jack Johnson, Bob Marley, Michael Franti and Ingrid Michaelson are right down the middle for us.

CC: How do you promote Life is good Radio?
JM: We do very little other than giving it a prominent button on our website and the occasional facebook post and tweet reminding people about the station.

CC: What are people telling you about Life is good Radio?  
JM: Our fans love it.   They like that it’s not a specific genre of music, but a varied mix of new tracks, classics and some funky curve balls.  All in all, people tell us that they love the vibe it helps create in their daily lives.

CC: Does Life is good Radio lead to more time consumers spend looking at your products?
JM: We have seen a nice connection between the station and purchased at lifeisgood.com.  Each month we can track how many purchases are made directly from the online music player and there is some nice added revenue to lifeisgood.com

CC: Music has always been a part of the Life is good brand.  Why?
JM: Music unites people!  It sets a tone and a mood and there is no better way to bring a group of people together to celebrate…after all that’s what Life is good is about; celebrating what’s right in the world.

CC: Would you recommend an Internet radio station to other brands? If you have a brand that has a strong lifestyle component it’s a no-brainer. It can help strengthen the things people come to understand about “who” your brand is…and if they are listening you are creating a brand lover for sure. If you are selling light bulbs and there isn’t a strong lifestyle build around who your brand is, maybe not. CC: Will you ever form a Life is good band? (Perhaps with Jake, the company’s smiling icon, in the band) JM: Ha! It could happen someday! If we did, it would likely be more of an open mic…all are welcome to jam along. CC: And what would your signature song be? JM: “One Love” by Bob Marley and the Wailers!

Listen to Life is good Internet radio, powered by Custom Channels.

Read about the Life is good music festivals.

PART TWO: In a previous blog we went behind the music at Floyd’s 99 Barbershop with comments from Karl Wimer, head of marketing, and Rob O’Brien, one of the founders. Floyd’s management is very conscious of what each shop SOUNDS LIKE. That’s why Floyd’s has their own radio station: Floyd’s 99 Radio heard in all locations and on the Floyd’s web site.

When Floyd’s customers get social online they talk about the great hair cuts, reasonable prices, and fantastic service from the amazing stylists. And they also frequently comment on the music because the soundtrack is a huge part of the hair cut experience at Floyd’s 99 Barbershop. Here are actual social media comments from Floyd’s customers (who are also listeners!):

• I love the music they play, and the service great.
• The vibe is relaxing, the music is great, and the ambience is aesthetically pleasing.
• This place rocks. Everything from the decor on their walls, to music, to their awesome staff.
• Vibe is good, music is great :)
• You walk in the door, and you’ll immediately notice that the music isn’t annoying…
• Cool mix of music while I was in – Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, Snoop Dogg…
• I love the music they play, and the service great.
• Great music and the atmosphere was very nice.
• The service was excellent. The vibe was great. The music was good. The neck shave is well, awesome.
• Old, young, male, female…everyone comes here. Great music and free internet while you wait.
• music piped in from their own radio station where one can hear everything from Blues Traveler to Dave Mathews Band to Foo fighters and more.
• This salon is very cool, probably one of the coolest salons I’ve been to. From the decor to the music, the free net access, plasma TV, I liked everything about it.
• The salon itself has a very “cool, chill” feeling.  They have great music playing…
• I dig the music and even stream it at home on my mac.

When people review Floyd’s, the unique music mix is often part of the review. Is music/can music be important part of your brand, too?

Thanks, Floyds, for using Custom Channels to create your one-of-a-kind, buzzed about music. Want to hear it? It’s online at Floyd’s web site.

This mural of inspiration is on the wall at the Floyd’s 99 Barbershop home office in Greenwood Village (Denver suburb), Colorado. It really captures the spirit and vibe of Floyd’s service. Many of these attributes describe Floyd’s 99 Radio, too. Read our previous blogs about Floyd’s radio: Behind The Music At Floyd’s, The Barbershop With Its Own Radio Channel. Sometimes You Get Great Music In Unexpected Places. Buzz Bands Meet Buzz Cuts At Floyd’s.

“I’m usually skeptical of chains but they have become my local barbershop.”
“The atmosphere rocks! Really.”
“I’m an absolute idiot. I’ve been going to Great Clips for the last few years. I’m a cheap bastard, and now I regret it. I could have gotten my hair cut at Floyd’s.”

These are a sample of the many passionate comments from Floyd’s 99 Barbershop customers. Floyd’s is winning a lot of fans, including us. Custom Channels has been producing the in-house music mix for Floyds 99 Barbershops, called Floyd’s 99 Radio, since summer 2008. An Internet radio station was added to Floyd’s 99 web site in 2010 so that their fans can get that Floyd’s music experience whenever they want to in between cuts.

To find out more about Floyd’s 99 Radio, we talked to Karl Wimer, Head of Marketing, and Rob O’Brien, one of the founders of Floyds 99 Barbershops.

Q: Describe the mood, attitude or vibe of Floyd’s 99 Radio:
A: “Hip, high energy, relevant, a bit of the old stuff connecting nicely with the hottest hits of today.  Not just the old favorites you hear on classic rock stations, but the quality ‘B’ sides from your favorite old albums that you don’t typically hear.”

Q: Why is a custom music mix is important, as opposed to playing an existing channel other businesses may also use?
A: It speaks to our brand. We are unique and one of a kind, and we want our music to reflect this. Our customers expect a different kind of music when they step into our shop, and have come to love it on their computer between cuts.

Q: What’s the reaction from customers and employees to Floyd’s 99 Radio?
A: They love our music and the shout outs that provide a personalized feel.  The variety is welcome for our staff, and exposes our customers to music they might never have heard before.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add about Floyd’s 99 Radio?
A: It’s super easy to use and what a tremendous problem solver it has been for us.

Despite having 99 in the name, there are currently 55 Floyd’s Barbershops (and more being added) across the USA all playing Floyd’s 99 Radio — powered by Custom Channels.

Read part two, customer comments about Floyd’s Radio here. That’s a photo of Custom Channels President Dave Rahn getting his hair cut by Liberty, a stylist at Floyd’s Barbershop in Frisco, Texas (near Dallas). More behind-the-music info on Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, including a peek at the man who picks the music: Custom Channels Music Director Jason Lucero, the Floyd’s 99 Radio mixmaster!

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches is one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the United States.  Since opening its first location in Dallas in 2003, the company has franchised more than 130 units.  The brand recently launched Which Wich Radio, in stores and online, powered by Custom Channels.

A Problem
Which Wich had previously relied on professional programmers to create playlists for in-store play, but the music was delivered via CD’s in the mail to each Which Wich location. Under that approach, management had to remember to change the CDs each month, and making updates to the playlist necessitated waiting weeks for new discs to be sent.

A Solution
Custom Channels digital music service now creates a branded, streaming radio station that sends music and messaging in real-time to every Which Wich location.  Updates are made immediately and the playlist is kept as fresh as the ingredients used in Which Wich’s superior sandwiches.  Like a custom sandwich order each customer places, Which Wich Radio is also custom-made just for this brand.

“There’s more to it than just putting a bunch of songs on ‘shuffle.’ The right music can set a positive tone for an entire dining experience, while the wrong sound can quickly sabotage the brand. The right music can make a big difference with customer,” says David Rahn, President of Custom Channels.

A Satisfied Listener
Which Wich franchisee Jay Goldstein writes: “I am so pleased with Which Wich Radio. We have seven locations that we have converted and the morale of the employees is so much higher because they get to listen to fun music.  The old music was horrible, repetitive (due to there being only monthly disks) and often unrecognizable.  The guests also love the music.  It’s great to see the staff and customers be-bopping around to music that they love!”

We recommend visiting a Which Wich to try their sandwiches (the ordering process is fun and different) and listen to the music mix.  Or listen to their Internet radio station here. In addition to improving the in-store music vibe, Custom Channels delivers Which Wich Radio to the WhichWich website.  This Internet radio channel has become a shareable, digital asset as part of Which Wich’s “Vibe Club” and social media outreach.

“What music should I play in my business?” That’s a question we often get asked here at Custom Channels.  So I checked to see what songs make it on the most number of the music-for-business channels, both in-store and online, that we create here at Custom Channels.

I wasn’t surprised at the list, but you may be.  The songs reflect the kind of music-conscious, forward-thinking businesses we work with — businesses looking for things unique; businesses that take a slightly different slant with their marketing.

Our list of top songs has a mostly contemporary feel that leans to the Adult Alternative/Indie Rock side.  It’s certainly not the traditional sound that stereotypes background music of the past (it’s not elevator music!).

Here are some of the songs being played on multiple channels built by Custom Channels.  How would any of these fit if they were heard on the speakers at your business or on your Internet radio station?

Adele – “Right As Rain”   Sure we play nearly every song from Adele’s popular album 21.  This song comes from her previous album 19 and sounds fresh yet familiar even though it wasn’t a big hit.

Death Cab For Cutie – “No Sunlight” and “Little Bribes”   They’ve managed to put thoughtful lyrics set to melodies that would be at home in the 1960′s or 1980′s – it sounds so reflective of our times.

Beck – “Girl”   About as poppy and sing-along as experimenter Beck gets. Yet sounds different from typical FM radio overplayed hits.

Broken Bells – “The High Road”    The song combines some electronica with the voice of the band The Shins.  Only one album so far by this band – we hope for more.

I Am Arrows – “Green Grass”   And obscure UK band with one album.  This song has hints of Paul McCartney’s style so it’s timeless – not pegged to a specific era or decade.

Talking Heads   We get requests for lots and lots of different Talking Heads songs. It’s one band that has many songs that blend in so well with music that’s both newer and older than their 1980′s songs.  “And She Was”, “Burning Down The House” and “Once In A Lifetime” are key songs.

Michael Franti – “The Sound Of Sunshine”  A positive, upbeat song that brings a sunny beach feel or summer day attitude to any indoor environment without sounding cheesy and dated.

Phoenix – “Listzomania” and “1901″    Another example of head-nodding, toe-tapping, upbeat Alterna-Pop music.  Many people don’t know that Phoenix is from France.

Modest Mouse – “Float On” and “Dashboard”   Grammy winning band that has guitar-oriented rock that’s just far enough off the mainstream path to make it interesting, but not weird.

Of course, we DO play a lot of older and classic songs as well on our channels, often mixed in with the new releases and contemporary songs.  Some of the top pre-1990 songs on Custom Channels are:
Booker T. & The MG’s – “Green Onions”
Beatles – “Get Back” and “Here Comes The Sun”
Faces – “Ooh La La”
Aretha Franklin – “Respect”
The Cars – “Let’s Go”
Al Green – ” Take Me To The River”
Bill Withers – “Lean On Me”
The Clash – “Train In Vain”
Stevie Wonder – “Higher Ground”

At Custom Channels, we create music channels designed for each business and brand.  So whether you want to hear all of the above songs or none of them, we can do that for you.

The pro’s and con’s of including messaging with an in-store or online music service. We’ve come a long way since the flashing blue light with the overhead speaker announcing “ATTENTION K-MART SHOPPERS.” Today, in-store and online music channels for business can have targeted, entertaining, informative messaging to go between the songs. This is how brands can to “go beyond background music.” Adding imaging, branding and messaging to an already customized, one-of-a-kind playlist is what makes a music channel come alive. Customers notice. Employees notice.

PRO’s OF MESSAGING

• It makes the music channel unquestionably yours, not a generic satellite music service.
• Raises awareness and sales for products and services.
• Makes employees feel as if they have “their own radio station or in-house music service.”
• Highly effective way for communicating brand identity and brand attributes.

CON’s OF MESSAGING

• Message can’t be heard because the volume is too low or it’s playing in a noisy environment.
• Concern that the talk will be an intrusion or interruption for guests, customers and employees.
• Don’t know what to say.
• Takes effort and creativity to keep messages updated and relevant to the customer.

HOW TO DO MESSAGING

• Write for the ear, don’t write for the eye.  Messages are heard, not read.
• Use voices that compliment and reflect the music and the brand.
• Use employees and staff to make the messages sound more authentic.
• Add sound effects or music clips to enhance the delivery and “listenablity.”

HOW NOT TO DO MESSAGING

• Long talk segments that are difficult to follow allowing the listener’s mind to wander.
• Talk comes on too frequently; sounds like more talk than music.
• Voices that don’t cut through, aren’t distinctive, or conflict with the sound of the music and brand image.
• Trying to be funny when it’s not funny.

ONLINE RADIO MESSAGING

• While messaging is effective for in-store use, it is a very important element of online radio.
• It can help encourage listeners to visit a store location or explore the web site.
• It creates a sound that’s comfortable and similar to, but even better than, traditional radio stations.
• Online users listen in a one-to-one, personal environment – quite different from an overhead in-store music service.
• Messaging adds the human voice to make the online music channel more personable and less robotic.

Here are some examples of messages heard occasionally between the songs in-store at Whole Foods Market, in-shop and online at Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, and in the office at Dr. Anil Idiculla’s Park Meadows Orthodontics.

I attended the Fast Casual Executive Summit recently in Chicago. It was an intimate gathering of 100 or so top executives from some of the nation’s fastest-growing, fast casual restaurant groups.  Fast Casual?  It’s the restaurant category that’s in between drive-thru fast food and fine dining.  Think Chipotle.

For these execs, it’s an invitation-only event where they can learn about new trends in the fast casual restaurant business, like marketing and social media, new technologies and concepts, government regulations and policy, consumer trends and more.  For a limited number of vendors, like Custom Channels, we pay to attend for the opportunity to meet, socialize and learn alongside the movers & shakers in the restaurant business.

Not being directly in the restaurant business, it was a little like auditing an advanced level college course on restaurant management.  It was fascinating, giving me a whole new perspective and appreciation for all of what goes into making a successful restaurant concept successful.  Of course, I was very interested to learn how much discussion there was around background music and restaurant ambiance – after all, I was there to try to connect with a few new clients for Custom Channels!

HANGING IN THERE DURING TOUGH TIMES

I learned that even though the fast casual segment of the restaurant industry has fared pretty well through the economic malaise of the past few years, it’s still a very tough and competitive business.  Diners have more choices than ever.  The public continues to be very discerning with how, where and how often they spend their money dining out.

A key to success in the restaurant business is in generating and retaining repeat customer business.  If restaurants can increase their average customer’s visit by just one more visit per month, many could nearly double their business!  So, while getting new customers is always important, keeping, cultivating and enhancing the spend of the current customer base is even more important.

THE ROLE OF MUSIC TO DIFFERENTIATE BRANDS

So, fast casual concepts are always looking for ways to make sure the dining out experience has high value for customers – and not by just offering the lowest price in town.  Tasty food and great service are base expectations of any customer walking in the door.  Beyond that, restaurant execs are keenly aware of the role that their concept’s “sensory experience” – sight, smell, taste, touch, sound – plays in creating a comfortable, welcoming and memorable experience. Everyone I talked to agreed that the right music can be a key brand differentiator and a big part of the customer’s sensory experience.  See our recent Custom Channels whitepaper “The Importance of Music in Restaurants”.

So, while all of these restaurant executives have a lot on their plate when it comes to operating a successful business, they continue to pay attention to the small things, like background music, that allow them to stand-out in the crowded marketplace and better connect with their customers every time they visit.  From my view, I’m pleased that many restaurant operators recognize the importance of the right music mix as part of improving the customer experience!

Thanks to those executives that I chatted with at The Fast Casual Executive Summit that shared their views on music-for-business including Firehouse Subs, Noodles & Company, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, The Corner Bakery, Penn Station Subs, OinkADoodleMoo Barbeque, Mad Greens, and Mooyah Burgers & Fries.