What music genre should I play? 6 ways to pick the best genre for your business

Here are 6 tips to picking your genre:

1. Understand your audience

The first thing you should figure out is—what music genre would your typical guest or customer want to listen to? Or, what does the customer you want to visit your place of business listen to?

2. The broader the genre, the broader the audience

If you want to communicate with a broad audience, choose a broad genre. But keep in mind that subgenres seem to have a bigger cultural impact. If your target group is very precise and narrow, you’ll have a bigger chance of reaching out to them by playing something they can connect to on a personal level.

3. Mix it up with sound tags

Once you picked your genre, make the most out of it by using sound tags. That will make the music even more precise and on point.

4. Genres are dynamic

Music evolves. So does our perception of genres. And the same goes for artists who often explore multiple genres. Rihanna has covered Tame Impala, Skrillex has produced Justin Bieber. And Taylor Swift, who started out as a country artist, is now conquering pop charts all over the world.

5. Understand regional differences

Genres that are popular in one place may be unknown in another place. Country music, to take one example, is one of the most popular genres in the U.S. But outside of America, it can be perceived as quirkily foreign and out of context.

6. The hidden cultural value words

Every genre has its own culture and its own vocabulary. That means that words mean different things in different genres. Words that are offensive in one genre may be harmless in another one.

Don’t be afraid to play around with different combinations. Once you’ve hit the sweet spot, you’ll have created the perfect soundtrack for your brand. Happy genre hunting!