McDonald's: Music Research That Delivers Results
In the early 1980s, McDonald's — the world's largest fast food chain — decided to research the impact of music on customer experience. The results changed the way they play restaurant music to this day.
The Research
McDonald's hired a research team to examine:
Key Findings
1. Fast Tempo = Higher Turnover
During peak hours, fast-tempo music made customers eat 15-20% faster, enabling higher table turnover and increased revenue.
2. Slow Tempo = Higher Spending
During quiet hours, slow music made customers relax, stay longer, and order additional items like desserts and drinks.
3. Familiar Music = Satisfaction
When customers heard songs they recognized (in the background, at low volume), they reported a more positive experience and a higher likelihood of returning.
What We Learn From This
Different Music for Every Moment
Restaurant music should shift based on business needs:
4Play's Scheduling Technology
With 4Play restaurant music, you can set automatic scheduling that changes music style based on:
Summary
McDonald's research proved what many business owners feel intuitively: the right music = a better business. With 4Play, every restaurant can apply these same principles — with advanced technology, personalized playlists, and royalty-free music.
Try 7 days free and discover the difference.
