Music for Cafés
Cafés playing recorded music publicly require a music licence from the relevant collecting society in their country. BPM recommendations vary by period: Morning rush (07:00–10:00): 88–108 BPM; Midday work period (10:00–14:00): 60–80 BPM; Afternoon (14:00–18:00): 80–100 BPM. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any collecting society — venues using it are not billed for the included music.
BPM Recommendations
| Time Period | BPM Range | Genres | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning rush (07:00–10:00) | 88–108 BPM | Indie Pop, Folk, Acoustic, Morning Jazz | Energizing but not aggressive. Helps customers feel welcome and ready for the day. |
| Midday work period (10:00–14:00) | 60–80 BPM | Lo-fi, Chill Jazz, Ambient Acoustic, Instrumental | Music Tempo and Menu Item Selection (1999) |
| Afternoon (14:00–18:00) | 80–100 BPM | Indie Folk, Soft Pop, Neo-Soul, Chillhop | — |
Supporting Research
- Using Background Music to Affect the Behavior of Supermarket Shoppers (1982)
Slow-tempo background music (60 BPM) in supermarkets increased gross sales by 38.2% compared to fast-tempo music (94 BPM). Slow music increased customer dwell time and reduced perceived wait time.
- The Influence of Music Tempo and Musical Preference on Restaurant Patrons' Behavior (2002)
Slow music significantly increased time spent dining and total spend in a restaurant context. The effect was moderated by musical preference: patrons who liked the music spent more time and money regardless of tempo.
- In-Store Music Affects Product Choice (1999)
Playing background music at slower tempos in a restaurant during lunch increased the average time spent at table by 11 minutes compared to faster tempos. Food spending was unaffected but beverage spending increased significantly under slow-tempo conditions.
- The Effects of Music on Responses to a Dining Area (1996)
Music that was perceived as "fitting" the dining environment received more positive evaluations and led to higher stated willingness to revisit and pay higher prices. Incongruent music (e.g., heavy metal in a fine dining context) led to significantly lower satisfaction scores.
- It is All in the Mix: The Interactive Effect of Music Tempo and Mode on In-Store Sales (2012)
Major-key music increased sales volume; minor-key music did not. The tempo × mode interaction mattered: fast tempo in major key was the optimal condition for maximizing sales volume in a bakery context. Slow tempo in minor key produced the lowest sales.
- Time-of-Day Effects on Consumer Behavior: Music, Energy, and In-Store Purchase (2018)
Consumers were more responsive to energizing (high BPM) music in the morning and more responsive to relaxing (low BPM) music in the evening. A dayparted music schedule that matched energy level to time of day increased hourly sales by an average of 4.8% compared to a single all-day playlist.
Music Licensing for Cafés by Country
| Country | Collecting Societies | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Norway | TONO + Gramo | NOK Varies/year |
| Denmark | KODA + Gramex | DKK Varies/year |
| Finland | Teosto + Gramex | EUR Varies/year |
| Germany | GEMA + GVL | EUR Varies/year |
| Netherlands | Buma/Stemra + SENA | EUR Varies/year |
| Belgium | SABAM + PlayRight | EUR Varies/year |
| France | SACEM | EUR Varies/year |
| United Kingdom | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| United States | ASCAP + BMI + SESAC + GMR + SoundExchange | USD Varies/year |
| Canada | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Australia | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
Royalty-Free Music for Cafés
Track Studios provides business music that is not registered with any collecting society. Cafés using the included catalog are not invoiced by STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, or other PROs.
Start free trialFrequently Asked Questions
- Do cafés need a music licence?
- Yes. In most countries, playing recorded music in a café is a public performance that requires a licence from the relevant collecting society — for example, GEMA in Germany, TheMusicLicence (PRS + PPL) in the UK, or ASCAP and BMI in the USA. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any of these societies, so cafés using it are not invoiced for the included music.
- Can cafés use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Using Spotify in a café violates these terms and may also expose the business to claims from collecting societies for the underlying music rights. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- What is the ideal BPM for cafés?
- BPM recommendations vary by time period. During morning rush (07:00–10:00), 88–108 BPM is recommended (genres: Indie Pop, Folk). During midday work period (10:00–14:00), 60–80 BPM is recommended (genres: Lo-fi, Chill Jazz). During afternoon (14:00–18:00), 80–100 BPM is recommended (genres: Indie Folk, Soft Pop).
- How can cafés avoid collecting society fees?
- Use music that is not registered with collecting societies. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, BMI, or any other collecting society. Cafés using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- What happens if a café is caught playing music without a licence?
- The collecting society can issue a civil claim for back-fees (typically covering 2–3 years of unlicensed use), plus additional damages. In Germany, the Berlin fitness studio case resulted in €42,000 in damages. In the USA, statutory damages can reach $150,000 per infringed work.