Background Music Strategy
10 Minute Read
Best Summer Songs for Business
by Ryan Santangelo, Ph.D., Co-Founder & CEO, Dynamic Media
Picture this: a guest walks up to your patio on a warm Saturday afternoon. The sun is out, the drinks are cold, and the wrong song is playing. Maybe it’s too slow, too random, or just not quite right for the moment. They sit down, but something feels off.
Now flip it. The right song hits as they pull up a chair. The energy matches the afternoon. They order another round. They stay longer. They come back.
That’s the power of music in a business environment, and summer is when it matters most. From rooftop bars to poolside lounges, retail floors to hotel lobbies, the best summer songs shape the customer experience, directly affecting how long people stay and how much they spend.
Here’s our guide to the best summer songs for business, organized by setting and mood, so you can stop guessing and start curating.
Why Summer Music Is a Business Strategy
Research consistently shows that music affects customer behavior. A slower tempo encourages diners to linger and order more. An upbeat rhythm keeps retail shoppers moving and energized. The right volume and genre can even influence how much someone is willing to pay.
Summer adds another layer. Seasonal music carries emotional weight. It triggers nostalgia, signals celebration, and puts people in a spending mood. When your playlist feels intentional and on-brand, customers notice (even if they can’t articulate why). When it feels scattered, they feel that too. The goal isn’t just to play good music. It’s to play the right music for your specific space, your specific customer, and the specific vibe you’re building.
Best Summer Songs by Business Setting
The right song in the right setting is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact moves you can make for your customer experience. Here are our top picks organized by business type, so you can find the tracks that fit your space and start building a playlist with purpose.
Outdoor Dining & Patio Bars
Outdoor spaces in summer are where the atmosphere does the heavy lifting. Music for outdoor dining needs to feel effortless: warm, a little nostalgic, conversational without being distracting.
The vibe: Breezy, relaxed, feel-good. Think: golden hour, cold drinks, nowhere to be.
Top tracks to consider:
- “Summertime” — DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (iconic summer anthem, instantly recognizable across age groups)
- “Good as Hell” — Lizzo (uplifting, mid-tempo crowd pleaser)
- “Banana Pancakes” — Jack Johnson (laid-back and perfect for brunch crowds)
- “Watermelon Sugar” — Harry Styles (modern, sunny, instantly recognizable)
- “Brown Eyed Girl” — Van Morrison (nostalgic anchor that older and younger guests know)
- “Walking on Sunshine” — Katrina and the Waves (classic summer mood-setter)
- “Best Day of My Life” — American Authors (feel-good, energy without being overwhelming)
Pro tip for operators: Keep the tempo between 80–100 BPM during peak dining hours to encourage table turnover without rushing guests. Slow it down slightly in the late evening when the goal shifts to lingering.
Find the best music for restaurants.
Retail Stores
Retail is where music becomes a sales tool. Upbeat summer songs keep shoppers energized and browsing, while the right retail summer playlist signals brand identity and tells customers who you are before a single employee says a word.
The vibe: Bright, optimistic, moving. Music that makes people want to pick things up.
Top tracks to consider:
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” — Justin Timberlake (universally positive, zero edge)
- “Happy” — Pharrell Williams (tempo and mood are retail gold)
- “Levitating” — Dua Lipa (modern pop with great energy for fashion-forward brands)
- “Good Day Sunshine” — The Beatles (nostalgic appeal crosses every age group)
- “Shake It Off” — Taylor Swift (high-energy, familiar, keeps shoppers moving)
- “Uptown Funk” — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (irresistible tempo for browsing)
- “Don’t Stop Me Now” — Queen (timeless pick-me-up that never gets tired)
Pro tip for operators: Volume matters as much as song selection. Too loud, and customers hurry out. Too quiet, and the store feels empty. Aim for 65–70 dB, loud enough to feel alive, quiet enough for easy conversation.
Discover the right music for retail stores.
Hotels, Resorts & Lobbies
Hotel environments call for music that feels uplifting without being stuffy. Lobbies, pool decks, and resort bars each have their own personality, and the best summer playlist accounts for all three.
The vibe: Sophisticated but approachable. Polished but not stiff. Think: vacation mode from the moment guests walk in.
Top tracks to consider:
- “Lovely Day” — Bill Withers (warm, smooth, sets an immediate positive tone)
- “Island in the Sun” — Weezer (laid-back and crowd-friendly)
- “Here Comes the Sun” — The Beatles (timeless feel-good that transcends demographics)
- “Sunny” — Bobby Hebb (classic hotel lobby energy)
- “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” — Rupert Holmes (a little playful, fits the resort mood)
- “One Love” — Bob Marley (universally welcoming)
- “Electric Feel” — MGMT (for pool decks catering to a younger or boutique-hotel crowd)
Pro tip for operators: Pool decks can handle more energy than lobbies. Treat them as separate programming zones and adjust the tempo and volume accordingly. See below for more details.
Explore excellent options for hotel and resort music.
Events, Rooftops & Happy Hour
Happy hour and summer events are when music needs to do real work. You want energy, momentum, and songs that make people feel like the party is already happening, even at 5:15 p.m. on a Tuesday.
The vibe: High-energy, social, celebratory. Songs for summer events that make people stay for one more drink.
Top tracks to consider:
- “Mr. Brightside” — The Killers (crowd-unifier across ages)
- “Blinding Lights” — The Weeknd (modern classic with undeniable momentum)
- “Sweet Caroline” — Neil Diamond (singalong energy that bonds a room)
- “Dancing Queen” — ABBA (flips any crowd into a good mood instantly)
- “September” — Earth, Wind & Fire (irresistible, every time)
- “Save Tonight” — Eagle-Eye Cherry (nostalgic throwback with big happy hour energy)
- “Cruel Summer” — Taylor Swift (massive cultural moment, massive crowd appeal)
- “Summer of ’69” — Bryan Adams (nostalgia engine, perfect for older crowds)
Pro tip for operators: The 5–7 p.m. happy hour window is when music tempo should gradually climb. Start closer to 90 BPM and build toward 110–120 BPM by peak hour to naturally amp up the energy.
See what the best bar music sounds like.
Poolside & Spa
Poolside programming is its own science. Too much energy, and it feels chaotic. Too little, and guests get restless. The sweet spot is a warm, flowing summer music playlist that feels like a vacation without the work.
The vibe: Relaxed but alive. Unhurried. Guests who feel at ease spend more.
Top tracks to consider:
- “Latch” (Acoustic) — Sam Smith (smooth, contemporary, effortless)
- “Slow Burn” — Kacey Musgraves (unhurried and warm)
- “Better Together” — Jack Johnson (reliably mellow)
- “Sunflower” — Post Malone ft. Swae Lee (light, modern, accessible)
- “Dreams” — Fleetwood Mac (timeless and deeply calming)
- “The Less I Know the Better” — Tame Impala (modern chill with just enough groove)
- “Harvest Moon” — Neil Young (deeply nostalgic, perfect for late-afternoon poolside)
Experience spa music at its most relaxing.
Build a Summer Playlist That Works
Song selection is only half the equation. A strong summer background music strategy also accounts for:
- Tempo mapping: Match BPM to the pace you want customers to move at
- Daypart programming: Morning, midday, happy hour, and late night all call for different energy levels
- Brand fit: A craft cocktail bar and a family resort shouldn’t sound the same, even in summer
- Volume calibration: The most carefully curated playlist fails if it’s too loud or too quiet
- Licensing: Playing music in a commercial setting requires proper licensing. Streaming from personal playlists or consumer apps puts your business at legal risk
Get a Done-for-You Summer Playlist Solution
Building and managing a business playlist manually takes time you don’t have, and DIY solutions often fall short on licensing compliance, audio quality, and consistency across locations.
SiriusXM Music for Business gives you access to expertly curated, fully licensed summer music playlists built specifically for commercial environments. Whether you’re running one location or 50, you get the same seamless experience and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your music is always on-brand, always legal, and always ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special license to play summer music in my business?
Yes. Playing music in a commercial setting, including background music in restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and bars, requires a public performance license. Consumer music services like Spotify and Apple Music are licensed for personal use only. Using them in a business setting without proper authorization can result in significant fines from performing rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. SiriusXM Business handles licensing, so you don’t have to.
Can I use the same playlist across all areas of my business?
You can, but you’ll likely get better results with zone-specific programming. A hotel lobby, pool deck, and restaurant bar may share the same overall brand identity, but they serve different guest needs at different moments. Separate playlists, or at minimum separate daypart tracks, help each space feel intentional rather than generic.
What’s the difference between curated business music and a consumer playlist?
Consumer playlists are for individual listening enjoyment. Business music is programmed with commercial psychology in mind. Tempo, mood, volume, genre sequencing, and brand alignment all factor in. Business music services also provide the licensing infrastructure your business needs, whereas consumer platforms don’t.
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