Music for cafés
One more cup of coffee for the road
Music sounds better with Startle.
Given the serious challenges faced by the café industry, any competitive advantages you can get your hands on to increase footfall are vital. Our experts are equipped with tools built with advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms to understand neuro responses to particular tracks and sentiment of lyrics.
What does this boil down to? The music played in a café – the tempo, genre and volume – can directly influence a consumer’s sensory perception and buying behaviour. For example, a study by Milliman concluded that playing slower tempo music can result in visitors spending longer at their table than those exposed to fast music1.

The perfect blend
There are plenty of positive takeaways for the café industry to sip on as the popularity of coffee shops has grown significantly over the past few years. The 10.1bn UK coffee shop market grew by 7.9% in turnover in 2018, representing 20 consecutive years of sales and outlet growth2. But things are evolving. Industry experts believe successful cafés of the future will rely on technology to customise the in-store experience3.
Startle’s technology can automate playlist changes to reflect different environments. For example, when a café is busy, faster tempo music will play that can encourage customers to drink up more quickly, increasing throughput. We also serve up varied playlists depending on the demographic of the customers present. For example, playing music that is proven to make people feel motivated during the busy morning rush, before switching to tracks that encourage people to relax mid-morning.
Embracing the combined power of music and technology to shape behaviour is a smart and strategic way to engage your customers, improve customer experience and stand out from the competition.
Music
Our algorithm
is a dancer.
We make it easy for retail and hospitality brands to tap into the power of music to strike a chord with customers.
MusicIntegrations
Integrates easy like
Sunday morning.
Fusing music with other technology touchpoints can raise the roof on the customer experience.
IntegrationsRelentless
Hakuna
matata.
Our dedicated tech crew ensure you get the best out of your Startle services with our 24/7 Relentless Support™.
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We’d love you to get in touch with one of our experienced and friendly team so we can help you get your brand on centre stage.
Melanie Fulker
Head of Growth
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Hey, we've just met you and this is crazy. But here's our number +44 (0)203 397 7676. So, call us maybe?
London
Startle Music Ltd
1st Floor, 79-81 Borough Rd
London, SE1 1DN, UK
New York
Startle International Inc
5th Floor, 555 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10022, USA
1Milliman, The Influence of Background Music on the Behavior of Restaurant Patrons, 1986.
2Allegra: Project Café UK (2019).
3Deloitte: Changing tastes (2017).