Modern life can be stressful; your Spa should provide a calming antidote. Your services and decor do much of this, but your music is also important.

Using curated music to support your preferred moods can create an immersive experience for customers and keep them returning. But how do you find and use the right piece?

Music for the Atmosphere

Many consumers seek a spa experience as a calming antidote to the stresses and anxieties of modern life. They want to feel rejuvenated, calm and energized when they leave the spa, and music can play a significant role in creating the atmosphere your customers experience throughout their visit.

Curated spa music has been shown to influence a customer’s perception of a brand. The right spa background music will create a soothing ambiance for your customers and increase the sentiment they take away from their experience with you.

For example, some consumers prefer calming natural sounds like water or birds. Others like a relaxing and soothing ambient sound, such as sonic clouds, soft lounge music or instrumental jazz. Still, others enjoy more upbeat and energetic music, such as electronic ambient, new folk or chill-out.

Another popular option is to incorporate Hertz frequency therapy music into the environment. Hertz frequencies have been used for centuries to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

When determining what type of music you want to use in your Spa, it’s important to remember that each time you play music with a business license (such as Spotify’s business platform), you must pay a performing rights organization such as BMI and ASCAP. 

Music for the Treatments

As much as we value our massage therapists, facials, and the other services offered at spas, music can be a powerful tool to add to the experience. It’s not just about background noise but carefully curated meditative music that enhances and compliments the atmosphere of your Spa.

Often we associate sounds like birds chirping, gentle raindrops falling and lapping ocean waves with nature and relaxation, but there are many other options available as well. Some examples of sound archetypes include flutes, harps, Peruvian pan pipes and even sounds from the wind itself (try Aeolian harps or chimes).

You can also use functional sounds proven to lower heart rate, blood pressure and stress while boosting the parasympathetic nervous system, which supports a relaxed state. These sounds are designed to help the body’s natural healing process and, if coupled with your treatment, can provide the ultimate holistic healing.

Consider creating different playlists for each treatment offered at your spa. This helps establish a clear connection between the treatments, the brand and the music. For example, if you have a regenerative facial treatment paired with soothing music, you can create a playlist that may be slightly more upbeat and energetic than your other playlists. You can also use your soundscapes in marketing materials and instructional videos of each of your treatments.

Music for the Staff

One of the biggest reasons people visit spas is to escape our hectic and stressful world. Tranquility and peace are their aims, so your Spa’s atmosphere and experience must reflect these calming vibes. Your music can help set the tone, lighting, and decor.

Curated spa music promotes relaxation and wellness and creates a peaceful and tranquil ambiance for your hotel’s Spa. This type of music features traditional Asian flute or string instruments, a soothing piano or guitar, and natural sounds like birdsong or rainfall. This style of curated spa music is great for creating a Japanese, Chinese or Thai-inspired hotel spa and can be played in hallways, outdoor locations, and the lobby during the day.

Other types of curated spa music are based on healing and spirituality. This type of music may feature Buddhist chants or Tibetan singing bowls, which have been shown to promote inner well-being and connect you with your spiritual side. It can also include frequencies known to have specific benefits such as stress reduction, pain relief, chakra cleansing, and activation.

Regardless of what kind of curated spa music you choose to play at your Spa, you must ensure you have the proper license. As a public space, your Spa is subject to music copyright laws, so you must pay the appropriate royalties to your performing rights organization (PRO) each time you play a song.

Music for the Marketing

As a Spa owner, you want to attract as many customers as possible while maintaining client retention. This can be achieved by providing an exceptional customer experience accentuated by the sound of curated music. This can be a large factor in your client’s decision to choose your business over others, which is only sometimes considered when designing a marketing strategy.

A branded website and consistent branding is a great start, but several other ways to market your business can help you stand out. For instance, creating a unique logo that can be displayed on your website, social media accounts, brochures, and flyers can set your Spa apart from other local businesses. This will make your brand feel more recognizable and unique and encourage your clients to return for more.

Another way to market your spa is to create a unique and compelling story. This can be done by posting videos and photos of your staff performing massages and other services on your website and social media accounts. In addition, you can host events and open houses to generate interest in your Spa. Remember to include reliable contact information on all your marketing materials so your clients can easily contact you and book appointments.