Have you ever noticed how your mood shifts based on the music played in retail stores? Music is used by marketing experts to shape our shopping habits, encouraging us to relax, browse and spend, even when we don’t need to buy anything, especially during the holiday season.
According to Moodmedia.com there are songs that keep customers shopping and music to avoid so shoppers don’t exit quickly.
A 2020 article in WIRED stated that during COVID, retail stores were changing their playlists to make shoppers feel calmer, leading to less panic buying.
“Music is one of a host of tricks supermarkets are using to try and encourage shoppers to maintain social distancing, and not to panic buy.”
— Paul Hillyer, Head of Creative, Mood Media
Conversely, there are songs that are annoying and can turn shoppers away, reducing our desire to spend. I have an eclectic taste in music and have learned to appreciate a wide range of genres.
Just for fun, I looked for tunes that might help you take a break from the holiday spending frenzy. Create your own playlist to enjoy while browsing or better yet, leave your credit cards at home!
Music to stop you from shopping
- Patti Labelle – I Don’t Go Shopping
- Ylvis – The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)
- The Clash – Lost in the Supermarket
- Metallica – For Whom the Bell Tolls
(Use of the toll bell to stop you from buying.) - System of a Down – Chop Suey
(Good luck trying to think while listening.😊)
For those who prefer to Read
- The Day the World Stops Shopping by J.B. McKinnon.
- No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity by Ashley Piper
Before you turn on the music, consider one of JST’s 2026 Learning Opportunities for yourself or a loved one yearning to coach neurodivergent young people.