Music plays a powerful role in creating an enjoyable atmosphere, especially in places where anxiety can run high, like dentist offices. The right playlist can help reduce stress, calm nerves and make each visit a little brighter for both patients and staff of all ages. Here’s a guide on crafting the ultimate playlist for your dental office.
Chairside vs. waiting room
Consider the difference between the chairside and waiting room vibes. The waiting room is usually busier and less anxiety-inducing, making it the perfect place to start patients experience with light, upbeat music. For chairside areas, where calm is key and communication is important, softer and slower acoustic or meditation tunes can help keep the atmosphere relaxed and easygoing.
Genre
- Classical music: Known for its timeless and calming affects, classical music is a safe choice for offices to create a welcoming environment.
- Acoustic/Instrumental: Gentle background noise like soft piano or instrumental music can strike a nice balance between comfort and enjoyment without distracting patients or staff.
- Jazz: Smooth jazz tunes can provide a sophisticated tone without overwhelming the room.
- Nature sounds and meditation: This type of music is especially beneficial for chairside areas as it can lower anxiety and create a tranquil setting, allowing for patient and provider ease.
Licensing
Remember to make sure that your business has the proper licensing required for music use in a public setting. This can come from performing rights organizations (PRO) like ASCAP, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and SESAC, or alternative methods such as music licensing services or streaming services with business licenses.
PRO
PROs act as a bridge between businesses and musicians. They handle the licensing process with artists which allows companies to use music through the PRO without facing legal risks. While several small PROs exist, the three major services in the U.S. are BMI, ASCAP and SESAC. While choosing the right PRO might depend on company-specific factors like fees or catalog size, BMI or ASCAP are typically recommended for businesses.
Commercial music streaming service
For a simpler licensing solution, commercial music streaming services are a good way to go. These services are subscription-based and tailored toward business use. They handle the licensing so that you don’t have to. An annual subscription gives you access to all your favorite songs and peace of mind knowing you’ve covered your legal bases. Some common platforms include:
- Pandora Business
- SiriusXM for Business
- Spotify for Business (also known as Soundtrack Your Brand)
- Radio stations
Most of these platforms even offer preexisting playlists designed specifically for professional settings — such as dental or doctors’ offices — giving you an easy way to provide the right music the right way.
Check out our blog that goes into more detail on playing music in the office legally.
The bottom line: Music can be one of the many factors that goes into making a patients experience with your practice positive. Keep legal requirements and audience understanding in mind when creating playlists and check in with patients and staff for feedback to keep tunes fresh and exciting for everyone.
