The Ultimate Guide To Your Perfect Corporate Event Music Playlist

There is no doubt that music sets the tone for every event. A good DJ can make your event super memorable in a good way and even a bad way. The question then becomes is how do you pick the right music for your event? Whether you are planning a small office party, community fundraiser, or a multi day conference choosing and curating the right music takes time, effort, and a little bit of insight so you don't bore your guest with hold music.

Music is universal—every culture has it. That means that music is inherently important to every culture, including your own. Music can be used to communicate, it can affect your brain, affect your emotions,  and impact your mental health and even boost your immune system. With all its benefits, it is no wonder so many events and venues have background music playing. Background music does not just fill the otherwise awkward silences in elevators or delicately mask strangers’ conversations at restaurants. It sets the tone for your event and can even impact your guests’ actions. When customers have a better experience with your company or brand, they’re likely to spend more money. We mostly think of music as pure entertainment, but marketers have been using it to influence our behavior for decades. It is a particularly prolific strategy in consumer goods industries, but the principles can easily be applied to the event industry.  Tony Robbins uses music to motivate and Unleash the Power Within. Think about the last event or concert you went to and how energized and pumped you felt. Music can certainly enhance their experience at your event or fundraiser. With all these benefits, you should add background music to your event planning checklist!

Understanding the psychology of music

Studies have shown that music has the power to alter moods, can contribute to social cohesion, decrease anxiety, and can even promote the chemicals in the brain that we associate with pleasure. Studies have also shown that music is a powerful cognitive enhancer, it can help you focus and even improve your memory. After much research it appears that music and its effect on us lies in four dimensions: social functions (such as the expression of one's identity or personality), emotional functions (such as the induction of positive feelings), cognitive or self-related functions (such as escapism), and arousal-related functions (such as calming down or passing time). These four dimensions might well account for the basic ways in which people use music in their daily lives. When you select music for your event you will be playing music that relates or effects people in one of those four ways. You can read more about how music affects people from this article here.

Understanding how people react to music

Most people respond to music on an emotional level. It can evoke feelings, create memories, and make us feel happy or sad. A good example of this is Pavlovian conditioning – we hear a song so many times that it triggers emotions in anticipation without hearing anything (i.e., while watching TV). Music also affects our moods by helping regulate hormones such as serotonin which impacts how we perceive pain and pleasure; prolactin which helps with sleep cycles depression; cortisol which can elevate our ability to learn new tasks if used at appropriate moments during the day; dopamine levels where high-energy songs will boost energy but lower them when played for too long etcetera. Different types of songs elicit different emotions and feelings, for example country songs typically evoke more of a sense of home-iness while pop music may be seen as happier. Or for example, does slow reggae music make people happy or angry? Does heavy metal makes people more aggressive than other genres? These are all things we need to consider when curating an appropriate playlist for your corporate event.

4 Easy Tips To Making Your Corporate Event Music Playlist Epic

1. Clearly communicate to your dj, band, or audio visual technician the type of event your hosting.
2. Keep your events primary purpose in mind.
3. Have walk up songs for each of your speakers.
4. Take request from employees or internal staff but make sure you listen to them and research them before adding to your playlist.

Music Licensing Considerations For Live Streaming/Hybrid Events

If you are planning to incorporate music into your broadcast,  you will more than likely need to secure public performance permission from the music’s specific copyright owner.

Most copyrighted music is registered with one of the following performing rights organizations (PROs): ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or Global Music Rights. You can find who holds the copyright as well as contact information by searching for a song and/or composer on each site’s catalog. If you cannot locate the song at any of the PRO sites, try the U.S. Copyright Office or the Harry Fox Agency. In most cases you can get a blanket license for your event that has a per person cost and will cover your event for the entire time.

While there are some licensing platforms that can ensure your stream doesn't get shut down or muted, using any type of music that has copywrite on it can cause that section of your music to be shut down. In some online communities people have reported that playing a low street sounds below your background music level will throw of the copywrite algorithms. However, if you are using copywrite music without permission this can cause your client or company many legal issues. Instead, we suggest using a platform like audiio.com similar that have artist that allow their music to be used in public.

Should you Use Live Music During A Corporate Event?

Use of live music or a live band can be a great way to make your event memorable but the question is when is it appropriate to use? Often times in big moments or after long drawn out speech a live band can give your attendees that energy boost that they need. It will also leave them with a memorable impression and help you stand out from your competition. If you are going to use a live band we would suggest making sure the PA system in the room will give them the best foot forward. You also want them to avoid the "pop hits" and opt with songs that may be more meaningful to your group.

Best Songs To Use At A Corporate Event

We have put together a few different short examples of some great songs to use for your corporate event. Whether it is 2021 or 1986 its important to mix up your playlist with a variety of music that makes your group want to get together.

Top 10 Songs Played at Conferences

According to event brite in 2016 the top 10 songs played at conferences were as follows:

• Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
• Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
• Happy – Pharrell Williams
• Get Lucky – Daft Punk
• Rather Be – Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne
• Treasure – Bruno Mars
• You’ve Got the Love – Florence + the Machine
• Forget You – CeeLo Green

Of course there has been tons of new songs that have come out this past year the songs mentioned below have become a staple in conferences. But you need to make sure that they fit your theme and demographic before adding to your playlist. If your interested in more types of songs for different aspects of your event or conference then check out below for some curated music.

Best Songs For Your Speakers To Walk Up To At Your Conference

• Can’t Stop’ by Red Hot Chilli Pepper
• “Happy” by Pharell Williams
• Stronger by Kanye West
• "Do Your Things" Basement Jaxx
• "Move Your Feet" by Junior Senior
• "Cant Hold Us" feat Ray Dalton By Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• "Hold on, I'm Comin' by Sam & Dave

Modern Upbeat Music For Your Cocktail Party

• "Hypnotic" by Eddy Kudo
• "Look Right Through" by MK Dub 3
• "Halcyon and on and on" by Orbital
• "Day By Day" - by Dajae, Chez N Trent
• "Show Me Love" by Sam Feldt Kimberly Anne
• "Cologne and Back" by Eric Estornel
• "Firestone" by Kygo, Conrad Sewell
• "On My Mind" by Disciples
• "The Veldt - Radio Edit" by deadmau5
• "I Remember" by Deadmau5
• "E Samba" by Junior Jack
• "In White Rooms" by Booka Shade

Top 20 Party Songs For Your After Party

Are you throwing an after party or dance event? Then you should check out Howl At The Moons list of the top 20 party songs include:

1. Beastie Boys- “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)”
2. Shop Boyz- “Party Like a Rockstar”
3. Pink- “Get the Party Started”
4. Jagged Edge ft. Nelly- “Where the Party At”
5. MGMT- “Time to Pretend”

If you would like to see their full list you can check out their article here: https://www.howlatthemoon.com/top-20-party-songs/

We hope you enjoyed this article and it helped save you a little bit of time when planning your next corporate event. If you are looking to save some more time and money then you should consider partnering with MAC Pro AV as your AV Services provider. While we are based in Orlando FL, we can travel nationwide. From stage lighting and decor to sound reinforcement let our experienced technicians and sales staff make planning your next corporate event as easy as a phone call.