Are some songs more conducive to making you purchase more in a supermarket?

Question

I used to work at a supermarket as a teenager and remember the annoying selection of songs played continuously on our "Foodtown radio network." Twenty years later, I often hear these same songs in department stores and supermarkets no matter where I shop! They're not even top-20 hits either. Tell me, is there something about "Walking in Memphis" and "Back on the Chain Gang" that makes you want to purchase more Little Debbies? Did some group of psychologists get together and decide that certain songs will get customers to spend more? I swear, if I hear "Here's Where the Story Ends" by the Sundays one more time, I'll scream! We're in a new millenium....let's change the song set!

Thanks!

Answer 1

All songs have subliminal messages that cause you to buy more. Don't 'cha know?

Answer 2

Hundreds of studies has been done on this. It has been proven that certain song selections and styles of music subconciously make people 1. spend more time in the store and 2. purchase more (and sometimes certain) items. I think we all say "music doesn't affect what I buy", but it's usually a subconcious thing that we never even think about. There's also other factors that affect buying habits. The music has shown to have the greatest affect with people of higher socioeconomic status.

Answer 3

In the long run, they'll make people purchase more cuz they'll stick around the store longer.

Answer 4

Not that one Jane's Addiction song.