What’s Spinning?

Owning physical media goes beyond aesthetics – in a digital age, it’s increasingly considered a factor of identity. It involves intentional choice and curation, which psychologically encourages attachment and signals connection and loyalty.

Rather than driven purely by nostalgia, this phenomenon is better considered as a quiet rebellion against digital product fatigue and a response to the overwhelming libraries of streaming platforms.

Additionally, mp3 players and physical music provide no interruptions, no ads or unwanted algorithmic recommentaions, and support artists more directly.

So what does this mean for in-store music?

Generic or excessive soundtracks are increasingly viewed as thoughtless, careless, and lack an identity. This shift to intentional listening provides a huge opportunity for brands to signal care and create stronger, more emotional bonds and associations with their audiences. Especially in a time when many are actively pushing against them.

We’ll team you up with one of our expert music supervisors, whose intentional curation will not only help establish a clear brand identity, but speak directly to the consumer and signal trustworthiness and value.

Pop princess Zara Larsson is already regularly associated with summer anthems – she even recently dropped a swimwear line.

We’re expecting her reign as Queen of Summer to continue through this year, especially with the release of her new deluxe album Midnight Sun: Girls Trip.

Keep an ear out, especially in energetic retail and beauty spaces.

Lastly, country music’s continued global expansion isn’t anything new – it’s seen ten consecutive years of growth worldwide and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon.

With heavy hitters like Ella Langley currently in the spotlight and emerging artists like Stella Lefty gaining fans by the day, we expect to be entering another country-tinged summer.