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18 Christmas Background Music Playlists for Businesses

Looking for the ultimate Christmas playlist for your business? Whether you're setting the mood for cozy coffee shop vibes or decking the aisles of your retail store, at Soundtrack we have festive tunes for every setting, from restaurants and bars to hotels and grocery stores.

A woman wearing a knit hat and gold tinsel scarf shopping at a Christmas market, holding a small decorative tree with holiday decorations in the background.

Our holiday music playlists are here to save you from the same old jingles and ensure your space has a joyful (not jarring) ambiance. Playing the right background music can boost sales, keep customers coming back, and even improve employee retention (if you play the same tracks over and over, all your employees will want for Christmas is a new job).

So, skip the awkward silence—and the Mariah Carey overdose—and check out these expertly curated playlists to keep your business merry and bright!

Posted on 6 december 2024

Best Christmas Music Playlists for Retail Stores 

Kerst afspeellijst winkel

1. Store Christmas

Featuring: Selection of the biggest holiday hits of all time

From Elvis and Bing Crosby to Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato, this curated playlist spans decades of the most well-known and popular Christmas music. Of course, this playlist could never be complete without the quintessential retail anthem, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” This mix delivers just the right touch of Mariah Carey magic—enough to spread cheer without overplaying her reign as the Queen of Christmas.

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Kerstmis Pop

X-mas Pop

Featuring: The best Christmas songs from pop superstars

Even the best carols and Sinatra staples can grow stale if overplayed. Shake things up for your shoppers with a playlist packed with festive pop bangers. Featuring hits from stars like Kylie Minogue, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor, and Justin Bieber, this curated collection is designed to spread cheer without feeling dated. Energize your store with a modern Christmas vibe!

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Indie vakantie

3. Holiday Indie

Featuring: Alt hits for the holidays

If the vibe of your store skews toward the quirky and artistic, this playlist delivers festive indie tracks for the bohemian crowd. From the Lumineers and She & Him to Bright Eyes and Joni Mitchell, your shoppers will be transported to an indie Christmas wonderland.

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Best Christmas Music Playlists for Restaurants 

Restaurant afspeellijst

4. Restaurant Christmas

Featuring: Classic carols and contemporary Christmas hits

This playlist provides all the essential Christmas pop songs, from upbeat tunes like “Joy to the World” and “Feliz Navidad” to slower classics to balance the vibe. Let Ella Fitzgerald, Dolly Parton, and Destiny’s Child set the perfect tune for your restaurant this Christmas season.

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Jingle-bell rock

5. Jingle Bell Rock

Featuring: Festive doo wop and rhythm 'n blues

Add some festive flair to your restaurant with a holiday playlist brimming with nostalgic charm. Featuring uptempo classics from the ’40s through the ’60s, it blends rhythm and blues, doo-wop, rock ‘n’ roll, and even mambo to create the perfect seasonal vibe. With legends like Elvis Presley and The Beach Boys setting the tone, this playlist promises to warm the ambiance and delight your diners with a merry mid-century twist.

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Feliz Navidad

6. Navidad En Español

Featuring: Holiday tracks en español

Add festive warmth to your restaurant with a Spanish holiday playlist celebrating the rich traditions of Hispanic cuisine. From vibrant, high-energy hits to smooth, atmospheric tracks, this mix creates the ideal ambiance for the season. Perfect for restaurants specializing in Latin American flavors, it sets the stage for a joyous dining experience that celebrates the beauty and spirit of Navidad.

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Best Christmas Music Playlists for Bars

7. Bar Christmas

Featuring: Christmas tracks from your favorite rockstars

Get your bar buzzing this holiday season with these electrifying holiday tracks from rock and pop legends like U2, Billy Idol, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy. Turn up the music and replace the keg, because this playlist will keep your bar rockin’ till last call.

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Kerstfeest afspeellijst

8. Christmas Party

Featuring: Holiday hits from the biggest names in pop

The perfect soundtrack for a wintry night out, this mix features pop icons like Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry belting out renditions of classic holiday tunes—as well as some fresh Christmas tracks. Whether it’s friends out for a cup of cheer or revelers out to paint the town red (and green), these upbeat tunes will keep the festive energy high for a not-so-silent night.

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Kerstmis Jazz

9. Christmas Jazz

Featuring: Classic holiday tracks from jazz greats

For upscale lounges, cocktail bars, speakeasies, or any bar with a relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere, this playlist offers a festive but classy vibe that encourages conversation and connection. From silky saxophones to velvety vocals, walk in a “Winter Wonderland” with Louis Armstrong and let Bing Crosby say “Merry Christmas” the Hawaiian way with “Mele Kalikimaka.”

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Best Christmas Music Playlists for Hotels

10. Hotel Christmas

Featuring: Jazz riffs on holiday favorites 

This Christmas jazz playlist wraps classic holiday cheer in smooth sophistication, bringing a warm, inviting vibe to your hotel. Perfect for lobbies, dining areas, and public spaces, it features legends like Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Norah Jones, and Tony Bennett. Think festive, classy, and just jazzy enough to impress.

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Vakantie Hits

11. Holiday Hits

Featuring: Ultimate mix of holiday hits from across genres

Time to jingle all the genres! This multi-genre Christmas playlist has something for all of your hotel guests—whether they love swaying to Taylor Swift, crooning with Nat King Cole, or vibing to Coldplay. It's the perfect mix of festive classics and modern hits to keep your lobby and other shared spaces merry and bright.

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Kerst Piano afspeellijst

12. Christmas Piano

Featuring: Relaxing solo piano versions of Christmas classics

Our Christmas Piano playlist brings a cozy, elegant vibe to your space—perfect for hotel lobbies or anywhere you want to keep things classy. With instrumental takes on favorites like “Joy to the World,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and “O Christmas Tree,” your guests and staff will be humming along. Bonus: no lyrics to distract from the ambiance, just pure piano magic!

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Best Christmas Music Playlists for Coffee Shops

Café Kerstmis

13. Café Christmas

Featuring: Chilled-out, cozy Christmas songs

This playlist of mellow holiday songs is perfect for cafés—or for bringing a laid-back, café vibe to any space. Featuring holiday gems by John Legend, Sarah McLachlan, Stevie Wonder, OneRepublic, Sara Bareilles, and Dolly Parton, it’s like wrapping your ears in a warm, musical scarf (peppermint latte optional).

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Kerstmis Chill

14. Christmas Chill

Featuring: Lofi spins on classic holiday tracks

This playlist blends soothing beats with festive flair to create a chill, holiday-ready vibe for your coffee shop. Perfect for mellowing out the chaos of the season, it features laid-back takes on favorites like “Carol of the Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman” that pair perfectly with the aroma of coffee beans.

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15. Cozy Christmas Jazz

Featuring: Jazzy instrumental versions of Christmas classics

Wrap your coffee shop in the warm embrace of jazzy holiday cheer. With instrumental takes on beloved carols like “Jingle Bells” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” this playlist brings cozy vibes and just the right amount of festive flair—no whipped cream or cinnamon stick required.

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Best Christmas Music Playlists for Grocery Stores 

16. Traditional Christmas

Deck the grocery aisles with boughs of nostalgia! This playlist of crooner jazz, soul, and rock 'n' roll pairs perfectly with last-minute turkey runs and pie-filling decisions. Featuring Michael Bublé’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” and Dean Martin crooning “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” it’s a recipe for merry shopping.

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17. Christmas Crooners

Featuring: Timeless holiday classics from legendary crooners

Turn your store into a holiday wonderland with the golden voices of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. These classics will warm your shoppers' hearts while they stock up on eggnog and peanut brittle. Nostalgia sold separately.

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80s kerst afspeellijst cover

18. 80s Christmas

Featuring: Christmas tunes from ’80s superstars

Who says grocery shopping can’t have a touch of glam rock? This playlist brings holiday joy with iconic ’80s hits from Queen, Prince, Madonna, and Bryan Adams. Add in Mannheim Steamroller for that over-the-top holiday sparkle. Energize your shoppers and employees alike with these festive, toe-tapping tunes.

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Christmas Background Music Playlists for Businesses FAQ

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about Christmas background music playlists for businesses. If we don’t answer your questions here, contact us!

Does Christmas music increase sales for retail stores?

Playing music of any kind has been shown to keep customers in the store 42% longer, and more time browsing means potentially more purchases. However, research shows that sales increase an average of 37% when stores play brand fit music. So, even at Christmastime, it’s important to keep the background music in your store on brand.

To help ensure you’re playing the right Christmas music for your store, we have many holiday playlists to choose from—and you can add, delete, and rearrange tracks however you like.

Do you have more Christmas playlists to choose from?

Whether you’re looking for holiday playlists with something for everyone, or playlists crafted for specific tastes, languages, or environments, we have you covered! Here are some additional Christmas playlists that offer dynamic styles and tones—and nearly endless customizability.

  1. Instrumental Christmas

  2. Acoustic Christmas

  3. Christmas Reggae

  4. Soulful Christmas

  5. Country Christmas

  6. CCM Christmas

  7. Christmas Choir

  8. Spa Christmas

  9. Salon Christmas

  10. Medical Center Xmas

  11. Office Christmas

  12. Big Voices Christmas

  13. Christmas Guitar

  14. Christmas Piano by the Fireplace

  15. Noël en Chansons

  16. Traditionelles Weinachten

  17. Weinachten Favoriten

  18. Bonus: A Cozy Thanksgiving

Still looking for something else? Our AI Playlist Creator will generate the perfect playlist in seconds from a text prompt.

How do I license Christmas songs for commercial use?

Consumer streaming services like Spotify, iTunes, SiriusXM, Pandora, Apple Music, and YouTube don’t have the necessary licenses in place for use in a commercial setting. In fact, publicly streaming music from these services in your business is against their terms of service and can land you in legal hot water.

To ensure compliance with Copyright Law, here’s a step-by-step guide for licensing music for your business. Additionally, you can read our full rundown on public performance licenses and interview with a music lawyer.

Conversely, using a commercial music streaming service like Soundtrack takes the hassle out of music licensing and ensures all the necessary licenses are in place.

Get to know Soundtrack:

  • Soundtrack offers hundreds of playlists with a streaming platform that’s clear for business use.

  • Most streaming services are not licensed for businesses.

  • For U.S. and Canadian customers licenses for Performing Rights Organizations, including ASCAP and BMI licenses, are included so that you can save as you play with Soundtrack Your Brand.



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