Tacongruity : Impact of congruent music on sales of tex-mex products in a Swedish grocery store

Abstract: This explanatory study investigated the possible causal relationship between congruent background music and consumer behavior. We studied empirically whether sales of tex-mex products was affected when congruent music was played in conjunction to the tex-mex section of a Swedish grocery store. A field experiment was conducted where stereotypical Mexican music was played in conjunction to the tex-mex section. Previous experiments have tested, and confirmed, the notion that music stereotypically related to a country can prime related knowledge and the selection of certain products if the products fit with that knowledge. Earlier research has also been able to support the notion that consumers tend to spend more money and time in store when congruent music is played. Mexican, Pop, and no music was played during three weekends and sales data on tex-mex products was gathered and analyzed. The results indicate that fewer consumers purchased tex-mex products when Mexican music was played, but those who did spent more money and/or purchased a slightly larger number of tex-mex products. However, the small differences between the music conditions were not statistically significant. The potential reasons for this is discussed in the analysis and lastly, implications for future research as well as managerial implications are discussed.