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Startle is the fully managed background music and digital signage provider for quick service restaurants and QSR groups.
In quick service restaurants, the job of the soundtrack is quite specific: keep the energy up, keep service moving, and keep the team in good spirits. In a study of restaurant diners, people stayed more than 15 minutes longer when the tempo was slow, which is exactly what a lunchtime rush doesn't need. And it’s not just customers - when some sales come from delivery, as they often do in QSR, the people who hear the playlist most are the staff on shift. Get the music right and you can serve more happy customers, and keep the team upbeat too.
Over 100 professionally crafted, regularly updated playlists, lively and fast-paced to suit quick service, and shifting with the time of day.
We learn your brand and your service pace, then curate playlists that keep the atmosphere inviting and lively without losing what makes you distinct.
Digital menu boards and promotional signage, controlled centrally, play a leading role in the audio-visual experience of a quick service restaurant.
Here's how a QSR brand goes from first call to every site running to its own rhythm.
The people who hear your playlist most are the ones working the shift. Playlists change automatically through the day and the week, so a Friday evening rush doesn't sound like a quiet Tuesday morning, and a multi-million-track library means the music doesn't repeat itself into the background.
Where it suits your brand, teams can pick from an approved playlist, while head office stays in control of the rest.
Replicate a perfectly curated brand atmosphere across all your quick service venues from a single platform with Startle Studio.
Coco di Mama, the quick-service pasta chain from The Azzurri Group, were conscious that customers spent a number of minutes within the store, so every song had to count. They wanted us to “bring the pump” and showcase a selection of unique and interesting artists. A consistent energy across busy periods was crucial too, to keep not only customers engaged but staff motivated too. Repetitive tracks had been hurting morale, with staff able to tell the time of day from what was playing.
Startle's Creative Director took a detailed brief and built playlists of soul, disco and remixes to suit the brand's neon signs and bright tiling. Teams can choose tracks from an approved master playlist in Studio, and send track requests to head office, which feed into the playlists for before and after opening.
From my first interaction with Startle I have been very impressed with the understanding they have of what we're looking for. Creating a 'vibe' or environment within a space is something quite hard to explain but the support and reactivity they gave throughout the curation process was incredible.
Head of Business Development
Startle is the perfect partner for the design and installation of my audio systems. Their expert engineering teams provide site-specific recommendations that always deliver the most amazing sound quality. They also provide me with a number of bespoke playlists that are constantly refreshed with new and exciting music, which means the service is loved by both my staff and customers. I cannot recommend their services highly enough. Having tried the rest, Startle certainly is the best.
Owner / Franchisee at Domino's Pizza
Book your free brand sound discovery call to see how Startle can transform your music and signage across all locations.
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Frequently asked questions.
Startle's Studio platform gives head office centralised control to schedule playlists, adjust volume and push changes estate-wide without touching individual sites. Trusted by groups including Domino's and Coco di Mama.
Yes. Daypart scheduling lets you pre-set different playlists for each trading period, with higher energy during the lunch rush and more relaxed music during quieter periods, with no manual input required at site level.
That's up to you. Head office sets permissions in Studio, so franchisees and teams can be limited to an approved playlist, or locked out of changes altogether.
Startle's Relentless Support™ team is available 24/7/365 via WhatsApp, phone and live chat, with an average response under 30 minutes. Proactive remote diagnostics catch most problems before they reach the floor.
Yes, music licences are required to play music in commercial premises. Find out more about music licensing here.
