Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin have crooned through the speakers of Olive Garden dining rooms for years. Lately, though, diners at the Italian chain also have been hearing Adele, David Bowie and U2.
Central Florida casual-dining restaurants are undergoing musical makeovers as they try to attract more cash and customers – especially younger ones – by playing cooler tunes.
Olive Garden and Red Lobster, owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, both recently revamped their soundtracks. Winter Park-based Sonny’s BBQ is replacing its mostly country lineup with one heavier on blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
To lure a generation that constantly shares the latest releases online, restaurants can’t keep offering the same old song and dance, branding experts say. Changing a restaurant’s music can signal to consumers it is keeping up with the times, said Ron Boucher, creative director at the Orlando branding agency Push.