You're not imagining it.

If you're the one constantly jamming out on Spotify—especially at work—there’s a chance your music taste is influencing the in-store playlist.

Best Buy (and other stores) use third-party music services that build playlists based on regional listening trends, streaming patterns, and marketing data. According to industry sources, many retailers partner with companies like Mood Media, Soundtrack Your Brand, and Cloud Cover Music to curate playlists that match their customer demographics and localized tastes. These services don’t just guess what to play—they’re using actual data to guide the vibe.

And here's where it gets juicy: services often share marketing info between each other—including the kind of music you listen to. Based on data privacy disclosures from major platforms, streaming apps and mobile OSes frequently collect usage analytics, which are then anonymized and packaged for marketing partners. That includes broad information about your listening habits, app usage times, and even your location.

Smartphones, a lot of times, quietly share marketing data in the background. This includes Bluetooth beacon interactions, geofencing, and even Wi-Fi metadata that can indicate when you’re in or near a store. According to several digital marketing firms, this data contributes to constructing regional taste profiles that influence everything from music to product placement.

That info gets rolled into anonymous trend profiles used by brands, playlist curators, and yep—even the people picking the store music.

You're not just listening to the vibe...

You are the vibe.