Coco's Cantina owner-operator Renee Coulter shared her thoughts on the significant role of music in hospitality.
At Coco’s Cantina, the bustling institution that’s been thriving on Auckland’s Karangahape Road since 2009, hospitality has never been just about food and service.
It’s a full sensory experience, which music has been part since the very beginning. As owner-operator Renee Coulter puts it, "When we first thought about opening a restaurant, music was there sitting right next to food and staff."
Music runs through Coco’s like a lifeline. It’s in the air, in the energy, and even in the décor, with imagery of favourite musicians filling the windows and walls, nestled among the eclectic bric-a-brac and trinkets that gives the space its lived-in charm.
Known for its comfortable and vibrant atmosphere, Coco’s acknowledges the importance of music in setting the tone.
“The music of a good establishment is as important as anything else,” said Coulter, who meant it. Music isn’t just ambience; it’s identity.
“Having no music is as big as, like, having no meatballs, or actually, it’s worse than running out of meatballs.”
That’s a bold claim from a place famous for its spaghetti and meatballs, but it speaks to how deeply music is integral to the experience.
Like many small businesses, Coco’s had a moment of surprise when they received their first music licence bill.
“I remember getting our first music licence bill and going, ‘Huh! What’s this!?’”
But that moment turned into a deeper understanding of the relationship between hospitality and the creative industries.
“When you’re a small business, or just starting out, it’s another expense.”
But Coco’s doesn’t shy away from responsibility. They lean into it.
“When you understand how closely hospitality and creatives hold hand… it just feels right to do our part.”
Paying for a OneMusic licence isn’t just about ticking a legal box. It’s about supporting the creators behind the music.
“Paying the OneMusic licence does go to the artists. I think a lot of people don’t even know that.”
At Coco’s, where creativity is celebrated from plate to playlist, supporting fellow creatives is a natural extension of their values.
"Being a creative is the most honest expression, and it’s our way of showing support to tautoko them."
Music licensing ensures that the artists who soundtrack our lives are compensated for their work. It’s a way for businesses to say, “We see you. We value you.” At Coco’s, where the vibe is as carefully curated as the menu, that support is non-negotiable.
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