When you walk into a coffee shop and the playlist feels just right—upbeat enough to energize your morning but mellow enough for conversation—that’s not an accident. Behind that atmosphere is a music service built specifically for commercial use, complete with licensing, scheduling tools, and central control.
This guide is for business owners, managers, and decision-makers seeking the best music service for their venue.
In 2026, choosing the best music service for business means navigating a crowded market of platforms that promise fully licensed music, easy management, and the perfect vibe for your venue. But not all services are created equal.
This guide breaks down the leading options, explains the legal landscape you need to understand, and helps you match the right platform to your specific business type.
Answer in a nutshell (read this first)
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick version:
- Top contenders for 2026: Rockbot, Pandora CloudCover, Soundtrack Your Brand, SoundMachine, and Soundsuit consistently rank among the best music services for business due to their licensing coverage, catalog depth, and management tools.
- The “best” service depends entirely on your situation:
- Business type (café, gym, retail store, spa, office)
- Number of locations (single site vs. multi-location chain)
- Geographic footprint (US/Canada only, or international operations)
Key decision factors to consider right away:
- Licensing coverage: Does the service bundle PRO licenses (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR) into the subscription, or will you need separate agreements?
- Ease of use: How quickly can staff adjust playlists or change the mood without training?
- Playlist control and branding: Can you build custom playlists, schedule music by daypart, and keep everything on brand?
- Multi-location management: Does the platform offer a centralized dashboard to manage multiple locations from one login?
Quick picks by use case:
- Best way to promote your music
- Best for multi-location retail: SoundMachine or Soundtrack Your Brand (strong central control, extensive catalogs)
- Best for small single-site cafés: Pandora CloudCover or Jukeboxy (simple setup, affordable, bundled licensing)
- Best for interactive venues (bars, gyms): Rockbot (customer song voting, flexible app control)
The sections below dive deeper into each platform’s features, pricing, and ideal use cases.
How we evaluated the best music services for business
This evaluation is based on 2025–2026 features, published pricing ranges, and legal compliance requirements for commercial use in the US, Canada, and other key markets.
Licensing & PRO Coverage
- Bundled public performance licensing for ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR (US), SOCAN, Re:Sound (Canada), and major international PROs
Catalog Size & Curation
- Millions of tracks with quality curated stations and genre variety
Scheduling & Automation
- Ability to schedule playlists by time of day, day of week, and season
Hardware Compatibility
- Support for Sonos, web players, dedicated hardware boxes, and common commercial audio systems
Central Dashboard & Multi-location Tools
- Unified control panel to manage music across all sites
Messaging/Ads Injection
- Option to add in store audio messaging between songs for promos and announcements
Geographic Availability
- Clear licensing coverage by territory
Total Cost Per Zone
- Transparent pricing per location or zone
Only services explicitly licensed for public performance were considered. Personal apps like Spotify and Apple Music are not included because they prohibit commercial use in their terms of service.
Our comparison focused on typical SMB needs (restaurants, gyms, salons, offices) as well as enterprise retail brands with 10+ sites.
Important note: Prices and features change frequently. Always verify current offerings on vendor websites before purchasing.
Rockbot: Flexible, app‑driven music control
Rockbot positions itself as a fully licensed background music platform with a strong emphasis on mobile control and customer engagement features—primarily serving businesses in the US and Canada.
Key strengths
- Massive licensed catalog: Access to millions of songs across every genre
- Curated and custom playlists: Choose from business stations or build your own playlists from scratch
- Smart scheduling: Schedule music by daypart, season, or special events
- Centralized dashboard: The Rockbot Dashboard lets you manage multiple locations from a single interface
Control options
Rockbot gives you substantial flexibility:
- Create custom mixes tailored to your brand
- Import playlists from Spotify or Apple Music (legally, within their commercial-licensed system)
- Apply explicit content filters to protect your atmosphere
- Enable “Rockbot Requests” so guests can vote for songs within a safe, pre-approved catalog
Technical setup
- Works with most internet-connected commercial audio systems
- Plug-and-play options available for quick deployment
- Reliable offline caching helps cover network glitches
- Remote control via mobile app means managers can adjust playlists from their phone
Ideal use cases
Rockbot works particularly well for:
- Gyms and fitness studios that want high-energy, interactive music work
- Bars and casual restaurants where staff need to adjust the vibe on the fly
- Entertainment venues that benefit from customer engagement features
Limitations
- Primarily available in the US and Canada
- Relies on solid internet connectivity for best performance
- Licensing is focused on North American territories
Pandora CloudCover: Simple, station‑based business music
Pandora CloudCover (often marketed as Cloud Cover Music) delivers radio-style, fully licensed music streaming designed specifically for US and Canadian businesses. If you want a “set it and forget it” approach to business music, this is worth considering.
Licensing coverage
Pandora CloudCover bundles coverage for major US and Canadian PROs:
- US: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR
- Canada: SOCAN, Re:Sound
For a comprehensive overview of how music algorithms and recommendation systems like Apple Music work and influence artist exposure, see the Apple Music Algorithm Guide 2026: Signals, Surfaces & Growth.
This means your business is protected for public performance of the included catalog without needing separate PRO agreements in those territories.
The station model
Rather than track-by-track control, CloudCover operates on a station-based approach:
- 300+ pre-built business stations organized by genre, mood, and decade
- Options to create custom stations tailored to your sound
- Collaboration with music specialists available for brand-specific programming
Management features
- Centralized web and app control
- Ability to manage multiple locations and separate zones within each site
- Scheduling tools to adjust playlists by time of day
- Integration of in store messaging for promotions and announcements
Pricing structure (high-level)
Pandora CloudCover uses tiered plans:
| Tier | Approximate Monthly Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Music | Mid-to-high teens USD | Core streaming, basic stations |
| Manage | Low-to-mid $20s USD | Multi-location control, scheduling |
| Messaging | Upper $20s USD | In-store audio messaging included |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | White-glove support, advanced features |
- Annual prepay discounts available
- 14-day free trial (no credit card required on some tiers)
Best-fit profiles
- Small to mid-size retail stores
- Cafés and coffee shops
- Healthcare offices and waiting rooms
- Franchises wanting straightforward, low-maintenance background music with bundled legal coverage
Trade-offs
- Less granular track-by-track control compared to open-catalog platforms
- Availability restricted to North America
Soundtrack Your Brand: Open catalog with strong scheduling
Soundtrack Your Brand offers a large open catalog, legal Spotify playlists import capability, and robust scheduling tools that make it attractive for businesses wanting a familiar streaming experience with proper commercial licensing.
Music features
- Tens of millions of tracks available—comparable to consumer platforms
- Legal Spotify playlist import: Migrate your existing Spotify playlists into a commercial-licensed environment
- Advanced playlist rotation and scheduling per day, week, and season
Licensing specifics
- US and Canada: Bundled performance rights included
- Other countries: Often requires additional local PRO licenses for full compliance
This territorial nuance matters significantly for chains operating across regions. Before expanding internationally, confirm licensing requirements with Soundtrack Your Brand directly.
Control and administration
- Centralized console for multi-location brands
- Granular control by site or zone
- Tools to lock playlists to brand guidelines while allowing some local flexibility for on-the-ground managers
Ideal use cases
- Design-conscious retail brands that want great music matching their aesthetic
- Hospitality venues (hotels, upscale restaurants) requiring sophisticated scheduling
- Businesses that already have carefully curated Spotify playlists they want to keep using legally
Potential downsides
- Requires careful manual curation to keep the sound on brand
- Extra licensing steps needed outside North America
- Somewhat steeper learning curve than purely station-based options
SoundMachine and other curated business music platforms
Beyond the app-driven, self-service options, a category of curation-heavy services caters to businesses that prefer professional music design over DIY playlist building. This group includes SoundMachine, Mood Media, Imagesound, Custom Channels, and GrayV.
SoundMachine
SoundMachine operates as a scalable, globally-oriented commercial streaming service:
- 60+ million tracks available—matching top consumer platforms
- Industry-specific curated stations (restaurants, hotels, banks, healthcare, offices)
- Central dashboard for managing music across locations from a single boutique to hundreds of branches
- Playlist imports from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music
- Support for in store audio messaging between songs
- Bundled PRO coverage for US and international territories
SoundMachine works well for businesses that want the catalog depth of a consumer service with the compliance and centralized control of a business platform.
Mood Media
Mood Media traces its roots to the original Muzak company and remains a trusted name in background music:
- Curated playlists and brand-specific stations
- Professional music designers available for custom programming
- Hardware players and integrated solutions (digital signage, scent marketing)
- Licensed solutions across many global territories
- All licensing and reporting handled on behalf of the client
Mood Media suits enterprises that value done-for-you programming over day-to-day tweaking. The trade-off is less self-service control and potentially higher costs.
Boutique curation: Imagesound, Custom Channels, GrayV
These providers offer bespoke, human-curated playlists for brands that consider music a strategic tool:
| Provider | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Imagesound | Global in-store music + digital signage | Large retail chains, hospitality brands |
| Custom Channels | Expert-curated branded playlists with scheduling | Mid-to-large chains, franchise networks |
| GrayV | Boutique curation for upscale venues | High-end restaurants, luxury retail, premium hospitality |
All position themselves as fully licensed for commercial use, often handling performance reporting and rights across many territories.
Trade-offs for curation-heavy services
- Higher typical costs than self-service platforms
- More reliance on vendor relationships for playlist updates
- Less “self-service” feel compared with app-driven options
Legal basics: why you can’t use Spotify or Apple Music in your business
Businesses must obtain a public performance rights license to play music in public settings, and music streaming services for businesses must be fully licensed for commercial use to ensure legal compliance.
The Public Performance Problem
Personal streaming apps—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music—are licensed only for private, non-commercial use. Using them in a business setting:
- Breaches their terms of service
- Potentially violates copyright law
- Does not satisfy public performance licensing requirements
Playing your personal Spotify in your café isn’t just against the app’s rules—it’s a legal risk that could result in fines from PROs.
What are PROs?
Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) manage the rights to public performances of music and collect licensing fees.
Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) license and collect royalties for the public performance of musical compositions, including:
- US: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR
- Canada: SOCAN, Re:Sound
- Other countries: PRS/PPL (UK), GEMA (Germany), SACEM (France), and many others
When a business plays recorded music publicly, these organizations have the right to enforce licensing requirements.
How Business Music Services Handle Licensing
Most reputable business music services address this in one of two ways:
- Bundled licensing: The subscription fee includes PRO licenses for specific territories (common for US/Canada)
- Service + separate PRO agreement: The service provides the catalog and tools, but the business maintains its own PRO licenses (more common in international markets)
Scenarios That Require Proper Licensing
These scenarios all require proper licensing:
- Playing Christmas music in your retail store during the holiday season
- Hosting a fitness class with background tracks in your gym
- Streaming jazz in your hotel lobby for arriving guests
Before relying on any service, confirm with the provider whether licensing is fully included for your specific country and venue type.
Jukeboxy, Soundsuit, and other notable niche options
Beyond the major players, several notable alternatives blend curated playlists, automation, and messaging features for small and mid-size businesses.
Jukeboxy
Jukeboxy offers a comprehensive package for businesses wanting licensed music plus promotional capabilities:
- 45M+ songs with full coverage of major US and Canadian PROs plus SoundExchange and label deals
- Venue-specific playlists (restaurants, retail, gyms, salons, healthcare)
- Manager App for remote control from any phone or computer
- Scheduling by time of day and week
- In-store audio messaging to play promos and announcements between songs
- Playlist migration from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music with high match rates
Jukeboxy concentrates on US and Canada, with special Canadian pricing options available.
Soundsuit
Soundsuit focuses on brand-specific sound with strong technical integration:
- 100M+ tracks curated for commercial environments
- Native integration with Sonos and Loxone systems
- Advanced scheduling and dayparting
- Central dashboards for HQ to manage many stores
- Playlist import capability from major consumer services on certain plans
Soundsuit is available across 50+ countries via web, mobile, desktop apps, and dedicated player hardware. For artists seeking effective Spotify playlist promotion, understanding legitimate pitching services is essential.
When to choose these options
Consider Jukeboxy or Soundsuit when you want:
- Balance of automation and human curation
- Brand-fit playlists without building everything manually
- Multi-location control from a centralized dashboard
- Integrated in-store messaging without a separate vendor
- Licensed music with clear PRO coverage
How to choose the best music service for your specific business
There is no single universal winner for business music in 2025. The right fit depends on your business type, size, and region.
By Business Segment
Cafés and Restaurants
- Prioritize cozy, on brand playlists that match your vibe
- Look for flexible daypart scheduling (morning mellow, lunch upbeat, dinner ambient)
- Consider whether in store messaging for specials would add value
Gyms and Fitness Studios
- Need high-energy, motivating music
- Explicit content filters are essential
- Interactive features like Rockbot Requests can boost customer experience
Retail Stores
- Brand-matched curation is crucial for the perfect atmosphere
- Seasonal programming keeps the sound fresh
- Messaging features can drive sales and promote loyalty programs
Spas and Salons
- Soothing, consistent playlists with minimal manual tweaking
- Reliability matters—no jarring genre shifts or dropped connections
- Quality of sound curation matters more than catalog size
Offices
- Distraction-free, low-volume background music
- Instrumental or ambient options work well
- Simple setup with minimal ongoing management
- For artists looking to promote their music, leveraging professional music marketing companies can be beneficial.
By Operational Factors
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Number of locations | Single site can use simpler tools; chains need centralized control |
| Central vs. local control | Do you want HQ to manage everything, or should local managers adjust? |
| In-store messaging needs | Some services include this; others require add-ons |
| Existing hardware | Check compatibility with Sonos, Loxone, legacy amps, or web access |
Budget Considerations
Typical monthly per-location ranges for reputable services:
- Basic tiers: $15–$20 USD per month per zone
- Standard/Manage tiers: $20–$30 USD per month per zone
- Enterprise/Custom curation: Custom pricing, often $50+ per location
Higher costs generally mean more human curation, white-glove support, or integrated services like digital signage.
A Structured Trial Approach
Before committing:
- Shortlist 2–3 platforms that match your use case
- Run trials for 7–14 days each during real business hours
- Collect feedback from staff on ease of use
- Note customer reactions to the atmosphere and sound
- Test reliability during peak hours
Prioritize legal compliance, brand alignment, and long-term manageability over just the lowest price or biggest catalog.
The best music service for your business is the one that keeps you protected, sounds on brand, and requires minimal daily effort to keep your venue sounding great.
Start by confirming licensing coverage for your territory, then focus on the platform that makes it easy to start playing music that fits your business environment from day one.
When you walk into a coffee shop and the playlist feels just right—upbeat enough to energize your morning but mellow enough for conversation—that’s not an accident. Behind that atmosphere is a music service built specifically for commercial use, complete with licensing, scheduling tools, and central control.
This guide is for business owners, managers, and decision-makers seeking the best music service for their venue.
In 2026, choosing the best music service for business means navigating a crowded market of platforms that promise fully licensed music, easy management, and the perfect vibe for your venue. But not all services are created equal.
This guide breaks down the leading options, explains the legal landscape you need to understand, and helps you match the right platform to your specific business type.
Answer in a nutshell (read this first)
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick version:
- Top contenders for 2026: Rockbot, Pandora CloudCover, Soundtrack Your Brand, SoundMachine, and Soundsuit consistently rank among the best music services for business due to their licensing coverage, catalog depth, and management tools.
- The “best” service depends entirely on your situation:
- Business type (café, gym, retail store, spa, office)
- Number of locations (single site vs. multi-location chain)
- Geographic footprint (US/Canada only, or international operations)
Key decision factors to consider right away:
- Licensing coverage: Does the service bundle PRO licenses (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR) into the subscription, or will you need separate agreements?
- Ease of use: How quickly can staff adjust playlists or change the mood without training?
- Playlist control and branding: Can you build custom playlists, schedule music by daypart, and keep everything on brand?
- Multi-location management: Does the platform offer a centralized dashboard to manage multiple locations from one login?
Quick picks by use case:
- Best way to promote your music
- Best for multi-location retail: SoundMachine or Soundtrack Your Brand (strong central control, extensive catalogs)
- Best for small single-site cafés: Pandora CloudCover or Jukeboxy (simple setup, affordable, bundled licensing)
- Best for interactive venues (bars, gyms): Rockbot (customer song voting, flexible app control)
The sections below dive deeper into each platform’s features, pricing, and ideal use cases.
How we evaluated the best music services for business
This evaluation is based on 2025–2026 features, published pricing ranges, and legal compliance requirements for commercial use in the US, Canada, and other key markets.
Licensing & PRO Coverage
- Bundled public performance licensing for ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR (US), SOCAN, Re:Sound (Canada), and major international PROs
Catalog Size & Curation
- Millions of tracks with quality curated stations and genre variety
Scheduling & Automation
- Ability to schedule playlists by time of day, day of week, and season
Hardware Compatibility
- Support for Sonos, web players, dedicated hardware boxes, and common commercial audio systems
Central Dashboard & Multi-location Tools
- Unified control panel to manage music across all sites
Messaging/Ads Injection
- Option to add in store audio messaging between songs for promos and announcements
Geographic Availability
- Clear licensing coverage by territory
Total Cost Per Zone
- Transparent pricing per location or zone
Only services explicitly licensed for public performance were considered. Personal apps like Spotify and Apple Music are not included because they prohibit commercial use in their terms of service.
Our comparison focused on typical SMB needs (restaurants, gyms, salons, offices) as well as enterprise retail brands with 10+ sites.
Important note: Prices and features change frequently. Always verify current offerings on vendor websites before purchasing.
Rockbot: Flexible, app‑driven music control
Rockbot positions itself as a fully licensed background music platform with a strong emphasis on mobile control and customer engagement features—primarily serving businesses in the US and Canada.
Key strengths
- Massive licensed catalog: Access to millions of songs across every genre
- Curated and custom playlists: Choose from business stations or build your own playlists from scratch
- Smart scheduling: Schedule music by daypart, season, or special events
- Centralized dashboard: The Rockbot Dashboard lets you manage multiple locations from a single interface
Control options
Rockbot gives you substantial flexibility:
- Create custom mixes tailored to your brand
- Import playlists from Spotify or Apple Music (legally, within their commercial-licensed system)
- Apply explicit content filters to protect your atmosphere
- Enable “Rockbot Requests” so guests can vote for songs within a safe, pre-approved catalog
Technical setup
- Works with most internet-connected commercial audio systems
- Plug-and-play options available for quick deployment
- Reliable offline caching helps cover network glitches
- Remote control via mobile app means managers can adjust playlists from their phone
Ideal use cases
Rockbot works particularly well for:
- Gyms and fitness studios that want high-energy, interactive music work
- Bars and casual restaurants where staff need to adjust the vibe on the fly
- Entertainment venues that benefit from customer engagement features
Limitations
- Primarily available in the US and Canada
- Relies on solid internet connectivity for best performance
- Licensing is focused on North American territories
Pandora CloudCover: Simple, station‑based business music
Pandora CloudCover (often marketed as Cloud Cover Music) delivers radio-style, fully licensed music streaming designed specifically for US and Canadian businesses. If you want a “set it and forget it” approach to business music, this is worth considering.
Licensing coverage
Pandora CloudCover bundles coverage for major US and Canadian PROs:
- US: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR
- Canada: SOCAN, Re:Sound
For a comprehensive overview of how music algorithms and recommendation systems like Apple Music work and influence artist exposure, see the Apple Music Algorithm Guide 2026: Signals, Surfaces & Growth.
This means your business is protected for public performance of the included catalog without needing separate PRO agreements in those territories.
The station model
Rather than track-by-track control, CloudCover operates on a station-based approach:
- 300+ pre-built business stations organized by genre, mood, and decade
- Options to create custom stations tailored to your sound
- Collaboration with music specialists available for brand-specific programming
Management features
- Centralized web and app control
- Ability to manage multiple locations and separate zones within each site
- Scheduling tools to adjust playlists by time of day
- Integration of in store messaging for promotions and announcements
Pricing structure (high-level)
Pandora CloudCover uses tiered plans:
| Tier | Approximate Monthly Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Music | Mid-to-high teens USD | Core streaming, basic stations |
| Manage | Low-to-mid $20s USD | Multi-location control, scheduling |
| Messaging | Upper $20s USD | In-store audio messaging included |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | White-glove support, advanced features |
- Annual prepay discounts available
- 14-day free trial (no credit card required on some tiers)
Best-fit profiles
- Small to mid-size retail stores
- Cafés and coffee shops
- Healthcare offices and waiting rooms
- Franchises wanting straightforward, low-maintenance background music with bundled legal coverage
Trade-offs
- Less granular track-by-track control compared to open-catalog platforms
- Availability restricted to North America
Soundtrack Your Brand: Open catalog with strong scheduling
Soundtrack Your Brand offers a large open catalog, legal Spotify playlists import capability, and robust scheduling tools that make it attractive for businesses wanting a familiar streaming experience with proper commercial licensing.
Music features
- Tens of millions of tracks available—comparable to consumer platforms
- Legal Spotify playlist import: Migrate your existing Spotify playlists into a commercial-licensed environment
- Advanced playlist rotation and scheduling per day, week, and season
Licensing specifics
- US and Canada: Bundled performance rights included
- Other countries: Often requires additional local PRO licenses for full compliance
This territorial nuance matters significantly for chains operating across regions. Before expanding internationally, confirm licensing requirements with Soundtrack Your Brand directly.
Control and administration
- Centralized console for multi-location brands
- Granular control by site or zone
- Tools to lock playlists to brand guidelines while allowing some local flexibility for on-the-ground managers
Ideal use cases
- Design-conscious retail brands that want great music matching their aesthetic
- Hospitality venues (hotels, upscale restaurants) requiring sophisticated scheduling
- Businesses that already have carefully curated Spotify playlists they want to keep using legally
Potential downsides
- Requires careful manual curation to keep the sound on brand
- Extra licensing steps needed outside North America
- Somewhat steeper learning curve than purely station-based options
SoundMachine and other curated business music platforms
Beyond the app-driven, self-service options, a category of curation-heavy services caters to businesses that prefer professional music design over DIY playlist building. This group includes SoundMachine, Mood Media, Imagesound, Custom Channels, and GrayV.
SoundMachine
SoundMachine operates as a scalable, globally-oriented commercial streaming service:
- 60+ million tracks available—matching top consumer platforms
- Industry-specific curated stations (restaurants, hotels, banks, healthcare, offices)
- Central dashboard for managing music across locations from a single boutique to hundreds of branches
- Playlist imports from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music
- Support for in store audio messaging between songs
- Bundled PRO coverage for US and international territories
SoundMachine works well for businesses that want the catalog depth of a consumer service with the compliance and centralized control of a business platform.
Mood Media
Mood Media traces its roots to the original Muzak company and remains a trusted name in background music:
- Curated playlists and brand-specific stations
- Professional music designers available for custom programming
- Hardware players and integrated solutions (digital signage, scent marketing)
- Licensed solutions across many global territories
- All licensing and reporting handled on behalf of the client
Mood Media suits enterprises that value done-for-you programming over day-to-day tweaking. The trade-off is less self-service control and potentially higher costs.
Boutique curation: Imagesound, Custom Channels, GrayV
These providers offer bespoke, human-curated playlists for brands that consider music a strategic tool:
| Provider | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Imagesound | Global in-store music + digital signage | Large retail chains, hospitality brands |
| Custom Channels | Expert-curated branded playlists with scheduling | Mid-to-large chains, franchise networks |
| GrayV | Boutique curation for upscale venues | High-end restaurants, luxury retail, premium hospitality |
All position themselves as fully licensed for commercial use, often handling performance reporting and rights across many territories.
Trade-offs for curation-heavy services
- Higher typical costs than self-service platforms
- More reliance on vendor relationships for playlist updates
- Less “self-service” feel compared with app-driven options
Legal basics: why you can’t use Spotify or Apple Music in your business
Businesses must obtain a public performance rights license to play music in public settings, and music streaming services for businesses must be fully licensed for commercial use to ensure legal compliance.
The Public Performance Problem
Personal streaming apps—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music—are licensed only for private, non-commercial use. Using them in a business setting:
- Breaches their terms of service
- Potentially violates copyright law
- Does not satisfy public performance licensing requirements
Playing your personal Spotify in your café isn’t just against the app’s rules—it’s a legal risk that could result in fines from PROs.
What are PROs?
Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) manage the rights to public performances of music and collect licensing fees.
Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) license and collect royalties for the public performance of musical compositions, including:
- US: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR
- Canada: SOCAN, Re:Sound
- Other countries: PRS/PPL (UK), GEMA (Germany), SACEM (France), and many others
When a business plays recorded music publicly, these organizations have the right to enforce licensing requirements.
How Business Music Services Handle Licensing
Most reputable business music services address this in one of two ways:
- Bundled licensing: The subscription fee includes PRO licenses for specific territories (common for US/Canada)
- Service + separate PRO agreement: The service provides the catalog and tools, but the business maintains its own PRO licenses (more common in international markets)
Scenarios That Require Proper Licensing
These scenarios all require proper licensing:
- Playing Christmas music in your retail store during the holiday season
- Hosting a fitness class with background tracks in your gym
- Streaming jazz in your hotel lobby for arriving guests
Before relying on any service, confirm with the provider whether licensing is fully included for your specific country and venue type.
Jukeboxy, Soundsuit, and other notable niche options
Beyond the major players, several notable alternatives blend curated playlists, automation, and messaging features for small and mid-size businesses.
Jukeboxy
Jukeboxy offers a comprehensive package for businesses wanting licensed music plus promotional capabilities:
- 45M+ songs with full coverage of major US and Canadian PROs plus SoundExchange and label deals
- Venue-specific playlists (restaurants, retail, gyms, salons, healthcare)
- Manager App for remote control from any phone or computer
- Scheduling by time of day and week
- In-store audio messaging to play promos and announcements between songs
- Playlist migration from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music with high match rates
Jukeboxy concentrates on US and Canada, with special Canadian pricing options available.
Soundsuit
Soundsuit focuses on brand-specific sound with strong technical integration:
- 100M+ tracks curated for commercial environments
- Native integration with Sonos and Loxone systems
- Advanced scheduling and dayparting
- Central dashboards for HQ to manage many stores
- Playlist import capability from major consumer services on certain plans
Soundsuit is available across 50+ countries via web, mobile, desktop apps, and dedicated player hardware. For artists seeking effective Spotify playlist promotion, understanding legitimate pitching services is essential.
When to choose these options
Consider Jukeboxy or Soundsuit when you want:
- Balance of automation and human curation
- Brand-fit playlists without building everything manually
- Multi-location control from a centralized dashboard
- Integrated in-store messaging without a separate vendor
- Licensed music with clear PRO coverage
How to choose the best music service for your specific business
There is no single universal winner for business music in 2025. The right fit depends on your business type, size, and region.
By Business Segment
Cafés and Restaurants
- Prioritize cozy, on brand playlists that match your vibe
- Look for flexible daypart scheduling (morning mellow, lunch upbeat, dinner ambient)
- Consider whether in store messaging for specials would add value
Gyms and Fitness Studios
- Need high-energy, motivating music
- Explicit content filters are essential
- Interactive features like Rockbot Requests can boost customer experience
Retail Stores
- Brand-matched curation is crucial for the perfect atmosphere
- Seasonal programming keeps the sound fresh
- Messaging features can drive sales and promote loyalty programs
Spas and Salons
- Soothing, consistent playlists with minimal manual tweaking
- Reliability matters—no jarring genre shifts or dropped connections
- Quality of sound curation matters more than catalog size
Offices
- Distraction-free, low-volume background music
- Instrumental or ambient options work well
- Simple setup with minimal ongoing management
- For artists looking to promote their music, leveraging professional music marketing companies can be beneficial.
By Operational Factors
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Number of locations | Single site can use simpler tools; chains need centralized control |
| Central vs. local control | Do you want HQ to manage everything, or should local managers adjust? |
| In-store messaging needs | Some services include this; others require add-ons |
| Existing hardware | Check compatibility with Sonos, Loxone, legacy amps, or web access |
Budget Considerations
Typical monthly per-location ranges for reputable services:
- Basic tiers: $15–$20 USD per month per zone
- Standard/Manage tiers: $20–$30 USD per month per zone
- Enterprise/Custom curation: Custom pricing, often $50+ per location
Higher costs generally mean more human curation, white-glove support, or integrated services like digital signage.
A Structured Trial Approach
Before committing:
- Shortlist 2–3 platforms that match your use case
- Run trials for 7–14 days each during real business hours
- Collect feedback from staff on ease of use
- Note customer reactions to the atmosphere and sound
- Test reliability during peak hours
Prioritize legal compliance, brand alignment, and long-term manageability over just the lowest price or biggest catalog.
The best music service for your business is the one that keeps you protected, sounds on brand, and requires minimal daily effort to keep your venue sounding great.
Start by confirming licensing coverage for your territory, then focus on the platform that makes it easy to start playing music that fits your business environment from day one.