Compare the Best Music for Business
Compare top music for business providers for any budget
Compare the top music providers for your business.
Select your top 2-3 choices to learn more.
Choose the perfect, fully-licensed provider for you.
Top Music For Business Providers:
| Provider | Starting Monthly Price | Free Trial Available | Popular Artists | No Ads | Sonos Compatibility | Centralized Control | Spotify Import | Apple Music Import | Music Player Hardware | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SoundMachine | $26.95 | Learn More | ||||||||
 | $29 | Learn More | ||||||||
 Rockbot | $25 | Learn More | ||||||||
 Soundsuit | $32 | Learn More | ||||||||
 Pandora CloudCover | $16.95 | Learn More | ||||||||
 Mood Media | $15.30 | Learn More | ||||||||
 Jukeboxy | $26.99 | Learn More | ||||||||
Pandora for Business by Mood Media
| $26.95 | Learn More |
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In-Depth Breakdown of Top Music for Business Providers
Choosing a music provider is about more than just price. Each service below has a unique strength—whether it’s granular control for luxury spaces, seamless Spotify integration for restaurants, or enterprise tools for national chains. Here is our honest analysis of who each platform is best suited for.
Leading Industry Providers
- SoundMachine
- Primary Focus: Precision Audio Control & Multi-Zone Management.
- The Breakdown: SoundMachine is built for businesses that need granular control over their atmosphere. They offer the ability to easily manage music across multiple “zones” (e.g., Lobby vs. Gym Floor), or locations from a single dashboard. Users can import playlists or use the “Mix” tool to blend different stations together to create a unique sound.
- Standout Feature: Precision Branding. You can schedule specific messages and energy levels down to the minute.
- Soundtrack (formerly Soundtrack Your Brand)
- Primary Focus: Modern Streaming & Spotify Integration.
- The Breakdown: Formerly Spotify for Business, this platform is designed for users who want the familiarity of a modern streaming app. It is currently the only major provider that offers a direct Spotify Playlist Import tool, allowing you to drag-and-drop existing playlists into a legal, commercial environment. It features a massive library of over 100 million tracks.
- Standout Feature: Spotify Import and UX. Soundtrack bridges the gap between personal listening and business compliance.
- Rockbot
- Primary Focus: TV, Media, and Customer Engagement.
- The Breakdown: Rockbot is a multi-media platform that goes beyond just audio. It integrates Background Music with Digital Signage, allowing businesses to use their TV screens to display menus, promotions, or sports trivia. It also offers a “Request” app feature that lets customers vote on the music queue (if the venue enables it).
- Standout Feature: Digital Signage Integration. It unifies your music and TV screens into one system.
- Pandora CloudCover
- Primary Focus: Centralized Management for Chains.
- The Breakdown: Pandora CloudCover combines the consumer-friendly “radio station” model with enterprise-grade management tools. It offers access to standard Pandora stations alongside CloudCover’s own business mixes. Its strength lies in its dashboard, which allows franchise owners to control music and permissions for hundreds of locations from a single login.
- Standout Feature: Enterprise Dashboard. It simplifies managing compliance across many locations.
- Mood Media
- Primary Focus: Full-Service Sensory Experience or Self-Serve Music
- The Breakdown: Mood Media is a global leader in “Experience Design.” They offer an end-to-end solution that can include professional installation, sound systems, scent marketing, and visual signage. Unlike the “Do-It-Yourself” apps, Mood is often chosen by brands looking for a hands-off, fully managed solution with dedicated hardware.
- Standout Feature: Full-Service Hardware & Installation. You can use Mood to physically set up your store’s entire AV system or choose the do-it-yourself background music solution.
Specialized & Alternative Providers
hile the industry leaders offer robust all-in-one platforms, you may find that a more specialized solution fits your specific workflow better. The providers below excel in unique areas, offering distinct advantages for businesses specifically seeking smart automation, human-curated playlists, or simple legacy experiences.
Soundsuit
- Primary Focus: Automation & Smart Assistant.
- The Breakdown: Soundsuit is designed to be the “Self-Driving Car” of business music. Instead of asking you to build playlists, it asks you about your business type (e.g., “Gym,” “Café”) and target audience. It then automatically builds and adjusts the music schedule for you. It is also a key partner with Sonos, offering deep integration for Sonos users.
- Standout Feature: Smart Automation. Soundsuit makes daily effort to manage your music easy.
Jukeboxy
- Primary Focus: Human Curation & Library Depth.
- The Breakdown: Jukeboxy prides itself on human-curated playlists rather than just algorithms. With a library of over 45 million songs, they offer one of the largest catalogs in the industry. Their service includes access to professional music directors who can help curate a specific vibe for a brand.
- Standout Feature: Massive Library. Access to 45+ million tracks ensures you rarely hear the same song twice.
Pandora for Business by Mood Media
- Primary Focus: The Classic Pandora Experience.
- The Breakdown: This service brings the exact user experience of the consumer Pandora app to businesses. It features the familiar “Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down” functionality and utilizes the Music Genome Project to refine stations. It is a simple, hardware-based solution often favored by single-location owners who want a “set it and forget it” system.
- Standout Feature: Familiar UX. It works exactly like the Pandora app you already know.
A Small Business Owner's Guide to Music for Business
Finding the right music for business can feel overwhelming. However, it really boils down to a few key choices. This guide will walk you through the most important factors, from legal needs to hardware. As a result, you can make an informed choice from the providers in our comparison tool.
1. Music Licensing: Your Top Priority
First, you must know that using personal accounts like Spotify or Apple Music in your business is illegal. Those services are only licensed for personal use. In fact, playing them in a commercial space breaks copyright law.
Consequently, this can expose your business to large fines. These fines can start at $750 per song.
A proper music for business provider solves this whole problem. These services pay all the complex licensing fees for you. As a result, you get a 100% legal, ad-free music library. You can finally play music with complete peace of mind.
(Learn more about legal requirements on our Licensed Music for Business page.)
2. Playback Options: How to Play Your Music
Next, you need to decide how to play the music. Your choice depends on your current setup and budget.
- Mobile & Tablet Apps: This is the most flexible option. You can simply use a phone or tablet you already own. Just connect it to your sound system and use the provider’s app.
- Web Player: This is a great choice if you use a computer or a Point-of-Sale (POS) system. The music for business plays right from a tab in your browser.
- Dedicated Music Player: This is a small “set it and forget it” box. You plug it into your sound system and the internet. While it is the most reliable, hands-off solution, it may have an extra cost.
(Dive into the pros and cons on our Streaming Music Playback page.)
3. The Music Library: Finding Your Vibe
The music for business you play defines your brand’s vibe. In fact, the right soundtrack can boost sales and keep customers in your store longer.
Therefore, when you compare providers, think about these points:
- Curated Playlists: Do you want stations that are ready to play, or do you want to build your own?
- Artist Variety: Do you need top-tier, popular artists? Or is a large library of independent music a better fit?
- Importing: Some services let you import Spotify or Apple Music playlists. This can get you started quickly.
- Seasonal Music: A good service should also make it easy to find holiday and seasonal music.
(Find out more on our Music for Business Types page.)
4. Subscription Plans & Pricing Options
Pricing for music for business is usually straightforward. Most providers will offer a few options:
- Free Trials: Almost all services offer a free trial (from 7 to 30 days). This lets you test their features with no risk.
- Monthly Plans: These plans offer the most flexibility. You can usually cancel at any time.
- Annual Plans: You can often save 10-30% by paying for a year upfront. However, this does require a larger one-time payment..
(Compare the benefits on our Music for Business Plans page.)
5. Managing Locations and Zones
Your plan may also change if you have complex needs. For example, do you have more than one location? If so, you will need a subscription for each one.
The key difference is how you manage them:
- Centralized Control: Some providers offer one main dashboard. From here, you can control the music and schedules for all locations. This is perfect for a consistent brand sound.
- Independent Management: Other services are simpler. They focus on managing each location one by one in the store.
Additionally, you may have “zones.” A zone is when you need different music in different parts of one location (like a lobby and a bar). You will need a separate subscription for each zone.
(Learn more on our Multiple Business Locations page.)
6. Try Before You Buy with Free Trials
Finally, the best way to find the perfect music for business is to try the services yourself. Since most providers offer a free trial, you can sign up for two or three today. This lets you compare their music libraries and see which app is easiest to use. Best of all, there’s no risk. It’s the only way to be 100% confident you’ve picked the right one.
Check out our Comparison tool above to quickly find your best options!
Your Questions About Music for Business, Answered
Q: Can I use my personal Spotify or Apple Music account in my business?
A: No. Personal streaming accounts are licensed only for private, non-commercial use. The terms of service on platforms like Spotify for Business, Apple Music for Business and Amazon Music for Business forbid using them in a public or business setting, such as a store, cafe, or office.
Q: What happens if I play personal music in my store?
A: Playing music from a personal account in your business breaks copyright law. Your business could face large fines for doing this. These fines can come from Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) and may cost $750 per song played.
Q: What are public performance licenses from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC?
A: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are groups that represent songwriters and music publishers and are a key component in licensing music for your business. By law, any business that plays music for the public must pay these groups. This includes playing music for customers or even just for your employees. A business music service handles all these payments for you.
Q: Do the music for business providers listed here cover all licensing fees?
A: Yes. This is the main benefit of using a professional service. The monthly fee you pay includes all the necessary license payments to groups like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. This bundles all the complex costs into one simple payment and keeps your business safe from legal risk.
Q: How much does a legal music for business service cost?
A: These plans are very affordable, especially compared to the risk of fines. As the comparison table shows, prices for one location usually start around $15 to $35 per month. Many services also offer a discount if you pay for a full year at once.
Q: Are all these services completely ad-free?
A: Yes. All professional music services for businesses are 100% free of commercials. This gives your customers and staff a smooth, professional listening experience without any ad interruptions.
Q: What kind of businesses are these music services good for?
A: These services are great for any public business. This includes retail stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, hotels, spas, salons, gyms & fitness studios or any small business that wants to create a special mood for customers and be legally compliant.
Q: What hardware do I need to play business music?
A: You have several easy options to choose how you play music in your business. You can often use a device you already own, like a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Many services also offer their own “plug-and-play” streaming players. These small boxes connect right to your sound system for a reliable, hands-off solution.
Q: Can I use my own phone, tablet, or computer to play the music?
A: Yes. This is the most common and flexible method. You just download the provider’s business app or use their web player. Then, you connect your device to your sound system using a cable or Bluetooth.
Q: What is a dedicated music player, and do I need one?
A: A dedicated music player is a small hardware box from the music service. You plug it into your sound system and your internet. Its only job is to stream your music. It’s a very reliable “set it and forget it” option, but it may have an extra cost.
Q: Can I create my own playlists, or must I use pre-made stations?
A: Most providers offer both types of playlists. They all have large libraries of curated, genre-based stations that are ready to play. As the table shows, many services also let you build your own custom playlists or mix stations together to get the perfect sound.
Q: Can I import my personal playlists from Spotify or Apple Music?
A: Maybe. Some providers have a feature to import your Spotify or Apple Music playlists. The service then finds the licensed versions of those songs in its business-legal library. This helps you get your custom sound set up quickly. You can easily discover which music for business providers offer these features in the comparison table above.
Q: How do I make sure no explicit songs or bad music plays?
A: All professional business music services provide only “clean” or radio-edited songs. You never have to worry about explicit lyrics. Most services also give you tools to easily block specific songs or artists you do not want to play.
Q: I have multiple business locations. How does that work?
A: You will need one subscription for each location. However, many providers offer a “centralized control” dashboard. This lets you manage the music, playlists, and schedules for all your stores from one account. This ensures your brand sounds the same everywhere. (More info on multiple location management.)
Q: What is a “zone,” and when would I need one?
A: A “zone” is a separate area in one business that needs different music. For example, a spa might want calm music in the lobby and upbeat music in the gym. This would count as two zones, and you would need a subscription for each.
Q: Are there long-term contracts, or can I pay month-to-month?
A: This depends on the provider. Many services offer flexible monthly plans you can cancel anytime. This is great for trying a service. Most also offer yearly plans that give you a discount (often 10-30%) if you pay for the full year upfront.
Q: What is the best way to choose a music for business provider?
A: The best way to choose is to try them yourself. Nearly every provider on this page offers a no-risk free trial (usually for 7 to 30 days). We suggest signing up for the free trials of your top 2-3 choices. This lets you compare their music and see which app is easiest for you to use.