Great background music can do more than just fill the air, it can change the entire vibe of a space. The right tracks can energise a busy café, create a sense of calm in a spa, or make shoppers linger a little longer in your retail store. Music has the power to set the mood, influence how customers feel, and turn an ordinary visit into a memorable experience.
But picking songs is only half the story. Choosing the right music licensing services for your business means making sure you are fully licensed, legally compliant, and equipped with tools that make managing music effortless. The best providers make it easy to build and schedule playlists, and to keep your brand’s style consistent everywhere it plays.
Here is a quick look at 10 of the best music licensing companies for businesses:
- SoundMachine – Scalable commercial music service with 60M+ tracks, PRO coverage, playlist import from Spotify, Apple Music, and more, plus easy management across multiple locations.
- Soundtrack Your Brand – Extensive library with legal Spotify playlist imports, with tools that support multi-location scheduling.
- Pandora CloudCover (Cloud Cover Music) – Affordable US/Canada service with licensing, remote access, and features like playlist management and explicit content filtering.
- Mood Media – Long-standing leader offering curated brand-specific stations and professional music design.
- Rockbot – App-based control with public performance licensing and optional customer song-voting tools.
- SiriusXM Music for Business – Wide variety of licensed, commercial-free stations with easy streaming, scheduling tools, and multi-location management.
- Imagesound – Global provider specializing in curated in-store music, audio branding, and digital signage.
- Custom Channels – Branded playlists curated by experts, with scheduling, updates, remote management, and full compliance across multiple locations.
- GrayV – Boutique music curation for upscale venues, focusing on bespoke playlists and hands-on service for restaurants, retail, and hospitality.
The companies we have chosen bring together great music with solid licensing, easy controls, and features designed for busy commercial environments. Whether you want millions of songs at your fingertips, curated playlists tailored to your brand, or advanced scheduling across multiple locations, there’s a service here to suit your needs.
How We Chose the Best Music Licensing Services for Businesses
Not all music licensing services are created equal. To make this list, we looked beyond just big song libraries and shiny features. Each provider had to tick some very important boxes to make the cut. Here’s what we focused on:
- Commercial licensing coverage – Every service here is fully legal for public and commercial use, covering all the necessary public performance rights through major PROs such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR, and international equivalents.
- Catalog size and diversity – A great service should give you options, whether you want the latest chart-toppers, timeless classics, or niche genres that set a unique mood. Bonus points for curated stations and the ability to build your own playlists.
- Ease of use and customization – From intuitive dashboards to remote control options, we looked for platforms that make it simple to schedule music, manage multiple locations, and adjust playlists for different times of day.
- Compliance and risk reduction – The top services bundle all the rights you need so you can avoid copyright headaches, with proof of compliance ready for any inspections or audits.
- Business-focused features – We rated highly those extras that make life easier for commercial operators, such as in-store messaging, brand-specific music curation, usage data and multi-location management.
- Market reputation – Proven leaders with a strong presence in hospitality, retail, and other customer-facing industries, backed by solid reviews and industry trust.
- Scalability – Whether you have one location or hundreds, these services can handle it.
- Innovation and flexibility – The standouts offer creative touches like playlist import, branded announcements, real-time updates, and customer interaction tools.
By using these criteria, we narrowed the field to providers that deliver not only great music but also peace of mind, efficiency, and flexibility for any business environment.
The Top Music Licensing Services for Business Environments
1. SoundMachine
SoundMachine is a top choice for businesses that want their music to be as polished as their brand. It is built specifically for commercial spaces like restaurants, hotels, banks, offices, healthcare facilities, and property management companies. With more than 60 million tracks at your fingertips, you can create custom playlists and schedule music that match your business mood at any time of day. SoundMachine also offers a wide range of highly curated stations designed to suit different industries and atmospheres.
Its intuitive control dashboard makes managing music across multiple locations refreshingly simple, whether you have one cosy boutique or hundreds of branches. All public performance rights and royalties are covered through major US and international PROs such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR, so you are fully protected.
You can even import playlists from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more, plus add branded messages between songs. With advanced features, scalability, and global reach, SoundMachine keeps background music legal, high quality, and easy to manage.
2. Soundtrack Your Brand
Soundtrack Your Brand is a well-known name in business music streaming, offering an extensive catalog with the option to legally import Spotify playlists.
Its scheduling tools, playlist creation options, and centralised controls make it useful for businesses with more than one location.
Licensing is bundled in the U.S. and Canada. In other territories, businesses may still need a local PRO licence (PRS/PPL, etc.).
While it focuses on a familiar streaming experience rather than heavily customised branding, it is a good choice for businesses that want a straightforward, compliant solution without added complexity.
3. Pandora CloudCover (Cloud Cover Music)
Pandora CloudCover serves businesses in the US and Canada, with licensing bundled for ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR, and more. Features like playlist management, explicit content filters, and remote access make it practical for business owners and managers who want music to be easy to handle.
It is simple and affordable, making it good for businesses where music is important but not the centrepiece of the brand experience. Customisation is limited compared to some rivals, but it covers the essentials well.
4. Mood Media
Mood Media has been a trusted name in in-store music for decades. It offers curated stations, brand-specific playlists, and optional collaboration with professional music designers. All licensing and reporting is handled for you, so compliance is effortless.
While its large-scale infrastructure has long served global enterprises, Mood Media businesses also provide options that can support smaller businesses seeking ready-made stations and straightforward compliance. That said, its approach is more traditional compared to newer platforms, which may offer greater flexibility and modern tech features for businesses that want hands-on control or advanced customisation.
5. Rockbot
Rockbot is all about easy control. Using its app, you can update playlists, schedule music, and make quick changes from your phone or laptop. Licensing for public performance rights is included, and branding features help you tailor the in-store sound to your business identity.
One standout is its optional customer engagement tool that lets visitors vote for songs, which can be a hit in gyms, bars, or casual dining spots.
While it is more about flexibility and convenience than deep curation, Rockbot makes music management simple and interactive. Rockbot serves businesses in the U.S. and Canada only.
6. SiriusXM Music for Business
SiriusXM Music for Business provides easy streaming hardware, web and app controls, scheduling tools, and multi-location management, making it a reliable, scalable solution for retail, hospitality, offices, and other commercial spaces.
Its strength lies in simplicity and flexibility. SiriusXM Internet Radio gives businesses access to over 100 fully licensed channels, with 30 programmed to run with zero DJ or commercial interruptions, ensuring your sales floor never skips a beat. While this is a smaller catalog compared to some competitors, the straightforward setup and refreshed stations make it easy to set the right mood for different times of day, switch playlists seasonally, and maintain an inviting atmosphere without the complexity of building playlists from scratch. SiriusXM Music for Business is available only in the U.S. and Canada.
7. Imagesound
Imagesound is a leading provider of curated in-store music, audio branding, and digital signage tailored for retail, hospitality, and leisure environments. Their service combines expert human curation with robust content management technology, helping businesses create branded soundtracks and immersive customer experiences across multiple locations.
Fully licensed for commercial use, Imagesound’s platform features seamless installation, remote management, and reliable monthly updates, making it a top choice for global brands seeking both compliance and creativity in their audio-visual presence
8. Custom Channels
Custom Channels is a music service that specialises in creating branded playlists tailored to each business’s unique style and customer experience. Playlists are continuously refreshed and updated, ensuring that the music always feels current and on-brand.
Alongside curation, Custom Channels provides robust business features such as playlist scheduling, remote management, and multi-location control. All music is fully licensed for commercial use, helping businesses stay compliant while focusing on their customers. With its combination of expert guidance and easy-to-use tools, Custom Channels is a suitable option for companies that want both hands-on support and reliable, scalable music management.
9. GrayV
GrayV offers boutique music curation aimed at upscale venues, with a reputation for crafting bespoke playlists and intimate, hands-on service. Especially valued by restaurants, retail spaces, and hospitality settings with design-driven sensibilities, GrayV emphasizes musical environments tailored to atmosphere, clientele, and brand story.
Their collaborative approach means expert curators work closely with each business, offering ongoing playlist refinement and client engagement for an exceptionally high-touch experience. GrayV primarily caters to businesses in the U.S. market.
Choosing the Service That Fits Your Business Best
The best music licensing services do more than just keep your speakers humming. They protect your business from legal headaches, help shape your brand’s personality, and create an atmosphere your customers will remember. From energising a bustling café to setting a relaxed mood in a spa, the right service can make all the difference.
Each company on this list brings something unique to the table, so your perfect match will depend on your style, your space, and your goals. Focus on the features that matter most, whether that is a huge library, curated playlists, flexible scheduling, or multi-location control, and you will find a service that works in harmony with your business.
Get it right, and your background music will not just fill the room. It will become part of the experience, the brand, and the reason people want to come back.