Mood-setting background music for hotels

Licensed music curated to enhance every moment of the guest experience, from check-in to late-night lounging.

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Enhance the ambience of your hotel

Refined music elevates the ambiance, leaving a lasting impression that draws guests back.

Palm tree and lounge chair icon representing unique hotel zones like the pool, spa, and lobby.

Differentiates spaces

Unique music for areas like the lobby, pool, spa, and restaurants enhance each area's vibe.

Encourages repeat visits

Tailored music creates a memorable ambiance, evoking nostalgia and building brand loyalty for repeat visits.

Bell icon representing guest check-in and arrival experience.

Creates a warm welcome

Smooth, calming music helps guests transition from travel stress to relaxation.

Team icon with upward trend indicating improved employee well-being.

Increases staff morale

Background music can make the work environment more pleasant for your staff, boosting productivity and positivity.

The sound of better stays

Our music platform helps you control the mood of your hotel with licensed playlists, scheduling, and custom stations.

Pick your ideal sound from over 500 curated stations across a wide variety of genres.
Import custom playlists from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Youtube, and more.
Talk with a dedicated music concierge to help make the perfect station.

Learn more about SoundMachine's music tools

Music for hotels made easy

Build the right atmosphere throughout the day with scheduled music mixes, promotional messages, and multi-location control, all from one easy-to-use interface.

Schedule stations and custom mixes, building the right ambiance throughout the day.
Incorporate informational messages for your hotel at exact times or in precise intervals.
Link as many zones and properties as you like to your account and control music from a single interface.

Learn more about SoundMachine's programming tools

Why background music for hotels isn’t just background noise

Music influences guest behaviour, from how relaxed they feel to how long they stay. These stats show why investing in professional background music for hotel spaces makes a real difference.

75%

of hotel guests say that music in common areas enhances their overall stay experience.

20%

increase in food and beverage sales is reported in hotel restaurants that play background music.

90%

of hotel managers believe that the right music creates a more welcoming environment.

Figures and statistics are based on findings from reputable industry reports and academic research studies.

Music license solutions for
different hotel environments

Whether you manage a boutique hotel, luxury resort, or an international chain, our background music for hotels helps you craft the perfect guest experience from check-in to check-out.

Boutique hotels

Create a memorable, immersive atmosphere with curated playlists that reflect your hotel’s unique style and charm—ideal for lobbies, lounges, and bars.

Luxury resorts & large properties

Set the right tone across multiple zones with dynamic background music programming—perfect for spas, pool areas, restaurants, and reception.

Seasonal & pop-up hotel experiences

Deliver instant ambiance with flexible, plug-and play music options. Ideal for seasonal stays, rooftop bars, and event focused spaces.

Hotel groups & multi-location chains

Easily manage music across all properties from a single dashboard. Keep your brand voice consistent while customizing for region, time of day, or guest profile.

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How Much is Background Music for Hotels?

SoundMachine lets hotels manage music across lobbies, restaurants, bars, and spa areas from one platform. Our background music pricing includes Enterprise options for larger hotel groups and multi-property brands. Full licensing is included across every plan.

Monthly

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Annual Save 10%

New

Create mixes

Create mixes

Create mixes

Create mixes

Schedule content

Schedule content

Schedule content

Schedule content

Program Messages

Program Messages

Program Messages

Program Messages

Manage multiple users

Manage multiple users

Manage multiple users

Manage multiple users

100+ stations

500+ stations

500+ stations

Custom stations

Import stations from other music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more)

Import stations from other music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more)

Import stations from other music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more)

High Definition sound

High Definition sound

Enhanced support

Monthly

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Annual Save 10%

Custom Everything

Go Beyond Curated Stations for Your Hotel

Already using Spotify, Apple Music, or TIDAL at home? You can import your playlists into a fully licensed hotel account and keep everything compliant. Spotify for hotels, Apple Music for hospitality spaces, and Amazon Music playlists can all run across your property under one licensed account.

Compliance and Music Licensing for Hotels

From lobbies and lounges to spas, gyms, pools, and event spaces, music can support the guest experience throughout a hotel. When music is played in guest-facing or shared areas, it may trigger public performance rights under copyright law, which means the correct licensing needs to be in place.

How Can SoundMachine Help with Music Licensing for Hotels?

SoundMachine helps make music licensing for hotels easier by supporting commercial music use across properties where different spaces may need different moods.

United States: SoundMachine covers public performance rights through agreements with the major Performing Rights Organizations, including ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR.
Canada: SoundMachine covers public performance rights through agreements with SOCAN and Re:Sound.
Japan: SoundMachine covers public performance rights.
Rest of the World: For other countries like the UK, you may need to secure additional licenses through your local Performing Rights Organization or collecting society.

For hotels, we can help bring greater consistency to music use across the guest journey while still making room for local licensing checks where needed. Hotel operators should understand their licensing obligations before using background music as part of the guest experience. Contact our support team for more information.

How to get started

It only takes a few steps to get fully licensed music in your hotel.

1. Pick your plan

Choose one of our plans, tell us about your company, and you're in! Explore all features for 30 days, completely free.

2. Define your sound

Choose from 500+ stations or import custom playlists from major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, and more.

3. Program your content

Schedule stations, custom playlists, or mixes and get attention with promotional messaging.

4. Enjoy the music

You’re done! Watch as your locations instantly feel more inviting with professional-grade and expertly curated music.

Trusted by hotels worldwide

Thousands of hotels around the world trust SoundMachine to create the right atmosphere with licensed, flexible background music solutions.

Learn more about music for hotels

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can background music enhance the guest experience?

Appropriate background music can create a welcoming ambiance, reduce stress, and even influence guest behavior. A study by Cornell University found that guests in hotels with carefully curated music reported 18% higher satisfaction rates.

Is it important to have different playlists for different areas of the hotel?

Absolutely. The lobby might benefit from upbeat yet sophisticated tunes, while the spa area calls for calming, ambient sounds. Partners of SoundMachine offer multi-zone controls to tailor music to different hotel areas easily.

Can background music help with noise issues in hotels?

Yes, strategic use of background music can help mask unwanted noises in common areas, improving the overall acoustic environment. This is especially useful in areas near elevators or ice machines.

Can I use Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube to play music in my hotel?

No, personal streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube are not licensed for commercial use. To legally play music in a hotel environment, you need a business-grade solution like SoundMachine that includes public performance rights.

Why do hotels need a music license?

Playing background music for hotel spaces—like lobbies, lounges, spas, or restaurants—is considered a public performance under copyright law. Without the correct license, hotels risk fines from performance rights organisations. Services like SoundMachine handle these rights on your behalf so you stay compliant.

What are performance rights organisations (PROs), and why do they matter?

PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC represent music creators and publishers. They make sure artists are paid when their music is played in public. Hotels can either secure individual licenses or use a service like SoundMachine, which covers all necessary rights for playing background music in hotels.

What kind of music is best for hotel environments?

It depends on your brand and guest profile. Boutique hotels may prefer ambient, acoustic, or lo-fi tracks, while resorts might opt for upbeat world or chillout mixes. The best background music for hotel spaces always complements the atmosphere you're aiming to create.

Make your hotel sound special. Try for free.

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