Mood-setting background music for bars

Licensed playlists curated to create the perfect atmosphere, from first pour to last call. Ideal for bars, pubs, taprooms and even brewery venues looking to enhance the guest experience.

Craft the ultimate experience for
your bar

Tailored music sets the tone, elevating the mood and leaving a lasting impression on your guests.

Beer icon representing enhanced enjoyment through music

Enriched drinking experience

Just like the perfect beer pairing, the right music enhances the ambiance, making every sip more enjoyable.

Clock icon symbolising increased time spent at the bar

Encourages longer visits

The right music creates a welcoming ambiance, encouraging customers to stay longer, enjoy more drinks, and feel at home.

Open sign icon representing venue branding through curated playlists.

Boosts brand identity

Curated playlists help breweries define their identity, from classic rock vibes to trendy sounds, reinforcing their brand.

Crowd icon representing tempo control for managing guest energy levels

Regulate crowd energy

Breweries can adjust tempo and genre to influence the crowd's mood—faster beats energize, while slower tracks calm, creating a balanced ambiance.

The sound of better pours

Our music platform helps you control the mood of your bar or pub with licensed playlists, daypart 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 bars made easy

Build the right in-venue 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 to match the vibe of your bar, pub, taproom or brewery from open to close.
  • Incorporate promotional messages for your brewery or pub at exact times or in precise intervals.
  • Link as many locations as you like to your account and control music from a single interface.
Learn more about SoundMachine's programming tools

Why background music for bars isn’t just background noise

Music influences guest behaviour, from how long they stay to how much they spend. These stats show why investing in professional background music for bars, taprooms and brewery venues pays off.

30%

increase in customer spending occurs in bars that play music compared to those without it.

70%

of bar and taproom visitors say music improves their overall experience, helping them feel more relaxed and involved.

60%

of customers link certain music genres with specific venues, which boosts brand recognition and loyalty.

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

Music license solutions for bars and hospitality venues

Whether you run a bustling city bar, pub, a cosy taproom or a multi-location hospitality brand, SoundMachine delivers the perfect soundtrack to elevate your guest experience.

Bars & cocktail lounges

Set the perfect mood with curated playlists that reflect your venue’s vibe, from upbeat weekend energy to smooth weekday evenings.

Taprooms, pubs & breweries

Use zone-based music programming to match the mood across tasting rooms, bar areas and outdoor spaces, enhancing the full experience.

Pop-Ups & event bars

Make an impact with flexible, plug-and-play music solutions. Keep things fresh and on-brand with tailored playlists that grab attention from the first pour.

Multi-location bar groups

Easily manage music across all venues from one platform. Maintain brand consistency while fine-tuning tracks by location, daypart or special event.

Go beyond curated stations

Already using Spotify, TIDAL or Apple Music at home? You can import playlists from major platforms into your fully licensed account for bars, pubs, taprooms and brewery venues, making it easy to bring your favourite sounds into a professional setting.

How to get started

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

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 bars, taprooms and breweries worldwide

Thousands of bars, pubs, taprooms and brewery venues around the world trust SoundMachine to create the right atmosphere with licensed, flexible music solutions.


Learn more about music for bars, taprooms, and breweries

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Frequently Asked Questions


Music plays a big role in shaping the guest experience. The right soundtrack can influence how long people stay, how much they spend and how they feel about your venue. Studies even show that music can make drinks taste better by enhancing mood.


No. Personal streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are not licensed for commercial use. To legally play music in a bar, taproom or brewery, you need a business-grade service like SoundMachine that includes public performance rights.


Playing music in your venue is considered a public performance under copyright law. Without proper licensing, you could face fines from performance rights organisations (PROs). SoundMachine takes care of these rights for you.


PROs like ASCAP, BMI and SESAC represent music creators and ensure they're paid when their work is played in public. Using a licensed music provider like SoundMachine ensures you’re fully covered.


Yes. Tasting rooms benefit from calm, ambient playlists that support focus on flavour, while main bar areas can feature more upbeat music to encourage energy and socialising. SoundMachine offers multi-zone controls to handle both with ease.


Aim for a volume that allows comfortable conversation. Generally, background music should be between 70-80 decibels. However, you might increase volume slightly during peak hours to match the energy of a busier crowd.


Absolutely. SoundMachine lets you control music across multiple venues from one dashboard. You can maintain a consistent brand vibe while tailoring playlists by time of day, location or audience.

Make your bar sound special. Try for free.