Calming background music for hospitals

Licensed music for hospitals and medical centers, carefully curated to support patient wellbeing and a peaceful clinical environment.

Enhance the ambiance
of your hospital

Thoughtfully selected music creates a welcoming environment, masks unpleasant noises, and promotes relaxation

Row of chairs icon representing a calm and inviting hospital environment

Creates a welcoming space

Background music makes the environment feel more inviting and less clinical, helping patients feel more at ease upon arrival.

Heartbeat icon symbolising reduction of harsh hospital sounds

Masks unpleasant noises

Hospitals and clinics can be noisy with medical equipment, alarms, and conversations. Music helps mask these sounds, easing stress for patients and staff.

Healthcare worker icon with positive expression showing mood improvement

Boosts staff morale

Healthcare workers face stress daily. Music can boost morale, reduce burnout, and improve efficiency.

Person meditating icon representing calmness and comfort

Enhances relaxation

Studies suggest that listening to music can help reduce the perception of pain, making treatments and recovery more comfortable for patients.

The sound of better care

Our music platform helps you shape a calm and comforting atmosphere in your hospital with licensed playlists, scheduling, and custom stations, ideal background music for hospital environments.

  • 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 hospitals made easy

Create a soothing environment throughout the day with scheduled music mixes, calming announcements, and multi-location control, all from one easy-to-use interface.

  • Schedule stations and custom mixes, building the right ambiance throughout the day.
  • Incorporate promotional messages for your clinic at exact times or in precise intervals.
  • Link as many locations and zones as you like to your account and control music from a single interface.
Learn more about SoundMachine's programming tools

Why background music for hospitals isn’t just background noise


Music can influence how patients feel, from reducing anxiety in waiting areas to supporting recovery on wards. These stats show why investing in professional background music for hospital settings makes a real difference.

80%

of patients reported that music helped reduce their anxiety before undergoing surgery.

65%

of healthcare workers believe that background music in hospitals creates a more positive work environment.

35%

reduction in perceived waiting time is reported by patients when music is played in waiting areas.

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

Music license solutions for
different medical environments

Whether you manage a private clinic, dental surgery, or a network of medical centres, SoundMachine provides the perfect background music to support calm, comfort, and care across every setting.

Hospitals & Larger Medical Centres

Customise the mood in waiting areas, wards, and staff rooms with zone-based music programming—designed to support wellbeing and reduce stress

Clinics & Private Practices

Build a welcoming and reassuring atmosphere with curated playlists that put patients at ease and reflect your care philosophy.

Dental Surgeries & Specialist Rooms

Ease nerves and enhance the patient experience with flexible music solutions that mask noise and create a more relaxing environment.

Multi-location Medical Networks

Manage music across all locations from a single dashboard. Maintain consistency in tone while tailoring soundscapes by department, time of day, or patient needs.

Go beyond curated stations

Already using Spotify, TIDAL or Apple Music at home? You can import playlists from major platforms into your fully licensed music for medical center account.

How to get started

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

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 medical facilities instantly feel more inviting with professional-grade and expertly curated music.

Trusted by healthcare providers worldwide

Hospitals and medical centres around the world trust SoundMachine to create the right atmosphere with licensed, flexible music for hospitals solutions.


Learn more about music for hospitals

The art of choosing waiting room music for medical centers

June 23, 2021

Well-selected music helps patients calm down and have a better time in moments of stress. [...]

Music for Health and Its Implications

November 6, 2017

Music and health being intrinsically linked isn’t such a crazy idea: the Greeks even appointed their god Apollo, with the oversight of both music and healing. [...]

Bluesound Professional will have access to SoundMachine’s content

April 27, 2021

SoundMachine has announced an extension of its partnership with Lenbrook International. [...]

Frequently Asked Questions


Appropriate background music can reduce anxiety, manage pain perceptions, and improve overall mood. A meta-analysis of 400 studies found that music interventions in healthcare settings led to significant reductions in patient anxiety and pain.


Yes, waiting rooms, recovery areas, and long-term care facilities often benefit most from background music. Operating rooms may also use music to help surgeons focus and reduce stress.


Gentle, instrumental music is often most appropriate. Nature sounds can also be beneficial. A business music streaming service like SoundMachine can provide specially curated playlists for healthcare settings that comply with volume and content guidelines.


No. Personal streaming platforms are not licensed for public or commercial use. To legally play music in hospitals, clinics, or medical centres, you need a business-grade service like SoundMachine that includes public performance rights.


Playing music in public areas is considered a public performance under copyright law. Without the correct licensing, facilities could face legal action or fines. SoundMachine covers these rights for you.


PROs—like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC—represent songwriters and music publishers. They ensure artists are compensated when their music is played publicly. A provider like SoundMachine manages these rights so your facility remains compliant.

Make your hospital sound special. Try for free.