Mood-setting background music for restaurants

Licensed music streaming for restaurants tailored to enhance the dining experience, from morning openings to late-night ambiance.

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Enhance the ambiance of your restaurant

Curated music enhances the dining experience, creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for your guests.

Optimized dining pace

Music helps signal the rhythm of the restaurant, guiding diners through their experience from arrival to departure.

Enhance your brand

The right music enhances the restaurant's identity, aligning with its theme and target audience.

Drive repeat visits

A positive, memorable ambiance created by music can encourage customers to return.

Smiling staff icon with background music notes

Keep employees happy

Background music can energize and uplift employees, leading to better customer service.

The sound of better dining

Our music platform helps you control the mood of your restaurant 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 restaurants made easy

Build the right ambiance 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 promotional messages for your restaurant 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 restaurants isn’t just background noise

Music influences how long people stay, how much they spend, and how they feel. These stats show why investing in professional background music for restaurants pays off.

60%

of restaurant patrons spend more on food and drinks when they enjoy the background music.

42%

longer stays occur in establishments with background music, increasing the opportunity for higher spending.

increase in sales can be achieved by restaurants that play music aligning with their brand identity, compared to playing random popular music.

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

Music license solutions for
different restaurant styles

Whether you run a casual café, high-end bistro, or busy franchise, SoundMachine adapts to your restaurant’s unique needs.

Photo of a restaurant with a sign reading 'World famous Burgers - BBQ - Shakes'

Quick service & fast casual

Keep energy high and lines moving with upbeat playlists designed to support quick dining and a vibrant atmosphere.

A luxurious dining room with many round tables and a large window.

Fine dining & upscale restaurants

Create a calm, elegant ambiance with carefully curated background music that enhances the guest experience without distraction.

An old man serving cafe in a brunch spot.

Cafés & brunch spots

Set a relaxed, welcoming tone with your Café's background music tracks and light acoustic options that keep customers lingering over coffee or conversation.

Multi-location chains

Manage music across every site from one dashboard. Maintain brand consistency while tailoring each location’s vibe by time of day.

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How Much is Background Music for Restaurants?

SoundMachine is built for the pace of a restaurant, with background music pricing starting at a per-license monthly fee that covers scheduling around service times, seasonal menus, and events. Plans are simple, whether you run one site or a larger group.

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 Restaurant

Already using Spotify, Apple Music, or TIDAL at home? You can import your playlists into a fully licensed restaurant account and keep everything compliant. Spotify for restaurants, Apple Music for dining spaces, and Amazon Music playlists can all run in a fully licensed setup.

Compliance and Music Licensing for Restaurants

The right soundtrack can play a big part in the dining experience, from relaxed lunches to busy evening service. When music is played in areas like dining rooms, bars, patios, or waiting spaces, 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 Restaurants?

SoundMachine helps make music licensing for restaurants easier by combining licensed business music with tools designed for commercial hospitality settings.

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 restaurants, we can help reduce the complexity of using music as part of the dining experience while keeping licensing obligations in focus. It is worth reviewing your music licensing obligations before playing background music in a commercial restaurant setting. Contact our support team for more information.

How to get started

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

1. Pick your plan

Choose one of our plans, tell us about your company, and you're in! Explore all features for 14 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 branches instantly feel more inviting with professional-grade and expertly curated music.

Trusted by restaurants worldwide

Thousands of restaurants across the world trust SoundMachine as their dedicated restaurant music service to create the right atmosphere with licensed, flexible music solutions.

Music for restaurants. Licensed for business.

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Learn more about music for restaurants

Music for Restaurants: A Complete Guide

December 4, 2023

Think back to the last time you ate in a restaurant. Remember the way the food looked, the way it tasted, the way it smelled. [...]

How to Choose the Best Music for your Restaurant

May 1, 2022

Restaurants don’t just sell food, they sell experiences. Just as much thought should go into the desired ambiance of the location as the food itself. [...]

Wine and music: a match made in heaven

November 27, 2020

For businesses that rely heavily on wine, music can be a key way to take the customers to the top of the wine tasting experience. [...]

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Spotify to play music in my restaurant?

No, personal streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube are not licensed for commercial use. To legally play music in a restaurant, you need a commercial music streaming service like SoundMachine that covers public performance rights.

Why do restaurants need a music license?

Playing music in a business is considered a public performance, which requires the appropriate licensing. Without a license, restaurants risk fines or legal action from performance rights organisations. A platform like SoundMachine provides fully licensed music, so you’re covered without needing to manage separate agreements.

Is it legal to stream music from YouTube in my restaurant?

No, YouTube's terms of use prohibit commercial streaming in public venues. Even if you're using playlists, streaming from YouTube in a restaurant without proper licensing is a copyright violation. A commercial service ensures you’re using music legally and ethically.

How does playing music enhance the dining experience in a restaurant?

Music creates a welcoming ambiance, influences customer mood, and can enhance dining experiences. Studies show it can also encourage diners to stay longer or order more, depending on the tempo and genre.

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

PROs, like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, represent songwriters and music publishers. They ensure artists are compensated when their music is played in public spaces. Restaurants need licenses from PROs or a licensed music provider like SoundMachine to legally play music.

What type of music works best for restaurants?

Soft jazz, acoustic, or instrumental music suits most restaurants, enhancing ambiance without overpowering conversation.

Make your restaurant sound special. Try for free.

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