Mood-setting background music for restaurants
Licensed music tailored to enhance the dining experience, from morning openings to late-night ambiance.
How background music enhances
restaurant ambiance
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.
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.
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.
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.
of restaurant patrons spend more on food and drinks when they enjoy the background music.
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.
Quick service & fast casual
Keep energy high and lines moving with upbeat playlists designed to support quick dining and a vibrant atmosphere.
Fine dining & upscale restaurants
Create a calm, elegant ambiance with carefully curated background music that enhances the guest experience without distraction.
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.
Go beyond curated stations
Already using Spotify, TIDAL, or Apple Music at home? You can import playlists from major platforms into your fully licensed restaurant account.
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 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 branches instantly feel more inviting with professional-grade and expertly curated music.
Trusted by restaurants worldwide
Thousands of restaurants across the world trust SoundMachine to create the right atmosphere with licensed, flexible music solutions.
Music for restaurants. Licensed for business.
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.