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Best Music Streaming Services for Businesses Compared: Cost, Support, & Features
The benefits of music streaming services for business are well-documented. Numerous studies have shown that music can boost sales in restaurants, increase impulse sales in retail stores and improve worker productivity in offices.
But how can you identify the best music streaming service for a business? This guide provides details on the top music for business options, along with a music streaming services price comparison. We’ll also discuss what you should consider when reviewing streaming services.
How to Judge Music Streaming Services for Business
There are a few essential considerations when comparing music streaming services for business.
One non-negotiable is the availability of licenses for all the music you stream. Without licenses, you violate copyright laws and are subject to substantial penalties. That’s why it’s challenging to find a free streaming music service for businesses. Even if you want to play songs on radio stations, you still need the appropriate licenses for the music. Licensing requirements also prevent you from using your personal subscription to stream music for your business.
Other essential factors to consider include the:
- Absence of ads and DJ interruptions
- Size of the music catalog
- Types of hardware
- Customer support
You’ll also want to look for advanced features like scheduling and a central management portal.
The availability of a free trial is another good sign of a reputable music streaming service for businesses. Pricing is also a factor, especially when selecting streaming music for small businesses. You get what you pay for, and you should beware of ultra-low-cost options. But the most expensive stream doesn’t guarantee the best service. You’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of each resource carefully before choosing among the best streaming services for your business.
A Comparison of Music Streaming for Business Options
It’s a given that you want licensed music streaming for your business. All of the options we review do include the necessary licenses. But you should be aware of significant differences among the services. Check out our roundup of music streaming services for business and decide which is the best for you.
SiriusXM Music for Business
SiriusXM Music for Business offers more than 240 channels. It also includes over 100 Xtra Channels and 10,000-plus Pandora Artist Stations for even more versatility. Our music is free of ads and DJ interruptions.
Player Options
You can stream your SiriusXM Music subscription from a wide range of devices, including a dedicated player with onboard controls and Wi-Fi capability, Sonos, and a wide range of connected devices, such as web players, mobile devices, PCs, and more. We also provide a satellite radio option. The dedicated player does not provide any local storage or offline playback capabilities.
SiriusXM Music for Business’s dedicated player does offer real-time controls and can be controlled from a remote location.
Custom Curation and AI Capabilities
While we provide a wide range of tracks curated by music professionals, SiriusXM Music for Business does not offer custom curated playlists. Through our access to Pandora Artist stations, businesses can generate AI-enabled playlists. But we do not allow playlist mixing or song blocking. SiriusXM Music for Business also does not provide a comprehensive historical record of songs played.
Advanced Features
SiriusXM Music for Business offers a scheduling function and a central management portal. We provide hundreds of consumer channels alongside our Business Exclusive channels.
Customer Support
We offer comprehensive customer support, including a call center in Michigan, as well as online resources that allow customers to troubleshoot and resolve problems. SiriusXM Music for Business also offers on-site support for installation and maintenance. Through our partnership with Dynamic Media, we design, sell, and install audio systems.
Cost
SiriusXM Music for Business offers a 30-day free trial with all features, and monthly subscriptions are $26.95, with discounted enterprise programs for establishments with over 50 locations. We accept all payment methods, and you can choose to pay monthly, quarterly, or annually.
Looking for value? Explore this guide to the most affordable music for business.
Mood Media
Mood Media offers an estimated 1 million to 2 million songs without interruptions.
Player Options
Its hardware player has no onboard controls and offers limited local storage and offline playback capabilities. Wi-Fi support is available. While it does allow control from a remote location, the player offers no real-time control. Mood Media does provide an app but no web player.
Custom Curation and AI Capabilities
Mood Media provides a paid curation service, featuring a Mood Media curator. This service can range from hundreds of dollars per month and is available to only the largest customers. The company offers no AI-generated playlists. The service provides a basic but functional playlist mixing feature, along with song blocking capabilities. Mood Media does not offer a comprehensive historical record of songs played.
Advanced Features
Mood Media does offer scheduling capabilities, along with a central management portal with basic features. However, it does not provide any connections to consumer music.
Customer Support
The service provides customer support through call centers in India and Pakistan. If you purchase through a reseller, that company will be responsible for customer support. Audio system design, sales and installation are also handled by resellers, where available.
Cost
The company doesn’t say if it offers a free trial. Monthly subscriptions start at $34.95, although a stripped-down version is available for $17 a month. Mood Media accepts all payment methods.
Pandora CloudCover
The Pandora CloudCover catalog contains 250+ music stations with no commercial or DJ interruptions.
Player Options
Its hardware player has no onboard controls. With available real-time control, the player can be controlled from a remote location. It also offers Wi-Fi support. Prefetch mode must be enabled for its limited local storage and offline playback capabilities. Once prefetch mode is activated, you no longer control the player. An app is available, as is a web player.
Custom Curation and AI Capabilities
Pandora CloudCover has no custom curated playlists or playlist mixing functionality, but it does offer AI-enabled artist channels that allow users to create personalized music stations based on artists or songs. It does not offer a traditional song-blocking feature, although it provides a “thumbs down” option that indicates a song should not be played again. A comprehensive historical record of songs played is not part of its offerings.
Advanced Features
Pandora CloudCover provides scheduling capabilities, as well as a central management portal.
Customer Support
The company provides phone and chat support through a small U.S.-based call center, but it offers no on-site services. It also does not provide audio system design, sales, or installation services.
Cost
There’s a free 14-day trial, and monthly subscriptions range from $18.95 for a basic plan to $29.95. The company accepts all payment methods.
Rockbot
With a catalog of 16 million songs, Rockbot allows a business’s customers to request songs through the Rockbot app, giving them, rather than the business, control over the music selection. Its music plays without DJ or commercial interruptions.
Player Options
The company’s hardware player has no onboard controls but it does offer real-time and remote control. It does not provide Wi-Fi support. As far as local storage and offline playback capabilities are concerned, the dedicated hardware player, which can be remotely controlled, is loaded with around 50 songs that loop. The player also offers real-time control. Rockbot does offer an app and a web player.
Custom Curation and AI Capabilities
Custom curated playlists and AI-generated stations are not part of Rockbot’s offerings. It also does not provide playlist mixing or a comprehensive historical record of songs played.
Advanced Features
Rockbot offers a scheduling function and a basic central management portal. It also lets users import music from services like Spotify and Apple Music.
Customer Support
The company provides email and phone call support during business hours, and its website offers some resources. However, Rockbot does not offer on-site support or audio system design, sales and installation services.
Cost
Rockbot offers a seven-day free trial, and monthly subscriptions start at $30. It accepts payment through ACH and credit card only.
Music Streaming Cost Comparison: By the Numbers
When you compare music streaming services’ prices, you can find a wide range of options. Many provide a low initial cost while quickly tacking on additional fees for necessary services.
A face value streaming cost comparison shouldn;t be the only metric to identify the best music streaming service for business. You also need to take into account each service’s advanced features, available players, customer support, music library, and payment options. If you look at the whole picture, SiriusXM Music for Business comes out as a top contender for the best music streaming service. We offer a great lineup of players, an outstanding music library, U.S.-based customer service, and a dedicated rep for every client.
Feature | SiriusXM | Mood Media | Pandora CloudCover | Rockbot |
Monthly Cost | $26.95 | Starting at $17 | Starting at $18.95 | Starting at $30 |
Catalog Size | 240+ channels and more than 10,000 Pandora Artist Stations | 1-2 million songs | 250+ channels | 16 million |
Hardware Player with Onboard Controls | ||||
On-Site Support |
6 Questions to Ask When Choosing the Best Music Streaming Service for Business
A thorough comparison of the various platforms is essential to selecting the best music streaming service for business. You’ll want to carefully review the features offered by each. As you evaluate your options, ask yourself the following questions.
1. Is the Music Licensed?
In searching for the best music streaming service for business, you may think about using your personal music subscription. This is never a good idea because it violates copyright law and can result in thousands of dollars in fines. Legitimate music for business services will include all the licensing rights for the tunes you want to play.
2. Is the Music Ad-Free?
When looking for the best music streaming for your business, you may consider playing various radio stations. This option is less than ideal because annoying ads and DJ interruptions can reduce the benefits of playing music for your customers. Plus, you never know if some content will offend your customers. Another problem with playing the radio is that it can violate copyright law.
Besides the radio, some free services also offer ad-supported music streaming. Again, these ads can detract from the advantages of playing music.
3. How Large is the Music Catalog?
The best music streaming service for business will offer a wide range of playlists. You want a broad array of choices to ensure you play the appropriate music. SiriusXM Music for Business, for instance, provides access to 240+ SiriusXM channels and over 10,000 Pandora Artist Stations.
4. Are You Locked Into a Specific Type of Hardware?
The best business music service will let you stream music on the device of your choice. For example, you can play SiriusXM Music for Business on a wide range of devices, like a smartphone, personal computer, Sonos speaker, dedicated streaming player, or connected devices such as Apple TV or Amazon.
5. Can You Play Music in Different Zones or Locations?
If your business has multiple locations, you’ll want a business music service that can play at all your sites. Even if you have just one location, you may want to play different music in different parts of your facility. The best music streaming service for business will let you play music where you want.
6. Can You Select Music Based on the Time of Day?
Some businesses wish to play different types of music at different times of the day. Restaurants, for instance, may want slower music for breakfast time and more upbeat choices after hours. The best business music streaming service lets you play the music you want when you want.
Music Streaming for Business Wrap-Up
Because Rockbot is really a jukebox service with the potential for offensive or unwanted music, it’s often not a good fit for many businesses. Among the music streaming for business services, Mood Media is considered a shaky proposition because it declared bankruptcy in 2020. Its future is somewhat in doubt.
Given its poor set of services and limited music options, Pandora CloudCover doesn’t provide a good value. SiriusXM Music for Business is an excellent choice for businesses looking for an easy entry into music streaming at an affordable price. A bonus is that SiriusXM for Business includes over 10,000 Pandora Artist Stations, giving you access to Pandora’s music without having to deal with its limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Music Streaming Service
SiriusXM Music For Business has industry-leading expertise and knowledge. Read the following questions to learn more about the best music streaming service.
Can you stream music in a business?
If you use a music streaming service specifically designed for businesses, such as SiriusXM Music for Business, you can stream music in your establishment. Personal music subscriptions aren’t designed for business use.
Can I use Amazon Music for business?
As a personal music subscription service, Amazon Music is not suitable for businesses. Using it in your business violates Amazon Music’s user agreement and copyright laws. Likewise, playing a radio in your business without the proper licenses can result in lawsuits and thousands of dollars in fines.
Can I use Apple Music or Spotify for my business?
Because Spotify and Apple Music are personal music subscription services like Amazon Music, it is not legal to play Spotify in a business or Apple Music.
What music can I use in my business?
You can use any music in your business that you have the proper license for. Getting all the necessary licenses from the performing rights organizations is time-consuming and expensive, and it’s easy to miss a license and end up in trouble with the law. A streaming service specifically designed for businesses, like SiriusXM Music for Business, provides all the required licenses at a reasonable monthly cost.
How do I know if a music streaming service for business offers reliable customer service?
The best way to ensure reliable customer service is to use a music streaming company that offers U.S.-based customer service, such as SiriusXM Music for Business. We also provide a dedicated rep for each client, ensuring you receive the service you need.
What is a reasonable cost to stream music for my business?
A reasonable cost for music streaming represents a fair balance between the services provided and the monthly price. Costing $26.95 a month, a SiriusXM Music for Business subscription offers excellent value with a feature-rich lineup that doesn’t break the bank.
How do the music libraries compare among the business music streaming services?
The music libraries vary widely among the business music streaming services, with Mood Media offering just 1 to 2 million songs. SiriusXM Music for Business has a robust library, with 240+ channels and access to over 10,000 Pandora Artist Stations. Importantly, all SiriusXM channels are professionally curated, ensuring a high level of quality.
What sort of user interface should I consider when looking for the best music streaming service?
The best music streaming service offers an intuitive interface that you can access via an app or a dedicated player with onboard controls. SiriusXM is the only business music streaming service that provides a dedicated player with onboard controls.
Trust Your Music Streaming for Business to SiriusXM Music for Business
When you want dependable, affordable music streaming for business, you want SiriusXM Music for Business. We offer an unparalleled mix of music and provide outstanding customer service and on-site support for installation and maintenance. Contact us today to see what SiriusXM for Business can do for you.
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