Several companies offer in-store background music. In addition to Pandora CloudCover, Soundtrack, SoundMachine, and Jukeboxy all offer large music libraries and the music rights licenses you need to play music legally.
However, only Pandora CloudCover offers an incredibly large music library with plenty of special features at a fantastically low price. With one contract, you’ll get all of the music you need and know that you’re never paying too much.
The Most Affordable Music Streaming Providers for Business
Several commercial streaming providers offer products that allow small business owners to play music for their customers without worry about proper music licensing. These companies made our list for their low cost.
Pandora CloudCover
Pandora CloudCover is an elite business music streaming product. Your subscription includes the licenses you need to play background music legally without worrying about licensing compliance.
Your subscription also gives you access to Pandora’s vast library of songs. Talented musicologists have split those songs into business-friendly stations that are just right for your brand. If you don’t find one you like, those musicologists can make a channel for you.
Pandora CloudCover provides a CloudBox system, which means you can start playing music immediately without extensive programming and know-how.
All of this power comes with one of the smallest monthly fees among all of the companies we’re outlining.
Soundtrack
Soundtrack (formerly known as Soundtrack Your Brand) creates a product that’s specifically designed for businesses. A large library is split into more than 1,500 ready-made playlists that are often updated.
Customers can create their own playlists by manipulating existing songs or importing an existing Spotify playlist. An AI tool included with some plans makes creating playlists easier.
Soundtrack offers business-friendly options like multi-location management and scheduling, so business owners can spend less time on technology. An optional messaging feature lets business owners share custom messages too.
Soundtrack is an expensive product, especially for customers with a large footprint. The more locations or zones you have, the higher the fee.
SoundMachine
Per their website, SoundMachine has created a product exclusively for businesses, and your subscription includes a license that protects you from copyright violation lawsuits.
SoundMachine has a large library of business-friendly songs that are split into more than 500 curated stations. Each station is professionally created to suit different business types. You can also mix and match playlists to create a custom sound.
Multi-location management, scheduling, and audio messaging are all included to make managing the music easier for business owners. The music can be played via mobile app or dedicated hardware.
SoundMachine is currently more expensive than Pandora CloudCover, especially for companies with many zones and locations. Each addition will cost subscribers more money.
Jukeboxy
Jukeboxy is the final company in our comparison list, and it offers an extensive music library of more than 45 million songs. Those songs are split into 400 curated playlists that can suit different business types and moods.
The company offers a DJ tool that allows customers to create custom playlists by mood or genre. All of the songs within this tool are business-appropriate and family-friendly.
Per their website, a subscription includes appropriate licenses, as well as business tools like multi-location management, scheduling, and messaging.
Jukeboxy is also more expensive than Pandora CloudCover, especially for companies with many locations or zones.
Things to Consider When Choosing an In-Store Music Provider
Since many companies claim to offer legal access to music for businesses, owners must make careful choices. These are a few items to consider:
Music Licensing & Full Legal Coverage
Any music provider you choose should include an appropriate business background music license with your subscription. Playing background music in a business is considered a public performance, and if you don’t have all required licenses, you may get sued.
All of the companies we’ve outlined here claim to offer services licensed for businesses. However, it pays to read the fine print of each service’s license agreement carefully to understand what it does and does not cover.
Q: Does Pandora CloudCover provide fully licensed music for businesses?
A: Yes. A subscription includes all necessary licenses to allow you to play background music in your business, all in compliance with copyright laws.
Music Selection & Customization
A provider you select should have an extensive library of songs you can choose from. This large selection ensures that you don’t repeat songs and bore your customers and staff.
You should also have the ability to choose from a preprogrammed playlist of songs that are appropriate for your business type. An ideal company will also allow you to create a custom playlist if you can’t find something you like in the standard catalog.
Pandora CloudCover has millions of songs in its library, and they’re split into business-friendly stations that allow you to start sharing music immediately. Our musicologists create these playlists and update them regularly. Those same professionals can create stations that are personalized for your business and goals.
"We combine musicology with data science to understand how different sounds and rhythms affect customer behavior. We can help you build a custom station that not only reflects your brand's unique identity, but also strategically encourages customers to stay longer and spend more."
- Nate, Pandora CloudCover Musicologist
Ease of Use & Device Compatibility
Your ideal partner will make it easy for you to stream background music in your business. Most of the companies we’ve outlined here allow business owners to stream music via a connected device like a phone or laptop.
Pandora CloudCover also provides a custom solution called the CloudBox. This tool allows business owners to set up in seconds. Plug it into the speakers, and start playing music in seconds.
CloudBox provides more than 99% reliability, and it connects to any sound system with ease. It plays locally stored music in the event of internet or connectivity issues.
Pricing
Your ideal partner will give you access to fully licensed music at a price you can afford. You shouldn’t have to pay too much for an extensive library and all of the business-friendly tools you need to be successful.
Pandora CloudCover offers the lowest price of all of the companies we’ve outlined here. That low price comes with immense variety and capabilities.
Scalability
Your perfect provider will stay with you as you grow and change. Scalability is critical to the success of almost all businesses, but it’s not common among music streaming providers.
Pandora CloudCover puts scalability front and center. You can add locations and zones with ease at prices that won’t break the bank. That’s not true of all other business music streaming companies.
Pandora CloudCover also allows you to manage all of your locations from one centralized dashboard, rather than having to manage each location separately (as other providers make you do).
Q: Does Pandora CloudCover have a solution for multi-location businesses?
A: Yes, we can help scale your music selection with one or thousands of locations under one centralized dashboard for ease of use and management.
Customer Support
Background music services should provide extensive support for their clients. Full coverage means you can get the help you need when you need it, instead of waiting for someone to get back to you.
At Pandora CloudCover, staff members are available around the clock to answer questions and troubleshoot problems. You’ll never have to wait to get the assistance you deserve.
Industry Expertise
The company you choose should have extensive experience in your industry. That expertise means the company knows what music will (and will not) work for your audience as well as the tools you’ll need to manage the music.
The music you choose and the timing of your selections have a deep impact on the success of your business. A partner understands this and makes your success possible. They’ll work with you to find the right balance for your business.
At Pandora CloudCover, we have helped companies of all sizes to find the right blend of music for their businesses, regardless of industry type. We can help you too.
Pandora CloudCover, the Premier & Affordable In-Store Music Provider
Pandora CloudCover is your premier option for affordable in-store music. Our large selection of music, combined with plenty of business-friendly options, makes us an ideal choice.
We offer a free 14-day trial with no credit card required. Terms and conditions apply. Sign up today to learn more about how we can help your business and provide you with the fully licensed music you need.
References
Soundtrack. (December 2025). Soundtrack.
SoundMachine. (December 2025). SoundMachine.
Jukeboxy. (December 2025). Jukeboxy.
What You Need to Know About Music Licensing for Your Business. (March 12, 2013). Entrepreneur.
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SiriusXM: Music for Business. SiriusXM.
Mood Media to Acquire Muzak for $305 Million. (March 24, 2011). The Wall Street Journal.
Homepage. Mood Media.
Homepage. Pandora CloudCover.
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In-Store Messaging. Pandora CloudCover.
504. Remedies for Infringement: Damages and Profits. Chapter 5: Copyright Infringement and Remedies. U.S. Copyright Office.
Live Band Played Two Copyrighted Songs at Prejean’s. (February 2023). The Acadiana Advocate.
Dublin Square Settles Copyright Infringement Lawsuit. (February 2024). The State News.
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