Pandora CloudCover vs. Mood Media

Comparing Pandora CloudCover vs. Mood Media can help you make a smart decision for your company — and these two businesses are very different.

Pandora CloudCover offers low-cost access to a robust library of music. Choose from pre-programmed channels or build your own to match your brand. Add overhead messages to connect directly with customers. With support available around the clock, you’ll always have help when you need it. 

Mood Media is more expensive, and it has fewer music plans to choose from. However, the company also offers options like digital signage, AV systems, and scent marketing to reach clients. For some businesses, these are very important additions. 

Keep reading to find out more about these companies and which might be right for you.

Pandora CloudCover vs. Mood Media at a Glance

Why Does Music Licensing Matter?

Before we dig deeper into Pandora CloudCover vs. Mood Media, let’s explain why licensing is critical. Most people sign up with these companies because they’re looking for a legal way to play background music without a lot of hassle. 

Music is protected by U.S. copyright law. People who own the copyright (such as the musicians and their publishers) have control over when their songs are played, and if they give permission for someone else to play it, they require a payment (or suitable arrangement). 

Most copyright holders hire performing rights organizations (PROs) to manage contracts and accept fees. Companies like BMI and ASCAP accept payments from business owners, and they can allow legal access to songs. However, a business using this option must have an arrangement with every PRO to play a full library. A contract with one doesn’t mean access to all songs. 

Do Pandora CloudCover & Mood Media Work with PROs?

Both Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media work directly with major PROs. They create contracts and accept fees, so their clients have legal access to songs. Typically, an arrangement with Pandora CloudCover or Mood Media means tapping into a larger library than signing up with just one PRO. 

If you play music without an appropriate contract, you could face lawsuits from the copyright holder. Those lawsuits can result in damages of thousands of dollars.

Breaking Down Pandora CloudCover & Mood Media

In the competitive landscape of business music solutions, Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media have established themselves as prominent services, offering a broad spectrum of music while ensuring compliance with legal licensing requirements.

How Does Pandora CloudCover Work?

Pandora CloudCover distinguishes itself with its flexibility, customizability, and cost-efficiency, making it a go-to option for a wide range of businesses.

The service is priced starting at $16.95/mo per location (when prepaid annually), presenting an affordable solution for high-quality music streaming across a diverse selection. Its 24/7 customer support stands out as a critical benefit, especially for businesses operating beyond standard hours or those requiring prompt assistance.

Furthermore, the scalability of Pandora CloudCover is ideal for larger enterprises managing multiple locations, offering an easily navigable and efficient music management system.

Music Curation

Pandora CloudCover revolutionizes music streaming for businesses by leveraging its AI Personalized Music Curator. This innovative feature enables users to craft their own stations starting from a specific song, artist, or album.

This flexibility is a step beyond the conventional approach of selecting from premade stations, offering a more tailored experience.‍

Extensive Library

Adding to this, Pandora CloudCover boasts an extensive collection of over 220 pre-curated business stations. What sets this apart is the ability for users can to customize and mix these preprogrammed stations via the platform according to their unique tastes and preferences.

This feature not only provides variety but also allows businesses to infuse their own character into the music they play.‍

Personalization

Pandora CloudCover's distinct offering also includes a personalized station, meticulously crafted by a team of degreed musicologists.

This station is not just another playlist. It's a reflection of your brand's identity, designed to resonate with your specific audience and enhance the overall ambiance of your business space.‍

How Does Mood Media Work?

Mood Media, while providing a similar service, extends its offerings beyond music. Their approach encompasses not only auditory but also visual and olfactory elements, aiming to create a more immersive brand experience. 

While this wider range of services might not be necessary for businesses specifically focused on enhancing their ambiance through music alone, Mood Media's broader scope can be more suitable for businesses seeking a comprehensive sensory branding strategy. 

For those who prioritize straightforward, effective music streaming, Pandora CloudCover's focused approach might be more appealing.

Pandora CloudCover vs. Mood Media: Key Differences

In comparing Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media, you can see that Pandora CloudCover shines above Mood Media in some key features.
Here’s a deeper look at the differences between the two:

Cost

Pandora CloudCover stands out as a more economical choice, with prices starting at $16.95/mo per location when prepaid annually. Pandora CloudCover doesn’t require any special equipment or setup fees, and there are no cancellation fees associated with monthly subscription plans. By signing up for an annual contract, you could save 10%. This pricing model is highly advantageous for budget-conscious businesses seeking a cost-effective music streaming service.  

In comparison, Mood Media's pricing begins at $26.99/mo per zone when prepaid annually. There are no setup fees, but you could get charged if you cancel your plan before the term of the contract is up. However, by signing up for an annual contract, you can save 10%. A higher cost may pose a significant budgetary concern for businesses, especially those requiring music services across multiple zones or locations.

Number of Plans

Pandora CloudCover offers a diverse range of four different plans, catering to various customer needs and sizes of businesses. This variety ensures that every business can find a plan that aligns with its specific requirements and budget.

Mood Media, however, provides only three plans. This reduced selection could limit the options for businesses seeking a more customized audio solution tailored to their unique needs.

Price to Add Zones

Adding zones with Pandora CloudCover is more budget-friendly, starting at just $12.95/mo when prepaid annually. This cost-effectiveness makes it an ideal choice for businesses looking to expand their music coverage affordably.

On the other hand, Mood Media's pricing for additional zones starts at $26.99/mo per zone when prepaid annually. This significantly higher cost could be a barrier for businesses planning to scale up their music environment across multiple zones.

Scheduling Music at All Times

Pandora CloudCover allows businesses to schedule music at any time across all plans, offering superior flexibility and control over the music environment. This feature is particularly valuable for tailoring the music to specific times or events.

Mood Media, however, does not offer such extensive scheduling capabilities in its plans. This limitation might affect businesses that need more control over their music environment to suit their specific operational hours or atmosphere.

Access to Pandora Network

A distinctive advantage of Pandora CloudCover is its access to the extensive Pandora network, featuring a wide array of stations covering every genre, mood, and era. This provides businesses with a rich and varied selection of music choices.

In contrast, Mood Media does not offer access to the Pandora network. This lack of variety could limit the music options and customization available to businesses using Mood Media's services.

Additional Services 

While Pandora CloudCover focuses exclusively on the audible part of the customer experience, Mood Media does a little bit more. For example, Mood Media provides customers with plenty of visual marketing options, such as audiovisual systems, digital signage, and scent marketing. For companies that are trying to build a brand via several different senses, Mood Media might be a wise choice. 

However, those advanced options do come with a price. Pandora CloudCover offers more options for music, including the ability to create custom music stations for your brand. Mood Media doesn’t provide this significant library of choices and customization options.

Pandora CloudCover vs. Mood Media: Similarities

While Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media have their unique features, they also share common ground in several aspects. These similarities are crucial in providing a baseline of quality and service that businesses can expect from either provider.

Legal Music Options 

Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media work directly with PROs like BMI and ASCAP. They pay the associated fees, so their customers don’t have to do so. By signing up with one of these companies, you can play background music without worrying that you’re violating copyright law. 

Overhead Messaging 

Both Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media offer customers the ability to share overhead messages with their customers. With these tools, you can record a custom message and play it over loudspeakers between the songs you’ve chosen to play.

Free Trial

Both Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media offer a 14-day free trial, which is a significant advantage for businesses exploring their options in music streaming services. The absence of a credit card requirement for these trials indicates a user-friendly approach, lowering the barrier for businesses to test and evaluate the services without any financial commitment.

This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses to assess the fit of the service with their specific needs and customer base before making a decision.

Contract Flexibility

Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media both provide monthly contract plans, offering a level of flexibility that can be appealing to a wide range of businesses. This flexibility is especially advantageous for businesses that are seasonal, undergoing changes, or prefer not to commit to long-term contracts.

The ability to opt for a monthly plan allows businesses to adapt more easily to their changing needs and circumstances without being tied down by a lengthy contract.

Customer Service Options

Both Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media offer a variety of customer service options, including phone, email, and chat. Both companies prioritize providing good service to people who subscribe and have questions about how the product works and what should happen next. Neither company seems to charge people to connect with customer support. 

Scalability 

Both Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media are designed with growth in mind. If you add locations to your business, both companies can connect you with the right music and control options. However, both companies will likely ask for more money to connect these new locations. 

Legality 

Songs are protected by U.S. Copyright Law. People who hold the copyright can ask for (and collect) fees for every public performance of their music. When you play songs within your business, it’s considered a public performance that’s subject to a fee. 

Many copyright holders hire performance rights organizations (PROs) to create contracts, accept fees, and enforce compliance. PROs can file lawsuits against businesses that play music without an appropriate license. The consequences can be costly. For example, one restaurant was fined $18,000 for playing just nine songs without a license. 

Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media are not PROs. However, they do have arrangements with major PROs and can offer legal access to music to their customers.

Playing Legal Music for Business with Pandora CloudCover

When it comes to choosing between Pandora CloudCover and Mood Media, think about what's most important for your business. If you're looking for a service that's both cost-effective and rich in features, Pandora CloudCover should be your go-to choice. With its more attractive pricing, diverse plan options, and unparalleled access to the Pandora network, you'll have a treasure trove of music at your fingertips, enhancing your customer's experience.

Additionally, Pandora CloudCover's robust customer support, including 24/7 assistance, ensures you're well-supported at all times. While Mood Media offers valuable services, for a comprehensive, flexible, and budget-friendly music solution, Pandora CloudCover stands out as the clear choice for businesses aiming to create a captivating and dynamic audio environment.

Resources

Sued for a Song: Music Licensing Lawsuit Hits CT Restaurants. (March 2014). Hartford Business Journal.