Pandora was one of the first streaming internet “radio” stations, known for using the Music Genome Project, which plays songs with similar traits to link users’ favorite bands or genres to songs they might enjoy. The algorithm typically played one or two songs from the original artist but could not play an entire album from beginning to end.
As mobile technology improved and more people began playing music on their smartphones or similar devices, the Pandora streaming app was used in more places. The company realized that businesses might want access to that technology too, but with licensing requirements, and that program must be separate from the original Pandora.
What Is Pandora for Business?
Pandora for Business is just what it sounds like and more. As one of the leading music streaming apps for businesses, it offers full compliance with licensing and copyright, ease of use in creating and managing stations, no ads, and no long-term contract requirements.
You're required to connect with a secondary company — Mood Media — to use Pandora for Business. That means you must buy the company’s player and associate it with your Pandora account. It’s an extra step, but if you skip it, you’re playing unlicensed music.
How Does It Work?
Like the original Pandora player, you can click a thumbs-up or thumbs-down icon to indicate how well you enjoyed the song, allowing you to create the best playlist to associate with your brand.
Like other music streaming services, the Pandora for Business app allows you to schedule content based on when your store is open, what events may be happening, and what time of day it is.
To provide music to subscribers, Pandora for Business licenses through several major PROs, including these:
- BMI
- ASCAP
- SESAC
Songs from these catalogs are played ad-free, with unlimited listening hours and no timeouts for inactivity. All you need is a Pandora business account. The app works across multiple smartphones, PC, and Apple devices.
Like many streaming services, Pandora for Business comes with a custom hardware device to improve sound quality in your establishment. In connection with Mood, the Pandora for Business player is easy to set up and work with. You're required to buy this device to get started.
While other streaming music companies offer more customization, hardware, or app features, Pandora was one of the original internet streaming programs and is familiar to most users.
How Much Does Pandora for Business Cost (& Is It Worth It)?
While Pandora for Business may be known, and you may already understand how to use the interface, it's not your only streaming option. It might not even be the right product for you.
Let's compare Pandora for Business with a few top competitors.
For many business owners, even small monthly costs can add up. However, adding music could result in increased customer satisfaction and retention. For example, if you don’t play music in your restaurant and people must hear conversations from other people, they might appreciate tunes to muffle the sound—and they might be willing to come back for another visit.
Catalog Size: Pandora for Business
The term catalog refers to the number of songs available to subscribers. The larger the catalog, the more song options are available (and the less repetition your listeners might deal with).
While Pandora for Business doesn’t publish the exact number of songs in its catalog, it does claim to have millions of tracks ready for people to listen to.
Let’s compare this number to another company. SiriusXM for Business has a catalog of 40 million songs ready for customers to play. The company claims that their library is larger than Pandora’s, but there’s no way to prove this is true or untrue.
Licensing and Legal Compliance
Pandora for Business and SiriusXM for Business offer songs for the business environment with legal protections baked in. Companies typically choose these products because they want to play songs without breaking copyright laws.
Pandora for Business works directly with performance rights organizations (PROs) like BMI and ASCAP on behalf of subscribers. With a subscription fee, you have the legal right to stream background music in your business. The music can’t be the focus of your business (so you can’t play it as a concert, for example). But it can play in the background.
SiriusXM for Business also works directly with PROs and offers customers access to legally protected music. Again, the music must play in the background (instead of as the focus of your business). You also can’t play it outside of the place listed on your license.
When you sign up with a service like this, you’ll get terms and conditions. Read this document in full before you sign, so you know what’s covered and what is not. If the company sends you an alert that the terms have changed, read that document too. Never ignore legal guidelines from these companies.
If you're hoping for a Pandora integration with plenty of features and a low price, consider Pandora CloudCover. Use custom channels made for businesses like yours, or create a custom playlist made just for your brand. The app is intuitive, and the price is just right.
Pandora CloudCover also offers the ability to upload your own in-store messaging, which can be interspersed with your playlist choices. Any voice your customers hear in your store will be associated with your brand.
Pandora CloudCover is now a Pandora affiliate after being acquired by SiriusXM (Pandora is a subsidiary of Sirius XM). These companies are all leaders in audio entertainment in the U.S.
Contact us to find out more about how the service works and how you can get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are questions we often hear about the financial and legal aspects of using services to play music in your business.
How important are the terms and conditions?
Whether you sign up with Pandora for Business vs. SiriusXM for Business, you’ll be provided with terms and conditions. It’s tempting to just skip these documents and start playing the music. Instead, read these lines very carefully, as they tell you what you can and can’t do with your contract.
What happens if I break the rules?
It depends. The company might disconnect your service and refuse to reconnect it again. If the violation is severe, the company could sue you for damages on behalf of PROs.
Do I need a license?
Working with a company like Pandora for Business can protect you from copyright lawsuits from artists and publishers. It’s important to have a contract in place before the songs start to play.
Sources
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC: The Guide to PROs. (May 3, 2018). Songtrust Blog.
About the Music Genome Project. Pandora.
Homepage. Pandora for Business, Powered by Mood.
Licensing. Pandora for Business, Powered by Mood.
Why Pandora for Business. Pandora for Business, Powered by Mood.
So, What Exactly Is SiriusXM? Support Center, SiriusXM.
SiriusXM for Business. SiriusXM.
Mood: Music for Business. Mood Media.
Homepage. Overhead.fm.
Pricing. Overhead.fm.
Homepage. Soundtrack Business.
What Is the Difference Between the SiriusXM Music for Business Satellite and Streaming Services? Support Center, SiriusXM.