Which music solution should you choose for your business?
Between consumer streaming accounts, agencies working on quotes, and B2B services, how do you pick the right solution for your venue? Here are the six criteria that actually matter, so you can decide with a clear head.
There is no single right answer
The best solution depends on your priorities: autonomy, compliance, budget, number of venues. Rather than a ranking, here are the six criteria that genuinely make a difference day to day. Run every option through this checklist.
1. A licence for commercial use
This is the deal-breaker. A serious solution streams from a catalogue licensed for venues open to the public. Consumer streaming accounts are not: they are for personal use only and are off-limits in a business.
2. Help with public performance royalties
Playing music in public means owing public performance royalties, regardless of which provider you use. A good solution does not pretend to make that disappear, but helps you get compliant: what to declare, how to read the fee schedule, in plain language. Many international services leave you to figure this out alone.
3. Curation quality
A huge catalogue is not enough: you need playlists built for your type of venue, ready to play and kept fresh. Human curation by real programmers avoids the “algorithm” effect that quickly loops or drifts off course.
4. Zone and time-of-day management
A venue rarely has just one atmosphere. The ability to schedule by zone and by time of day (terrace, dining room, bar; morning, service, evening) is what separates a real professional tool from a simple player.
5. Audio messaging
Promotions, information, sonic identity: the ability to play audio messages, and to control them yourself, is a genuine plus. Check whether it is included or reserved for a higher, quote-based tier.
6. Clear pricing
Finally, published pricing lets you decide without going through a quote process. Compare the cost per venue, what is included (curation, messaging), and the commitment required.
Summary
| Criterion | What to check |
|---|---|
| Commercial licence | Catalogue licensed for public venues |
| Compliance | Genuine human support, not just a link |
| Curation | Human playlists by venue type |
| Zones and scheduling | Independent programming per space |
| Audio messaging | Included or a paid option |
| Pricing | Published, per venue, clear commitment |
Horra was built around these six criteria: a licensed catalogue, human support to stay compliant, human curation, multi-zone scheduling, audio messaging included from the mid tier up, and clear, public pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best music solution for a business?
There is no single answer: it depends on how much autonomy, compliance and budget you need. The criteria that matter are a licence for commercial use, help with public performance royalties, curation quality, multi-zone management, audio messaging and clear pricing. A B2B solution like Horra checks these boxes, at public prices.
Can a consumer streaming subscription work?
No. Consumer services are for personal use only and are not permitted in a business. They offer no commercial licence, no help with royalties, and no zone-based scheduling. You need a solution built for venues.
Should you go through a sound design agency?
An agency brings bespoke work, but operates project by project on a quote, with less day-to-day autonomy. If you want to see your price up front, get started on your own and control your music yourself, a self-service product is a better fit. Some solutions combine human curation with autonomy.
How much does a professional music solution cost?
Prices vary by service and by number of venues. What matters most is that the provider publishes clear, public pricing per venue rather than requiring a quote. On top of the subscription, every venue that plays music separately owes public performance royalties.
An atmosphere that works for you
Curated playlists, audio messages and human support, all from a single app.
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