5 Music Apps for Bars and Restaurants

Choosing a Restaurant and Bar Music App - 5 Options

Here are 5 popular music streaming services for bars and restaurants.

1. Soundtrack Your Brand - Best Background Music Solution

Why it stands out: Soundtrack offers one of the biggest music catalogs of any streaming service, with over 120 million songs and 1,200 playlists, licensed for businesses in 74 countries. With its Unlimited subscription, it’s the only on-demand commercial streaming service that lets you play what you want, when you want, without having to wait in a queue.

Key features:

• AI-driven playlist generation: Create hours-long playlists from a simple text prompt with Soundtrack’s AI Playlist Generator.

• Spotify integration: Easily transfer your favorite playlists—legally.

• Scheduling: Automate playlists to match different times of the day.

• In-store messaging: Incorporate announcements like drink specials or closing times.

Soundtrack ensures you’re playing fully licensed tracks, gives you tools to create the perfect ambiance, and provides flexibility to suit your venue’s needs.

Soundtrack: Music for Business

The mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

• Compatibility requirements:

• iPhone and iPod Touch - iOS 13.4 or later

• Mac - macOS 11.0 or later

• Apple Vision - visionOS 1.0 or later

• Size: 36MB

• Languages: English

• Price: Free

• Age rating: 9+

2. TouchTunes - Best for Jukebox-Style Interaction

Why it stands out: This bar music app offers a reimagined jukebox for a contemporary setting, allowing customers to queue their favorite songs on an interactive playlist.

However, users must download the mobile app on iPhone or Android, search for the specific TouchTunes jukebox location, and queue up their song. Additionally, the service requires users to purchase music credits with their credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, and costs can quickly add up. Another potential limitation is that the TouchTunes app is designed specifically for the iOS and Android operating systems and is not compatible with Windows and other popular smartphone operating systems.

Considerations: While this solution offers novelty, it lacks traditional playlists and on-demand functionality. Leaving music selection to customers may lead to a less cohesive vibe, potentially impacting sales. Studies show that curated playlists with the right blend of on-brand hits and more obscure songs can increase food and drink sales by 9.1%, while random hits may result in a 4.3% drop compared to no music.

Due to these reasons, TouchTunes, their competitor AMI Entertainment, and other digital jukeboxes, might not be the right fit for many businesses.

TouchTunes: Control Bar Music

The TouchTunes mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

• Compatibility requirements:

• iPhone - iOS 16.5 or later

• Apple Vision - visionOS 1.0 or later

• Size: 51.9MB

• Languages: English

• Price: Free

• Age rating: 12+

3. SiriusXM for Business - Best for Radio-Style Streaming

Why it stands out: SiriusXM for Business delivers over 240 curated channels, including artist-specific playlists via its subsidiary, Pandora. Its radio-style streaming is designed for businesses looking to incorporate satellite radio stations into their commercial streaming framework. It also offers in-store messaging options.

Considerations: This service doesn’t offer on-demand streaming or custom playlist creation, limiting flexibility for those seeking a bar music app that can tailor the soundtrack to the vibe of the establishment. Available only in the U.S., it caters to a niche audience preferring traditional radio-style music.

SiriusXM Music for Business

The mobile app is available from the App Store or Google Play.

• Compatibility requirements:

• iPhone and iPod Touch - iOS 11.0 or later

• iPad - iPadOS 11.0 or later

• Mac - macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1Chip or later

• Size: 16MB

• Languages: English, German

• Price: Free

• Age rating: 4+

4. Rockbot - Best for Request Feature Add-On

Why it stands out: Rockbot offers the unique Rockbot Request feature, allowing customers to request songs in real time. This commercial streaming platform is more than a digital jukebox as it also provides readymade playlists, but it does not give users the option to create their own playlists.

Key Features:

• Optional plug-and-play music player: Simplifies installation and control.

• Song requests: Guests can make up to two requests, creating a more interactive music experience.

Considerations: Rockbot’s music selection is considerably smaller than competitors at 16 million songs. The request feature requires an additional $25 to $45 monthly, raising subscription costs in the long term.

Rockbot Remote

The mobile app for business owners and managers using Rockbot Music and Rockbot TV is available on the App Store or Google Play.

• Compatibility requirements:

• iPhone and iPod Touch - iOS 14.0 or later

• iPad - iPadOS 14.0 or later

• Mac - macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1Chip or later

• Apple Vision - visionOS 1.0 or later

• Size: 43.6MB

• Languages: English

• Price: Free

• Age rating: 12+

Rockbot - Request Music

The mobile app for customers to request songs is available on the App Store or Google Play.

• Compatibility requirements:

• iPhone and iPod Touch - iOS 14.0 or later

• iPad - iPadOS 14.0 or later

• Mac - macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1Chip or later

• Apple Vision - visionOS 1.0 or later

• Size: 42.2MB

• Languages: English

• Price: Free

• Age rating: 12+

5. King Trivia - Best for a Music-Themed Game

Why it stands out: King Trivia’s Music Bingo game provides an interactive music experience for guests. Customers use digital bingo cards to identify song titles and artists played over the sound system. However, it is not a commercial music streaming service in the traditional sense.

Considerations: While engaging, the service lacks on-demand streaming or playlist customization, making it less ideal for businesses looking to control their ambiance. Additionally, the game provides the answers after the song clip ends, removing much of the challenge from the game.

King Trivia Music Bingo

For venues to host a Music Bingo event, they must sign up on the King Trivia website. For users to play, they must find a bar or restaurant hosting a Music Bingo event, scan a QR code on promotional materials such as posters or table tents, and receive their personalized bingo card. The card will automatically sync with the songs being played during the game.

The Best Restaurant and Bar Music App

While bar music apps like TouchTunes and Rockbot offer interactive elements that engage customers, and SiriusXM and King Trivia target niche preferences with their unique approaches, Soundtrack stands above competitors as the ultimate commercial streaming solution for your business.

Tailored to Fit Any Bar or Restaurant Theme

Soundtrack makes it easy to adapt your music to suit different bar concepts or restaurant themes. Whether you're running a sports bar that needs high-energy hits for game nights or a wine bar seeking smooth jazz for a relaxed evening, Soundtrack allows you to curate playlists that perfectly match your desired ambiance. This flexibility enables bars and restaurants to pivot between moods and events easily, enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction.

Extensive Music Library and Customization

With over 120 million tracks and a vast array of curated playlists, Soundtrack ensures you'll always find music that aligns with your brand identity. The platform also offers advanced features like AI-powered playlist creation, allowing you to generate hours of music with a single prompt. Want to bring a personal touch to your venue's music? Import your favorite Spotify playlists directly into the platform.

Easy Setup and Seamless Integration

Soundtrack simplifies the process of integrating high-quality music into your daily operations. The user-friendly platform is quick to set up, minimizing disruption to your workflow, and our support team is ready to help if you have questions. Whether you're scheduling playlists for specific times of day, filtering explicit tracks, or incorporating in-store messaging, this bar music app is designed for ease of use and maximum functionality.

Why Choose Soundtrack?

Beyond its extensive library and user-friendly interface, Soundtrack offers the peace of mind that comes with full licensing compliance for commercial use. This means your restaurant or bar won't have to navigate the complexities of music rights—it's all handled for you.

Available in 70 countries, with Soundtrack you’re not just playing music; you’re creating a dynamic and immersive experience that keeps customers coming back. From vibrant daytime playlists to intimate evening vibes, this bar music app gives you the tools to craft the perfect soundtrack for every moment.

Ready to get started?

See how Soundtrack works for you and your business. Get our most exclusive features with a no obligation 14 day trial, unlocking everything available in Soundtrack Unlimited.