Apple Music for Business is Gone (Use This Alternative)

What features did Apple Music for Business have?

Apple Music for Business shared a number of features with the consumer-focused Apple Music offering, but it had many added features that were specific to business use.

Many of these features (and more!) can be found in Soundtrack’s service, but for the sake of history, let’s review what Apple Music for Business did have to offer.

Expert-curated playlists for business use with frequent updates

Apple Music has always been known for its heavy use of expert-curated music recommendations, and the business-focused service was no different.

The added factor with Apple Music for Business was that PlayNetwork’s music supervisors hand-selected tracks from these playlists to help you develop a solid music strategy and build a custom sound for your brand.

This is exactly the approach that Soundtrack takes with their business-focused playlists. Soundtrack was originally launched as Spotify for Business, meaning expert-curated playlists were already available to Soundtrack’s team of business music experts.

Soundtrack also provides the largest catalog of music licensed for business use.

With expert-curated playlists, you can trust that the selections are made with a deep understanding of music and its impact on the customer experience. The team behind Soundtrack brings a wealth of knowledge and industry insight, tailoring playlists to suit various business environments and customer demographics. This level of expertise allows you to create a distinctive and memorable auditory identity for your brand, enhancing the overall ambiance and customer satisfaction.

These playlists are always being updated with new music to keep things fresh. This prevents employee and customer frustration from repetitive music.

If you’re curious about how the playlists from Soundtrack’s team look, you can review them here before making any kind of purchase to make sure they fit your business’s needs.

Region-specific focus

Apple Music for Business offered your brand the ability to adapt to a global audience with playlists tailored by country and region.

Soundtrack also offers this with licensing in over 70 countries, adding local flavor and recognizable artists to any setting. So if your brand has customers throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, or other regions, there’s a playlist ready for your customers.

Different regions have very different music cultures, so localizing your brand’s sound is important in creating an authentic and engaging customer experience. By tailoring the music to reflect regional tastes and cultural preferences, you can resonate more deeply with your audience, enhance brand loyalty, and create a memorable atmosphere that feels personal and relevant to your customers. 

Whether it’s incorporating popular island-themed tracks in your Hawaiian stores, featuring traditional African rhythms in your branches across Africa, or playing the latest chart-toppers in your U.S. locations, having region-specific playlists ensures that the music aligns with local trends and customer expectations. This attention to cultural detail can differentiate your brand from competitors, demonstrating a commitment to understanding and valuing the diverse backgrounds of your global customer base. 

Finally, region-specific music curation can help in various scenarios such as special promotions, seasonal events, and holidays unique to each country or region, further enhancing the overall shopping or dining experience.

Licensed specifically for business use

Unlike Apple Music, the consumer service which is not licensed for business use, Apple Music for Business was specifically licensed to offer overhead music to businesses.

This helps businesses avoid other challenges involved in playing unlicensed music, such as lawsuits that can result in your business being shut down due to the legal expenses.

While you can go to performance rights organizations (PROs) directly for these licenses, such as BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, and GMR in the United States, it’s much simpler (and cheaper!) to go with a service that has these music industry licenses worked out.

Soundtrack has licenses with the music industry that not only let you play the music but also choose the exact songs you want to play! Many services work on an internet radio model, where you can only play the limited playlists they have licensed, but Soundtrack gives you the added option of choice to build your own playlists, just like the consumer services, and all with the proper licenses!

Familiar interface with lots of control

Many business music services simply offer a selection of playlists that are pre-curated for business use. Almost like internet radio.

Apple Music was similar in that it offered business-focused playlists, but the interface was very similar to iTunes, making it feel familiar and easy to use for you and your employees.

Soundtrack also offers a familiar interface that’s very similar to that of Spotify. Instead of only being able to choose playlists that are built by a team of music supervisors, you also have the ability to create your own playlist, import a Spotify playlist, or even use the AI playlist creator to get something new, quickly!

Like Apple Music for Business, Soundtrack also allows for day/date parting, allowing you to control the precise times playlists are played or schedule playlists to start during special events.

Finally, also like Apple Music for Business, there’s an explicit filter to make sure your business stays family-friendly with the flick of a switch and that inappropriate content never ruins the ambiance.

Common questions about Apple Music for Business

Can I use Apple Music for my business?

No, you cannot use a standard Apple Music subscription for business purposes. Apple Music’s terms of service specify that the subscription is intended for personal, non-commercial use only.

Playing music from a personal Apple Music account in a commercial setting, such as a store, restaurant, or office, would violate these terms and could potentially expose your business to legal risks.

While Apple used to offer a specialized service called Apple Music for Business, this service is no longer available. This service was provided in partnership with PlayNetwork and allowed businesses to legally play music in public spaces. Currently, the best alternative to the now-defunct service is Soundtrack, which offers the largest selection of similar features when compared to other existing business music services.

If you’re looking for a solution tailored for business use, subscribing to Soundtrack would be the appropriate and legal way to use music in your business environment.

Can I play Apple Music in my office?

No, you cannot legally play Apple Music in your office using a standard Apple Music subscription. Apple Music’s terms of service restrict the use of its content to personal, non-commercial purposes only. Playing music from a personal Apple Music account in a commercial or public setting, such as an office, is a violation of these terms and could result in legal consequences.

For offices and other business environments, you should use a service specifically designed for commercial use, such as Soundtrack.

Soundtrack was originally launched as Spotify for Business and provides a wide range of playlists curated by music experts and is designed for commercial use in various settings, including offices. It ensures that the music you play is fully licensed for business use.

By using a service designed for business use, you can ensure that you are complying with licensing laws and providing a legal and enjoyable music experience for your employees and visitors.

How much did Apple Music for Business cost?

As of the most recent information available, the cost of Apple Music for Business is not publicly listed online. The website is currently not available, except via Wayback Machine, and their website doesn’t list any pricing options.

Pricing for Apple Music for Business seems to have varied based on several factors, including the size and type of business, the number of locations, and specific customization needs.

To get an accurate quote, businesses were generally encouraged to contact PlayNetwork directly.

For those looking for alternative solutions, Soundtrack has transparent pricing on their website with plans typically starting around $39 per month.

These plans are inclusive of things like:

• Full public performance licensing.

• Over 13,000 playlists from Soundtrack curators and artists themselves.

• Up to 90% savings on included ASCAP and BMI licenses.

• Custom stations built for your brand.

• Drag-and-drop scheduling.

• Explicit lyrics filter.

• Centralized and remote controls.

While specific pricing information on Apple Music for Business isn’t available, Reddit threads indicate that it might be close to Soundtrack’s rates.

What countries was Apple Music for Business available in?

Apple Music for Business was available in a variety of countries. While Apple has not published an exhaustive list of all the countries where this service was available, and the old website doesn’t have a list, it generally covered major markets where Apple Music operates and where there is a significant demand for commercial music solutions.

Some of the key countries where Apple Music for Business was likely available include:

• United States

• Canada

• United Kingdom

• Australia

• New Zealand

• France

• Germany

• Italy

• Spain

While Apple Music for Business isn’t available at all anymore, Soundtrack is available in all of these countries and more and is a viable alternative to Apple Music for Business.

How to switch background music services

If you were an Apple Music for Business customer and have yet to find an alternative solution, there are several key considerations to make when choosing a background music service that aligns with your business's needs:

1. Legal compliance: Ensure the music service you choose is licensed for commercial use like Soundtrack is.

2. Brand alignment: Select a music service that has playlists or music options reflecting your brand’s identity. Soundtrack has thousands of playlists available, or you can upload an existing Spotify playlist if you want to curate the music yourself.

3. Staff-friendly: Choose a music service that’s easy to use and won't frustrate employees.

There are things to take into account when building your business playlist, but when it comes to choosing a business music service, the above provides some guidance.

Why playing music legally in your business matters

Playing legal music in your business is important for several reasons:

1. Compliance with music copyright laws: Using properly licensed music ensures compliance with copyright laws, avoiding potential legal actions and fines. Not playing licensed music can result in fines of up to between $750 and $30,000 per infringed work. For small businesses, this can result in shutting down due to the weight of the expenses.

2. Supporting artists: Legal music usage compensates artists and creators for their work, fostering a fair music ecosystem. There’s an argument that since the music isn’t contributing to your bottom line, maybe you shouldn’t have to pay, but this is simply false. When music is present in a place of business, sales do go up.

3. You maintain a professional image: Using a licensed music service maintains your business's professionalism and credibility in the eyes of the music industry and musician community. If musicians find out your business isn’t paying the proper royalties, you better believe they’ll boycott.

For more information on the legalities of music licensing, check out a music lawyer's answers to common music licensing questions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Apple Music for Business, once a robust solution for providing licensed music to businesses, is no longer available due to changes in ownership and subsequent shutdown.

Businesses looking for a suitable alternative can turn to Soundtrack, which offers similar features, such as expert-curated and frequently updated playlists, region-specific music options, and proper licensing for commercial use.

Soundtrack ensures legal compliance, supports artists, and helps you maintain your brand’s sound, making it an excellent choice for businesses seeking to enhance their environment with background music.

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