Most small businesses start with Spotify because it feels simple. Once you are serving customers in public places, the rules change. You need licensed music that fits your brand and scales across every location. Here is a side-by-side comparison of consumer streaming versus a fully licensed, business-ready solution.
Tip: if you are looking for a deep dive on the topic, read our cornerstone guide, Spotify for Business? Choose Licensed, Brand-Curated Music That Scales to Every Location, or explore our Licensing Resources.
| Feature | Spotify | Custom Channels |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed for business use | ❌ Personal, private listening only | ✅ Commercial license for public performance |
| Compliance with licensing laws (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) | ❌ Not compliant for business playback | ✅ Full coverage through performing rights organizations |
| Royalties paid to copyright holders | Not paid for business playback | Royalties paid via licensing agreements |
| Legal risk | ❌ High risk of copyright infringement and fines | ✅ Fully compliant with no legal exposure |
| Multi-location control | ❌ Manual playlists on each device | ✅ Central dashboard for all stores or regions |
| Automated music scheduling | Manual switching during the day | Automated scheduling by time of day and daypart |
| Expert brand curation | User playlists or algorithmic mixes | Expertly curated playlists matched to your brand and audience |
| Consistency across locations | Each location plays something different | Centralized playlists maintain consistent brand sound |
| Integration with signage or CMS | ❌ None | ✅ Integrates with CMS and digital signage systems |
| Staff time required | High due to manual management | Low, set and forget with centralized control |
| Support and onboarding | Self-managed consumer app | Dedicated setup, onboarding, and ongoing support |
| Scalability and growth | ❌ Designed for personal use | ✅ Built for growing brands and franchises |
| Total cost over time | Potential fines and downtime | Predictable cost with full legal peace of mind |
It is time to upgrade when any of the following are true:
- You want to legally play music in public places and comply with licensing laws
- You need consistent sound across multiple locations
- You want to schedule playlists and manage music without manual work
- You care about brand alignment in every customer interaction
Learn more about how licensing works in our Licensing Resources and how music impacts the restaurant experience.
Stay Legal and Sound Like Your Brand
If you’re not sure your business is covered, let’s make sure.
Most small businesses using consumer streaming services aren’t fully licensed and don’t realize it until they’re at risk.
You have two easy ways to check your compliance and hear what brand-curated sound can do for your space:
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Start a Free Trial: Try Custom Channels and see how licensed, brand-curated playlists work in your business.
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Meet with Us Quickly: If you want to confirm your setup is compliant and explore multi-location control, connect with us on our home page.
Custom Channels helps businesses sound as good as they look legally, consistently, and at scale.
