What's the best Soundtrack Your Brand alternative for hotels?

Depends on the property profile. Mood Media is the established global enterprise option, especially strong in the US. Cloud Cover Music is the US-focused alternative bundling ASCAP/BMI/SESAC licensing. Rafilis Multizone is a Windows-based multi-zone software ideal for properties wanting full control and lower per-property cost. SoundMachine works well for restaurant chains in the US. For boutique hotels prioritising flexibility and lower cost, Rafilis Multizone is often the right answer; for large multi-location chains needing turnkey hospitality programming, Soundtrack or Mood remain strong choices.

Does any alternative include music licensing globally?

Soundtrack Your Brand bundles PRS+PPL in the UK and similar local rights in Sweden, Germany, and several other European markets — but not globally. Mood Media's enterprise contracts often include licensing. Cloud Cover Music includes ASCAP/BMI/SESAC in the US. Pandora for Business includes ASCAP/BMI/SESAC in the US. Rafilis Multizone does NOT include licensing — you handle PRO licensing separately. Always check what's bundled in your specific country.

Why would I leave Soundtrack Your Brand?

Common reasons cited by hotels switching: per-zone pricing adds up at scale (€25-30 per zone per month becomes expensive with 8+ zones), limited control over playlist details, you can't use your own music library, US PROs aren't bundled. If you have 4+ zones, want playlist customisation, already own music, or operate in the US — alternatives often make more financial and operational sense.

What's the cheapest legal way to run multi-zone music in a hotel?

For mid-sized hotels: Rafilis Multizone (one subscription, unlimited zones — €29.99/month-€269/year) + a self-curated music library from royalty-free sources (Epidemic Sound ~€20/month) + direct PRO licensing in your country. Total: €30-50/month plus annual licensing. Compare to Soundtrack Your Brand at €25-30 per zone × 10 zones = €250-300/month plus licensing.

Soundtrack Your Brand Alternatives: 8 Options Compared for Hotels (2026)

If you operate a hotel with multiple music zones and you're evaluating Soundtrack Your Brand, this guide compares it honestly against eight alternative platforms. Each platform has strengths and weaknesses, and the "best" choice depends entirely on your property type, scale, and operational needs.

The guide is naturally biased — Rafilis makes Rafilis Multizone, one of the eight options compared below. We've tried to be fair to competitors and clear about Multizone's limitations as well as strengths.

What "multi-zone music for hotels" means

Before comparing, define the use case. We're evaluating platforms for:

Hotels with 4+ distinct audio zones (lobby, restaurant, bar, spa, pool, etc.)
Each zone plays different music on different schedules
Centralised control (one operator manages everything)
Compliance with public performance licensing (PRS, ASCAP, GEMA, etc.)
Operational reliability (24/7 operation, minimal staff intervention)

Consumer streaming (Spotify Premium, Apple Music) is NOT in this comparison — those services are not legal in commercial venues.

The 8 platforms compared

1. Soundtrack Your Brand (Soundtrack)

Origin: Sweden, partly Spotify-backed
Model: SaaS, per-location/per-zone subscription
Catalog: Spotify-integrated, ~85M tracks
Pricing (2026): ~€25-30/zone/month, often quoted per location
Licensing bundled: PRS+PPL in UK, GEMA in Germany, KODA in Denmark, etc. — varies by country, NOT bundled globally
Best for: Multi-location chains in markets where licensing is bundled
Weakness: Per-zone cost adds up; less control over playlist details; can't use your own library

2. Mood Media

Origin: US/Global (largest commercial music provider)
Model: Enterprise contracts, includes hardware and services
Catalog: Curated commercial music + custom programming
Pricing (2026): Varies widely, typically €40-120/location/month with hardware-integrated packages
Licensing bundled: Often included in enterprise contracts (varies by package and country)
Best for: Large chains needing turnkey solution with on-site service
Weakness: Higher cost, longer contracts, less DIY flexibility

3. Cloud Cover Music

Origin: US (Atlanta-based)
Model: SaaS subscription
Catalog: Licensed commercial music + Original Series (royalty-free)
Pricing (2026): $19-29/location/month for unlimited zones (single location); volume pricing available
Licensing bundled: ASCAP+BMI+SESAC + SoundExchange in US
Best for: US restaurants and small hotel chains
Weakness: US-focused; international licensing not as robust

4. Pandora for Business

Origin: US (now SiriusXM)
Model: SaaS subscription
Catalog: Pandora's recommendation-engine-driven stations
Pricing (2026): $26-39/location/month
Licensing bundled: ASCAP+BMI+SESAC + SoundExchange in US
Best for: US single-location venues that like Pandora's discovery approach
Weakness: Less curated control vs Soundtrack/Mood; US-only

5. SoundMachine

Origin: US
Model: SaaS
Catalog: Curated commercial music + customisable
Pricing (2026): $25-50/location/month
Licensing bundled: ASCAP+BMI+SESAC in US
Best for: US restaurant chains
Weakness: US-focused; smaller catalog vs Soundtrack/Mood

6. Spotify SoundMachine (not Soundtrack)

Origin: US
Model: Web-based, requires Spotify account integration
Pricing (2026): ~$25/month/location
Licensing bundled: ASCAP+BMI+SESAC in US
Best for: Small US restaurants
Weakness: Less full-featured than dedicated competitors

7. Rafilis Multizone

Origin: Turkey, software-only (works globally)
Model: Windows desktop application, one subscription covers unlimited zones
Catalog: Your own music library — supports any format (MP3, FLAC, WAV)
Pricing (2026): €29.99/month, €149/6mo (€24.83/mo), €269/year (€22.42/mo) — unlimited zones included
Licensing bundled: None — you handle PRO licensing separately
Best for: Properties wanting unlimited zones, full library control, lower cost; especially properties already using a B2B music service for music sourcing
Weakness: Windows-only; doesn't include the music catalog (you provide); no bundled licensing

8. Self-built (Windows + audio interface + free software)

Model: DIY using open-source or custom solutions
Cost: Hardware + occasional development time
Licensing: Entirely on you
Best for: Properties with significant in-house technical expertise
Weakness: Operational burden, less reliability than commercial solutions

Side-by-side feature comparison

Feature	Soundtrack	Mood	Cloud Cover	Pandora B	Rafilis Multizone
Multi-zone control	✅	✅	✅	Limited	✅
Unlimited zones per subscription	❌ (per zone)	❌	✅ (single location)	❌	✅
Per-zone scheduling	✅	✅	✅	Limited	✅
ASIO support	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
Multi-PC networking	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅
Mobile remote control	✅	✅	✅	Limited	✅
Use your own music library	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
US PROs bundled	❌	✅ (varies)	✅	✅	❌
UK PRS+PPL bundled	✅	✅ (varies)	❌	❌	❌
GEMA bundled (Germany)	✅ (partial)	✅ (varies)	❌	❌	❌
Self-hosted / works offline	Partial	Limited	❌	❌	✅

Cost comparison: 10-zone hotel

For a mid-sized hotel with 10 active zones:

Platform	Monthly cost (10 zones)	Annual cost	+ Licensing (typical)
Soundtrack Your Brand	€250-300	€3,000-3,600	Often included (varies country)
Mood Media	€600-1,200	€7,200-14,400	Often included
Cloud Cover Music	€60 (single location)	€720	Included in US
Pandora for Business	€260-390	€3,120-4,680	Included in US
Rafilis Multizone	€22.42/month (yearly plan)	€269	Separate (varies country)
Self-built	Hardware only	€0/year ongoing	Separate

Add to each: annual public-performance licensing for non-bundled platforms (typically €1,000-5,000/year for a mid-sized hotel, depending on country).

Which to choose by property type

Boutique hotel (40-80 rooms)

Best: Rafilis Multizone (cost) or Soundtrack Your Brand (turnkey convenience)

Multizone if you have IT capability and want flexibility
Soundtrack if you want set-and-forget and don't mind the per-zone cost

Mid-sized hotel (80-200 rooms)

Best: Rafilis Multizone or Soundtrack Your Brand

Multizone wins on cost; Soundtrack wins on convenience and bundled licensing in supported countries

Large hotel / resort (200+ rooms, 15+ zones)

Best: Rafilis Multizone (multi-PC scaling) or Mood Media (full enterprise service)

Multizone if you want operational control and lower cost
Mood if you want enterprise-grade service and bundled licensing

Restaurant chain (5-30 locations)

Best: Soundtrack Your Brand (multi-location management) or Cloud Cover Music (US-focused)

Soundtrack for multi-location consistency
Cloud Cover for US chains needing simple licensing

Independent restaurant

Best: Cloud Cover Music (US) or Soundtrack Your Brand (Europe)

Cloud Cover bundles US PROs at low cost
Soundtrack works internationally with European bundles

What to ask vendors before signing

Regardless of which platform you're evaluating:

What licensing is bundled in MY country? Get this in writing, not from a marketing page
Can I cancel anytime, or is there a contract minimum? Most commercial platforms have 12-month minimums; some don't
What happens if my internet goes down? Some platforms stop playing; others have local cache
Can the music be controlled per zone in real time? Some platforms have lag or batch updates
Do you support the audio interface I plan to use? Some platforms only work with their proprietary hardware
What's the support response SLA? When music breaks at 19:30 on a Friday, response time matters

What our customers tell us

Properties that switched from Soundtrack Your Brand to Rafilis Multizone typically cite three reasons:

Cost — switching saved them €200-400/month at 8+ zones
Control — wanted to use their own curated library, not be limited to Soundtrack's catalog
Multi-PC scalability — Soundtrack didn't handle their multi-building resort well

Properties that switched to Soundtrack Your Brand from other platforms cite:

Bundled UK PRS+PPL simplifies admin
Multi-location chain management is genuinely smooth
Curated channels save curation time for properties without a music-passionate team

Neither path is wrong. The right answer depends on your context.

The complete guide to hotel background music systems — strategic context
Restaurant & hotel music licensing guide — licensing side of the decision
How to plan audio zones for a 100-room hotel — zone planning first

The Soundtrack-or-alternative question is one operators should re-evaluate every 2-3 years. The platform landscape shifts; what was right in 2023 may not be right in 2026. The properties that get this right are the ones who treat platform choice as a decision, not a one-time install.