Akash Kumar is a salon owner turned software founder. After years of running a hair and beauty business in the UK — and getting caught out by PPL/PRS licensing letters — he built Sonosfera to solve the problem he lived through firsthand.
How to Set Up Background Music for Your Business in 5 Minutes
Direct answer: You need three things — a legally licensed music service, a decent speaker, and a dedicated device to run it from. Sonosfera (£19.99/month, all licensing included) runs in any browser. A single Sonos Era 100 (~£200) handles most small business spaces. The whole setup takes under 5 minutes.
Fast facts
Smart Wi-Fi speakers (Sonos, Audio Pro) are recommended over Bluetooth — music keeps playing even when you take a call.
Speakers should be placed above head height and angled down for even sound distribution.
A dedicated tablet or cheap Amazon Fire device prevents staff notifications killing the vibe.
Sonosfera costs £19.99/month — works in any browser, no proprietary hardware required.
Spotify and YouTube are not legal for commercial use — fines can be backdated up to 6 years.
Speaker type quick comparison
Speaker Type
Best For
Price Range
Key Limitation
Bluetooth portable (JBL Flip, UE Boom)
Single small room
Under £100
Drops if phone leaves range or takes a call
Smart Wi-Fi (Sonos Era 100, Audio Pro)
Salons, cafes, shops
~£200+
Slightly higher upfront cost
Wired amp + ceiling speakers
Large restaurants, hotels
£500+
Requires installation
For years, "business audio" meant calling an engineer to drill holes in your ceiling and wire up a rack of amplifiers in a cupboard.
It was expensive. It was messy. And it was overkill.
In 2026, setting up professional background music is as easy as plugging in a smart speaker.
Here is the simple, 5-minute guide to upgrading your atmosphere. (First, make sure you understand the rules: Can I Play Spotify in My Salon?)
Step 1: Choose Your Speakers
You have three main choices today.
Option A: Bluetooth Portable (Good for tiny spaces)
Examples: JBL Flip, UE Boom.
Best For: A single-room nail bar or small barber shop.
Pros: Cheap (under £100). Portable.
Cons: If your phone walks out of range, the music stops. If you get a call, the music stops.
Option B: Smart Wifi Speakers (The Gold Standard)
Examples: Sonos Era 100, Audio Pro.
Best For: Salons, cafes, shops.
Pros: They connect via Wifi, not Bluetooth. This means the music keeps playing even if you use your phone for calls. You can group multiple speakers together for larger spaces.
Cons: Slightly more expensive (~£200+).
Option C: The "Old School" Amp (For large spaces)
Best For: Restaurants with 50+ covers.
Pros: Wired speakers never drop connection.
Cons: Requires installation.
Our Recommendation: Buy two Sonos Era 100s. Place one at each end of the room. It creates a rich, stereo sound that fills the space without shouting.
Step 2: Placement Matters
Don't put the speaker on the floor behind the reception desk.
Rule: Sound travels best from above.
Place your speakers on a shelf or mount them high on the wall, angled slightly down.
Why?
If a speaker is at head height, the person standing next to it gets deafened, while the person 3 metres away hears nothing.
If it is high up, the sound disperses over everyone's heads, creating an even "blanket" of sound.
Step 3: The Dedicated Device
Do not run the business music from your personal phone.
You will leave to get lunch. You will get a WhatsApp call. You will Watch a TikTok video. All of this interrupts the client experience.
Tip: Buy a cheap Amazon Fire Tablet or a refurbished iPad. Keep it plugged in at the reception desk. Make it the "Music Controller." Lockdown the screen so staff can't change the station every 5 minutes.
Sign up for Sonosfera (£19.99/mo).
It works in any web browser (Chrome, Safari) on that cheap tablet you just bought.
Go to app.sonosfera.com.
Log in.
Select a station (e.g., "Cafe Chill").
Press Play.
You are now legally licensed and streaming ad-free music.
Step 5: The "Walk-Through" Test
Set the volume before you open.
Walk to the front door. Walk to the back of the room. Sit in the customer chairs.
Is it too loud? Can you hear the coffee grinder over it?
Find the "Set and Forget" volume level. Mark it on the device with a piece of tape or a marker pen if you have to.
Consistency is key. (For tips on changing sound throughout the day, see our dayparting guide.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need special speakers for background music?
A: Not necessarily. Any decent Bluetooth speaker works for small spaces. For larger venues (restaurants, hotels), ceiling-mounted speakers give more even coverage. Start simple — you can always upgrade later.
Q: Can I use my phone to play Sonosfera?
A: Yes. Sonosfera works on any device with a browser — phone, tablet, laptop, or dedicated music player. Most small businesses use a phone or tablet connected to a speaker via Bluetooth or aux cable.
Q: How long does it take to set up Sonosfera?
A: About 5 minutes. Sign up, choose a playlist, connect to your speaker, and press play. There is no hardware to install and no engineer visit required.
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