Background music for business in Israel: the complete guide

Background music for business in Israel comes down to three decisions: what suits your venue, which licenses your music needs, and which way of getting it fits your budget. Public use of music generally requires a license, so choose the source before you choose the playlist.

Why does background music matter for a business?

Background music matters mainly because it shapes the atmosphere of the room, says something about your brand, and fills the working day of your staff. We cover that in why background music matters in business.

Don't buy music because you expect a guaranteed sales lift. In a field experiment at a Tel Aviv restaurant, slow music meant longer stays but no significantly bigger bills. The full picture is in does background music increase sales?

What music suits each type of business?

The right music depends on what people are doing in the room and how long they stay. Each guide below goes into detail, and all of its suggestions are starting points to test by ear.

Cafes: the room often changes from a quiet morning to a busy midday, so plan by time of day.
Restaurants: think about how tempo may affect table turns, especially at peak hours.
Retail stores: match the brand, and remember that your team hears the same music all day.
Salons and barbershops: music has to work over dryers and clippers and still leave room for conversation.
Gyms: a training floor and a reception desk usually call for different energy.
Hotels: a lobby, a breakfast room and a bar serve different moods, so think through each space.
Spas and wellness: calm comes first, and a treatment room may need something quieter than reception.

Do you need a license to play music in a business in Israel?

Generally yes, and the business generally needs the license. ACUM states that "any public use of music requires a license". Its fees depend on venue size, participants, event type and more, and rates are published by tariff, such as T002 for restaurants and cafes, T009 for stores, hairdressers and clinics, T005 for gyms and T021 for hotels. A published rate is not itself a license; a written license is arranged in advance.

Recording rights are separate from ACUM. The bodies involved include IFPI Israel, PIL, EILAM and Eshkolot, and Calcalist reports small-business owners paying up to five bodies with independent rates.

Under section 56 of the Copyright Act 2007, a court may award statutory damages of up to NIS 100,000 per infringement without proof of loss. There is no minimum, courts can reduce awards, and awards are usually far below the cap.

This is general information, not legal advice, so speak to a lawyer about your own business. For more detail, read:

Can you just play Spotify or the radio?

Spotify, no: its terms say the service is "only for personal, non-commercial use", and it can't be played publicly in bars, restaurants, stores, salons and similar places. Radio isn't automatically outside licensing either, since ACUM's restaurant and cafe tariff covers means including radio and TV.

What are your options for getting music?

There are four common routes, and each one trades familiar music against cost and paperwork. Our full comparison looks at them side by side.

Option	Music	What you handle
Personal streaming	Familiar music, but Spotify's terms rule out business use	Not a business option on Spotify
Business service, such as Soundtrack	Licensed music from a business provider	Soundtrack says customers add local public performance licenses. Israel was not on its list when checked in 2026-11
Direct licensing	Repertoire covered by your licenses	ACUM and recording rights, arranged yourself
BGplay	AI-generated, so no familiar hits	One subscription; designed to avoid separate royalty bills

If you are comparing providers, use our checklist on how to choose a business music service. It includes the question to ask first: does it cover Israel?

Where does BGplay fit?

BGplay is a subscription service that streams 100% AI-generated background music to businesses. No human composer, lyricist or performer is credited, and tracks are not registered with any rights organization. The catalog is not ACUM or recording-body repertoire, so the service is designed to avoid those bills.

Stations are grouped by venue type, a weekly planner sets what plays and when, and it runs in any modern browser on a device you already have. The trade-offs are real: no familiar hits, one subscription per business, and no zone control. If you want well-known songs, or separate music in each room, another route will suit you better. The details are in our royalty-free music page.

How do you set up background music in your business?

You can set it up in five steps, and none of them requires special equipment knowledge.

Write down how the room changes through the day and what you want it to feel like at each point.
Choose your source and confirm in writing which licenses it does and doesn't cover.
Set the volume by ear when the room is full, not when it is empty.
Ask your staff how it sounds after a full shift.
Review it after a few weeks and change what isn't working.

Frequently asked questions

Does a small business in Israel need a music license?

Size affects the fee rather than the basic question. ACUM says any public use of music requires a license, and rates depend on factors such as venue size. Check the tariff for your business type and ask a lawyer about your case.

Is one license enough?

Often not. Recording rights are separate from ACUM, and several bodies are involved, so check both before you start playing commercial music.

What is the cheapest way to play music in a business?

There is no single answer, because ACUM and recording fees vary by business. Compare the current tariffs for your venue with the flat price of any service you are considering.

Can BGplay play familiar songs?

No. All of its music is AI-generated, so you won't hear well-known hits. If familiar songs matter to your brand, look at a licensed route instead.

Royalty-free background music for your business! Start free