Frequently asked questions
Answers to your questions
Got a question? Here you’ll find answers to common concerns, plus handy tips to deepen your understanding of how Musicalism works.
01 — Licensing
Licensing
How music rights are managed, why streaming services are not an option, and where we can broadcast.
How does music rights management work?
If you want to play music in your business, there are two important rights you need to know about: reproduction rights and public performance rights.
Reproduction rights mean you can copy, record, or make a fixed version of a song. Anyone making playlists with music needs to pay these rights. Public performance rights mean you can play music in public.
In different countries, there are organisations that manage these rights for artists and producers. For instance, in the U.K., PRS manages the rights of producers (reproduction rights), while PPL manages the rights of authors, composers and editors (public performance rights).
Musicalism, as a music provider, takes care of reproduction rights — we hold agreements with organisations like PRS and PPL to use the music legally in our playlists. However, we can’t handle public performance rights, because we aren’t the ones directly playing the music in your venue. The business playing the music needs to contact the local organisation that manages music rights to make sure they’re following the law and respecting artists’ work.
Does Musicalism use public streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer) to broadcast playlists in my venue?
No. Streaming platforms only grant the right to listen to music for personal use or limited non-commercial use among friends and family. Because of how performance rights work, Musicalism does not use these platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, etc.). Instead, we rely on a meticulously licensed music catalogue delivered through our own proprietary platform.
Does Musicalism provide music in every country?
Yes. We are entitled to broadcast in every region — the music catalogue offered by Musicalism is fully licensed and has complete authorisation from the producers. However, any public performance rights must still be negotiated by the broadcaster (you) with your local music copyright management organisation.
02 — Sound System
Sound System
What we deliver beyond music — sound system design, audio quality, and reliability.
Does Musicalism provide only background music, or can you also provide a sound system?
We offer three solutions: music curation only, sound system integration or replacement if you’re not satisfied with your current performance, and a full consultation during the initial blueprint phase of your project. We are one of the few studios able to provide everything from A to Z in the audio chain — from a licensed music library to certified technicians who install processors, amplifiers and full-range speakers.
What audio quality does the Musicalism library provide?
Delivering audio without poor quality or noticeable distortion is essential for us. Sound quality depends on minimising data loss during the conversion of signals into audible sound by amplifiers and speakers. Every track we source matches our standard-quality protocol — typically MP3 at 320kbps or lossless codecs — which must then be paired with speakers and amplifiers capable of rendering sound without noise or distortion.
Is the music streamed only over the internet?
Picture this: a prestigious hotel suddenly experiencing intermittent stutters from streaming issues, unstable Wi-Fi or — worse — a music blackout caused by an internet outage. To prevent broadcasting failures, the reliability of your audio sources matters.
The proven solution is to store audio content locally on an independent music player connected by CAT6 Ethernet directly to your amplifiers and speakers. This maximises stability and avoids unnecessary headaches. We also offer our app-based players, but we recommend the software option only for compact environments. The internet is reliable 99% of the time — but it can still fail. We always recommend a hardware-wired solution with redundancy in place.
03 — Music Curation
Music Curation
How we read your venue, refresh the music over time, and what to expect from delivery.
How is Musicalism able to understand the crowd at our venue?
Random or inappropriate music that doesn’t align with your venue’s image can spoil the ambiance. Choosing music specifically for your brand and location is a powerful way to engage your guests. That’s why consumer profiling is central to the initial briefing with our account managers — it helps us pinpoint the right audience and recommend music that matches the suggested mood for your venue.
How often is the music selection refreshed?
Each assigned playlist is initially around 400 tracks, giving you more than twenty-four hours of music before any track repeats. This protects against the monotony of hearing the same songs too often.
On a quarterly basis, we deliver a significant update with new songs. The update is coordinated to maintain a balance between continuity and novelty, and the sequencing of tracks is optimised across our libraries to maximise variety and elevate the guest experience.
What impact does Musicalism have on our overall entertainment costs?
Creating an engaging musical environment is essential in hospitality. Live performers and skilled DJs remain invaluable — bespoke background music complements rather than replaces them. What Musicalism gives you is a consistent musical mood aligned with your brand identity, especially in the absence of a resident DJ or during quieter seasons. Our data shows that for an average 200-seat restaurant, adopting Musicalism can result in savings of roughly $20,000 USD per season, even before factoring in additional fees such as public performance rights.
How long does it take to receive your music?
Between 3 and 4 weeks. We don’t recycle pre-made music templates — we invest time in understanding the concept and selecting the right songs. As artisans of music curation, we make sure each concept works from the start, prioritising quality over quantity. Once the order is signed, you can expect to receive the music in less than a month.
04 — Musicalism Tools
Musicalism Tools
Additional services beyond the main music programme.
Can you create music for our on-hold telephone system?
Yes. Our production team can create a brand-new or sound-alike theme for your incoming calls, tailored to VoIP standards. Your account manager can also suggest options from our library to keep callers engaged and reduce perceived wait times. Clear lyrics and recordings provided by your team are essential to evoke a positive vibe and reinforce your brand.
We’d like different music in our restrooms — how does that work?
Through our wellness and spa music offerings, we provide a distinct, autonomous channel for clients who pay close attention to detail. In upscale settings such as five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, every facet of the guest experience matters — and restrooms in particular are spaces where small nuances make a big difference. We deliver music tailored specifically for restroom environments at a discounted rate compared to individual venue pricing.
05 — Office
Office
Where to find us.
Do you have an address where I can meet your team?
You are welcome to visit our headquarters in the heart of Dubai’s financial centre, DIFC. Our office is on the fourth floor of Al Fattan Currency House. Schedule an appointment to discuss your bespoke music selection with our head of music curation in person and listen to a preview of the music through our high-fidelity sound system room.
Something is not working?
Try our troubleshooting guide first
Step-by-step procedures for the most common issues — player offline, no sound, wrong music in a zone, distortion. Most are resolved in a few minutes.
Open TroubleshootingStill have a question?
Let’s talk
For general enquiries about your venue or a new project, request a consultation and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours.