Good background music makes a shop, café, gym or restaurant feel finished — and Sonos is a popular way to play it. But there's one rule that trips up a lot of business owners: you can't legally play your personal Spotify or Apple Music in a commercial space. Those accounts are licensed for private listening only. The good news is that playing properly licensed music on Sonos is easy, and the Cast to Sonos extension makes it a few clicks.
Free to start · No account needed.
First, the licensing (don't skip this)
To play music where customers or staff can hear it, you need a commercial / public-performance licence. You get that from:
- a royalty-free background music service that grants commercial rights, or
- a business plan from a licensed provider (these bundle the licence into the subscription).
A consumer Spotify/Apple Music account does not count. Sort this first — it protects your business from fines and account bans.
Option A: Cast a licensed web player (simplest)
If your licensed service has a web player (or a licensed web radio stream), you can cast it straight to Sonos.
1. Get a commercial music licence
Sign up for a music service that grants a commercial / public-performance licence. Personal accounts are not licensed for business use.
2. Open your licensed music in a browser tab
Open the licensed service's web player (or a licensed web radio stream) in Chrome on the computer behind your counter or back office.
3. Install Cast to Sonos and pick your speakers
Add the Cast to Sonos extension, click its icon, and select the Sonos speaker or group that covers your floor.
4. Press play to fill the room
Press play and your licensed music streams from the browser tab to your Sonos speakers.
Free to start · No account needed.
Option B: Automate it with the Sonos MCP server (hands-free)
Don't want a browser tab open all day? Use the Castbreeze Sonos MCP server so an AI agent or automation runs the music for you. The agent calls play_radio to stream a licensed URL on repeat at a set volume — so music starts on a schedule and loops itself, no one minding a screen. See the AI-agent / MCP guide for setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just play my personal Spotify in my shop?
No. Personal Spotify, Apple Music and similar consumer accounts are licensed for private use only — playing them in a business breaks their terms and music-licensing law. Use a service that includes a commercial / public-performance licence (a royalty-free background music service or a licensed business plan).
How do I play licensed music on Sonos without buying special hardware?
Open your licensed web player or licensed web radio in Chrome and cast the tab to Sonos with the free Cast to Sonos extension. No music server, mixer, or extra box required.
Can I run background music hands-free, without a browser open all day?
Yes — for a fully automated setup, use the Castbreeze Sonos MCP server. An agent can call play_radio to stream a licensed URL on repeat at a set volume, so music starts and loops without anyone watching a tab.
Will it work across multiple rooms or zones?
Yes. Select a Sonos group to cover several rooms or zones at once, or target a single speaker for one area.