This article covers the situation when you need a music service to play background music in:

• a virtuel workshop
• a virtuel meetup
• a virtual seminar (Webinar)
• a virtual conference
• a virtual trade-show

We simply group these business situations under the name of "virtual business events".

Virtual business events could take place with a limited group of guests (i.e. customers, employees, visitors, etc.) or with an open (not limited) group of guests. They can be free of charge (i.e. no entrance fee) or paying events.

In terms of licensing, virtual business events work just like physical business events. The only difference is the licensing you will have to get from your local Performing Right Organisation (e.g. GEMA for Germany, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC/GMR for USA, PRS-PPL for UK, etc.):

• events with paying entrance will have a higher license fee
• events with a larger group of participants will also have a higher license fee (as you also pay more licensing when you have a 3000 square meter mall compared to a 100 square meter cafe)

Please refer to this list of Performing Right Organisations if you do not know the one(s) relevant for your country.

The music in these virtual business events really needs to be used as background music, not as "forefront" music like in a fitness class or in a disco/club party, where music  plays a central predominant role. Forefront music for gym classes or club dancing require very special licensing.

The last thing you need to play music in virtual business events is a music provider licensed for business use of music. Soundsuit is a B2B music service fully licensed to be used in retail, hospitality and business events.

For example, SAP is a customer of Soundsuit when it comes to playing tailored music in their physical as well as virtual conferences.

When you register an account with Soundsuit, we provide you with a private URL address that streams exactly the music mix that you defined in your Soundsuit app (including also the music schedule function). Many virtual event platforms such as

• Livestorm
• ClickMeeting
• BigMarker
• Zoom
• Zoom Video Webinar
• GoTo Meeting
• Airmeet
• Zoho Meeting
• etc

offer an option to add a music source (in form of a streaming URL) and to use this stream as background music during the virtual business event.

Learn more about adding background music to your live stream event in this article: How to play legal music over your Live Stream on Zoom.

You can register a Soundsuit test account for a 30 day free trial by filling this online form.

Then simply contact us at support@soundsuit.fm to get your personal streaming URL.

This article will guide you on how to independently add new locations to your Soundsuit Admin Dashboard.

1. Log in to the dashboard at http://business.soundsuit.fm/ with your admin account.
   
   
   
   
2. In the "Location" tab, click on the "+" button to add a new location.
   
   
   
   
3. A pop-up window will open. Enter the details of the new location and save.
   
   
   
   
4. Next, go to the "Zones" tab and allocate the music station you want to this new location. Use the default zone (Zone 1) as this location will only have one music zone.
   
   
5. In the "Subscription" tab, simply increase your needed number of zones from X to X+1=7. In the example below, because you already have 6 zones, you now set it to 7
   
   

You're done!

Repeat these same steps for every new location you wish to create.

Create your own brand-tailored Stations. 

A station is a continuous music stream created by our AI, just like a radio station, with the exception that you can skip songs that you don’t like. Create your own station by using tags like mood, music genres, and target audience to tailor it to your brand. On contrary to a playlist, in a station, the number of songs to be played is infinite. No time needed from your side to update it. Our AI ill do it weekly for you.

Our AI already created  6 custom stations adapted to your preferences in the new Soundsuit app. To create more stations or modify these 6 first ones, simply log with your Soundsuit account to the new Soundsuit Admin Dashboard, and go the tab "Stations". A new era of brand-tailored music has started for you.

Multi-room music management made easy.

In the new Soundsuit app, you can now select different music streams corresponding to different music zones inside your location. Play then a different music direction in each zone. Easily switch between these different muic streams and control them.

To define different music streams/zones, just log into the new Soundsuit Admin Dashboard and go the tab "Music Zones". Create different zones and assign the station of your choice to each zone.

Concretely, for instance as a hotel manager, you could set up a stream/zone "Hotel Lobby" and a stream/zone "Hotel Bar". then attach the Station "Lounge Beats" to the zone "Lobby", and the Station "Upbeat Feel" to the zone "Bar". And with the new Soundsuit app, let your team connect to the right stream according to where their device is located in the hotel, so that they can play the right music station. 

The new Soundsuit app makes it easy for you to manage multiple music streams/zones within your one location. A new era of multi-room music control starts now. 

Limit the music control of your staff.

With the new Soundsuit Admin Dashboard and the new new Soundsuit app, it now easy to limit the music control given to your local staff. Simply allocate a limited (or unique) number of Stations to each music streams you define.

Doing so, when an employee of yours logs in the Soundsuit app, he will  only see and be able to play the the music you authorise for/in the music stream/zone where he is located. A new era of music control for your multiple business locations and spaces starts now.

In this article we will talk about how you can use Soundsuit to start and stop your music stream automatically.

If you are streaming Soundsuit with any sound system, programming the automated start and stop of the music is not possible. The app cannot start music playback by itself, as this is not technically possible with a personal device like a smartphone or a tablet.

In this way, it is only possible to set up an automatic start/stop for the mood (genre, speed, etc.) of the music via the schedule.

The music as such, however, must be started and stopped manually by you via your smartphone / tablet / laptop. An exception to this is if you stream Soundsuit with Sonos. In this article you will find more information about installing a start / stop - automatic of Soundsuit music on Sonos.

Start/Stop - Soundsuit music automatic with Soundsuit Premium Player

If you have such a need, we can offer you our streaming player. This device is controlled by us (not Samsung or Apple), and we can program it to start and stop at specific (scheduled) times. More information about our Soundsuit Premium Player can be found here.

Using the Sonos "Alarm" function together with Soundsuit will help you realize the exact setup you want. In Soundsuit, you can design a weekly schedule, and the Sonos app will simply call this schedule and change the volume accordingly. The music changes (mood, genres, etc.) will be orchestrated by the Soundsuit schedule, saving you tons of time.

Steps to Set Up Sonos Alarms with Different Volume Levels

1. Open the Sonos App:

   • Navigate to the Sonos app on your device and open it.
     
     

2. Access the Alarm Settings:

   • Go to the "Settings" menu.
   • Select "Alarms" from the list.
     
     

3. Add a New Alarm:

   • Click on "Add Alarm" to create a new alarm.
     
     

4. Configure Alarm Details:

   • Alarm: Turn the alarm "On".
   • Time: Set the desired time for the alarm. For example, 07:00.
   • Room: Select the room where you want the alarm to play.
   • Music: Choose the Soundsuit schedule you want to play. You may have a specific schedule set up in Soundsuit, such as "Relaxed Beats".
   • Schedule: Select the days you want the alarm to be active. For instance, Monday to Sunday.
   • Volume: Set the volume level. Adjust the slider to your preferred volume percentage.
     
     

5. Repeat for Each Time Slot:

   • Create multiple alarms for different times of the day, adjusting the volume accordingly. For example:
     • 07:00 - Volume 20% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
     • 09:00 - Volume 40% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
     • 12:00 - Volume 50% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
     • 15:00 - Volume 40% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
     • 18:00 - Volume 70% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
       
       

6. Save Your Alarms:

   • After setting up each alarm, click "OK" to save.

Example Setup

• 07:00 - Volume 20% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
• 09:00 - Volume 40% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
• 12:00 - Volume 50% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
• 15:00 - Volume 40% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX
• 18:00 - Volume 70% - Play Soundsuit Schedule XX

By following these steps, you can have your Sonos system play music at different volume levels throughout the day according to your Soundsuit schedule. This setup ensures that the ambiance in your space changes seamlessly, enhancing the overall experience.

Zone 1 (Default)

To start with, you will use Zone 1, the default zone. You can add more zones/streams through the Admin Dashboard.

 

Accessing Schedules
 

1. Click on Zone 1:
   
   • When you click on Schedules, you will see the “Default Schedule” and can start playing it.'
     
     
      
2. Understanding the Default Schedule:
   
   • This schedule is defined by your settings in the Soundsuit app.
     
     
      
   • Note: In the Sonos app, you won’t see the calendar itself. Instead, the music tracks that play after clicking “Default Schedule” will match your Soundsuit schedule settings (e.g., mood, audience, music genres).
     
     For instance: 
      
   • Music genres: Soul, Reggae, Bossa Nova
   • Style: Trendy
   • Audience: 20-50 years old
     
     
      

Accessing Stations
 

1. Click on Stations:
   
   • You will see the different stations you have defined in your Admin Dashboard listed in the Sonos UI.
     
     
     
      
2. Selecting a Station:
   
   • You can select any station to play on your Sonos speakers.
     
     
      
     
     

Tips for Single Zone Users
 

• If you have only one music zone, simply click on Zone 1 (Default zone), go to "Stations," and pick the custom station of your choice.
   
  
  

Managing Stations
 

• To create more stations or modify existing ones, please visit the new Soundsuit Dashboard at: business.soundsuit.fm
  
  

Adding Soundsuit to the New Sonos App
 

• Go to "Your Services" > Manage > Add Content Service > Soundsuit.
  
  

This method of connection is where you hardwire a Sonos smart speaker (or a Sonos Boost repeater) to your business Internet network. Only one device needs to be wired into your router or network point to launch a reliable mesh network on a separate wireless channel.

This means that your speakers don’t have to talk to the WiFi router directly, but rather can connect reliably through any nearby Sonos smart speaker. This increases the range of your Sonos system, and frees up the standard WiFi for your guests, customers or colleagues and ensures that you’ve got great connectivity no matter how large your business or how many WiFi devices you use.

1. Wired setup (also known as mesh network setup)

In a wired setup, at least one of your Sonos products will stay wired to the router with an Ethernet cable to create a dedicated wireless network specifically for your Sonos system. Additionally, your Sonos products will be able to pass the wireless signal to other Sonos products, which means it’s possible for Sonos to operate in a room/space that is beyond the reach of your WiFi.

When to use a wired setup

Use a wired setup if your business WiFi network is slow, unreliable, does not meet the Sonos system requirements, or does not reach all the rooms/spaces where you want Sonos.

2. Wireless setup

In a wireless setup, your Sonos products connect to your business’s WiFi network, just like other wireless devices in your venue (smartphones, tablets, computers, cash registers, security cameras, etc.).

When to use a wireless setup

Use a wireless setup if you have a strong WiFi connection that reaches all the rooms/spaces where you want Sonos.

3. Switching from a wireless to a wired setup

Connecting one of your Sonos products to your router with an Ethernet cable will put your system into a wired setup. In a wired setup, the wired product will broadcast a dedicated wireless network that your Sonos products will use. Surround speakers or Sub cannot be used as the single wired product.

1. Make sure that the product you plan to wire to the router has already been added to your Sonos system. If the product is brand new, add it to your system first using the steps in our article on adding new products to existing systems.
2. Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to your Sonos product, then connect the other end to your router. You should hear a “click” when it is fully connected to the Ethernet port.
   
   
3. Some of your products may disappear from the Sonos app as they connect to the newly created Sonos network. Wait about one minute for all your products to appear in the Rooms tab. If any of your products do not reappear in the Sonos app, reboot each missing product, and wait an additional minute for them to power on and connect to the Sonos wireless network.
   
   

Useful links

https://www.smarthomesounds.co.uk/blog/faqs/sonos-for-shops-small-business-and-office
https://support.sonos.com/s/article/3209?language=en_US

Skipping or stopping behaviour could happen on Sonos systems.

Please refer to the Sonos help.center articles such as: https://support.sonos.com/s/article/305?language=en_US

Sonos team recommends the following:

1. Check your Internet connection speed

If your Internet connection slows significantly, the speed at which Sonos is able to stream from an online music service may be reduced, resulting in audio skipping or other interruptions. Try loading webpages and videos, preferably from a wired computer or laptop that is connected to the same network as Sonos, to make sure your Internet connection is working properly. If you notice unusually slow Internet speeds, please contact your Internet Service Provider for assistance.

2. Take steps to reduce wireless interference

Your Sonos products may be having difficulty communicating wirelessly with one another or your router, which can oftentimes be alleviated by changing the wireless channel your Sonos system is operating on. Wireless environments have the potential to become congested with many devices using the same air space, and changing the wireless channel can clear up these issues. Read more about how to change the wireless channel and other steps for reducing wireless interference in our article: Changing the wireless channel.

3. Remove Soundsuit from the list of installed services

iOS or Android

1. From the Settings tab, tap Services & Voice.
2. Tap the service you wish to remove from Sonos and tap Remove Account. If you’ve added multiple accounts, make sure the correct one is selected before removing.
3. Tap Remove.
4. Add Soundsuit again --> Open the Sonos app.
5. From the Settings tab, tap Services & Voice.
6. Under Music & Content, tap Add a Service.
7. Tap the service you would like to add.
8. Tap Add to Sonos.
9. Follow the on-screen instructions to add the music service account.

macOS or Windows

1. From the toolbar in the top left corner, click Manage > Service Settings.
2. Click the service you wish to remove and click the-(minus) button if you are using macOS or Remove if you are using Windows. If you’ve added multiple accounts, make sure the correct one is selected before removing.
3. Click Remove.
4. Add Soundsuit again --> Open the Sonos app
5. Under the Select a Music Source section, click on Add Music Services.
6. Click on the service you would like to add.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to add the music service account.

4. Contact Sonos for further help

If you continue to experience issues after following the above steps, refer to the Contact Customer Care section of Sonos website.

To quickly solve the issue, please follow the steps we describe here:

1. Compatibility Mode

Change the Compatibility Mode Settings for the Soundsuit App in Windows. Uncheck the option in the executable's Properties. Also, make sure you check this option if it's unchecked as the problem can be resolved both ways.

2. Check Network and Restart Your Router

The “Soundsuit keeps pausing” error could also be related to your network, you should check the network cables and routers at first. You need to make sure that the cables are in the right place. If you are using Wi-Fi, you can restart your router. If this doesn’t work, move to the next solutions.

3.Sign out the Account

Then, you can try to sign out the account from all the devices. And log in again, but only on your laptop or PC having issues with the streaming.

4. Disable Battery and Power Saving Mode

The last method for you is to disable battery and power saving mode.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Battery.

Step 2: Tap the menu button and select Battery optimization.

Step 3: Open the dropdown menu at the top and select All apps.

Step 4: Select the Soundsuit app and choose Don’t Optimize.

5. Screen off mode

Please try to set the screen off mode to never. This new setting may result in a much higher degree of battery use—something that we don't wish for of course. But it could help solve the issue.

The good news is that a fix for this is in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. With this update playback on Soundsuit can continue while the screen is off to conserve your battery power. While you might not have this update yet, you can update Windows manually by going here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028685/windows-10-get-the-fall-creators-update. The music will, however, stop when your computer goes to sleep. You can control the sleep settings in the Power & sleep settings. 

6. Power & sleep settings

Make sure that your Power & Sleep settings are defined in a way that your computer or laptop will not go to sleep when you want it to keep your Chrome or Edge or Firefox or Opera browser running to stream Soundsuit music.