For commercial AV integrators, background music has long been viewed as a relatively low-risk system component. Speakers are installed, sources are connected and responsibility for music selection is often left to the customer. In many projects, music compliance is treated as an operational detail rather than a design consideration. As we move into 2026, that assumption is becoming harder to support.
Music licensing and compliance now intersect more directly with system specification, client expectations and long-term service responsibility. While licensing agreements are ultimately between venue operators and rights organizations, integrators increasingly find themselves guiding clients through decisions that affect whether a system is appropriate for commercial use. In this environment, music is no longer just about sound quality or uptime. It is also about ensuring that the system being installed aligns with current regulatory and usage expectations.
Why Music Compliance is Part of System Design
Performance rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR continue to enforce business-use licensing requirements. While enforcement activity is typically directed at venue operators, integrators are often the first professionals that customers consult with when questions arise. “Can we just use a streaming app?” or “Why can’t we play the same music we use at home?” are common questions during system planning.
Consumer streaming services are licensed for personal, private use. Playing them in a commercial environment constitutes a public performance and requires appropriate licensing.
This distinction is still widely misunderstood, particularly among smaller businesses. For integrators, the risk is not legal liability but system relevance. Specifying or enabling a source that is not intended for commercial use can lead to system changes later, strained client relationships or service calls that could have been avoided during design.
From a professional standpoint, music should be treated like any other regulated system component. Integrators would not install surveillance, access control or networking equipment without understanding compliance boundaries. Music systems now warrant similar diligence.
Increased Transparency Reduces Ambiguity
One reason music compliance has become more visible is increased transparency across the music rights ecosystem. Industry-wide databases now provide clearer insight into which works are represented by which rights organizations. As a result, ambiguity continues to decline. Systems that rely on non-commercial sources or informal workarounds are easier to identify, reinforcing the importance of specifying solutions designed for commercial environments and supported by appropriate licensing frameworks.
AI-Generated Music Introduces New Considerations
AI-assisted and algorithmic music has begun appearing in commercial installations, often positioned as flexible or cost-effective alternatives. These tools offer creative benefits, but they also introduce new considerations. AI-generated music is not automatically exempt from licensing requirements.
In many cases, AI-assisted works still involve copyrighted source material or registered compositions. Any music source integrated into a commercial system should be vetted for how rights are handled and documented.
Beyond Background Music
Integrators also add value by helping clients understand when a music system moves beyond simple background use. Live performances, DJ events, karaoke, fitness classes and branded activations can introduce additional rights considerations beyond passive background playback. Multi-zone environments, outdoor areas and mixed-use spaces may also require different assumptions around system design and coverage. Asking the right questions during system planning helps ensure the installed solution aligns with how the client intends to use it.
Although licensing agreements are not the integrator’s responsibility, the systems integrators specify and support directly influence whether a client can operate confidently. Installing a system that functions technically but is not appropriate for commercial use creates downstream issues that affect service relationships and long-term trust.
Integrators who address music compliance as part of system design reinforce their role as trusted advisors rather than transactional installers. They help clients make informed decisions, reduce the likelihood of post-installation changes and protect ongoing service agreements.
Guidance for the Integration Channel
As music systems evolve, several best practices are emerging:
- Treat music sources as regulated components rather than afterthoughts.
- Clarify early whether a solution is intended and licensed for commercial use.
- Understand all planned use cases, including events and multi-zone environments.
- Exercise caution with AI-generated or adaptive music without clear rights documentation.
These conversations support better outcomes for both integrators and their clients.
The Bottom Line for Music Compliance
In 2026, business music sits at the intersection of experience, technology and regulation. For integrators and consultants, understanding the compliance context around commercial music supports better system design, clearer client communication and fewer issues over the life of an installation. Integrators who treat music with the same professionalism as other system components will be better positioned to deliver durable, future-ready solutions.
Kurt Oleson is COO and owner, Custom Channels.
