What Mood Media does

Mood Media Corporation is a privately held, Vector Capital-backed provider of integrated in-store sensory media solutions for physical retail, hospitality, QSR, and commercial environments. The company's product portfolio spans music subscriptions (Music for Business, including the Harmony cloud control platform and Harmony Music Player hardware), digital signage and menu boards, audio messaging (with the AI Messaging Copilot), professional AV systems, scent marketing (delivered through a strategic partnership with ScentAir), and managed services. Since its 2023 acquisition of Vibenomics, Mood Media has layered programmatic retail media advertising onto its installed base, enabling CPG brand campaigns across in-store audio and digital screens; Vibenomics is sold through a channel partnership with In-Store Marketplace and has produced flagship wins including Stater Bros. Markets and WHSmith North America.

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model. SMB customers self-purchase through shop.moodmedia.com with tiered subscriptions priced at $15.30/month (Fundamentals), $31.50/month (Signature), and $36.50/month (Engage, which includes AI messaging), with 30-day trials and discount-led acquisition offers. Enterprise and franchise customers are served through dedicated field sales and global account management teams, with custom multi-year contracts. A channel partner program, managed services organization, and franchise solutions program round out the distribution model. Mood Media reports serving 850 brands across 500,000 physical locations in 150 countries, reaching approximately 165 million consumers monthly, and claims the world's largest fully licensed commercial music library at over 120 million tracks.

Mood Media is the successor entity to Muzak (acquired for $345 million in 2011) and was previously listed on the TSX under MM before being taken private under Vector Capital ownership. Strategic acquisitions include DMX, BIS Group, Technomedia, Focus4media, South Central AV, PlayNetwork (2021), and Vibenomics (2023). The legal entity structure comprises Mood Media Corporation as the primary operating company, with Muzak, LLC (Delaware) doing business as Mood Media for subscription services. Headcount is reported in the 1,001-5,000 range.

Name

Mood Media

Legal name

Mood Media Corporation

Website

https://us.moodmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Mood Media is a privately held provider of integrated in-store sensory media, including music subscriptions, digital signage, audio messaging, AV systems, scent marketing, and programmatic retail media advertising, serving 850 brands across 500,000 locations in 150 countries under Vector Capital ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Music Subscription Services: Recurring subscription revenue from Music for Business plans (Fundamentals, Signature, Engage) providing access to curated music libraries, licensing, and content management platforms billed monthly or annually
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary hardware including Harmony Music Player and other equipment for delivering music, messaging, and digital signage solutions
3. Managed Services: Ongoing support services including preventive maintenance, proactive monitoring, on-site support, and advanced help desk for multi-location deployments
4. Retail Media Advertising: Revenue from monetizing in-store media networks through impression-based digital advertising campaigns, leveraging Vibenomics programmatic platform for CPG brand engagement
5. AV Systems & Installation: Professional audiovisual system design, installation, and configuration services for commercial environments including restaurants, retail, hospitality, and automotive
6. Voice Messaging Services: Script development, recording, and broadcasting of on-hold and in-store audio messages for customer communication and promotional purposes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Mood Media provides integrated in-store sensory marketing solutions combining commercial music licensing and curation, digital signage, audio messaging, audiovisual systems, and scent marketing for physical retail, hospitality, QSR, grocery, and other business environments. Solutions are delivered through cloud-based management platforms (Mood Harmony), dedicated playback hardware, professional installation, and managed services across 500K+ locations in 150 countries, monetized via tiered SMB subscriptions, enterprise multi-year contracts, hardware sales, and programmatic in-store advertising through Vibenomics.

Product overview

Mood Media operates as a unified digital media platform offering integrated sensory marketing solutions across music, visual, audio, and scent channels for physical retail environments. The core portfolio includes Music for Business (with cloud-based Harmony platform), Digital Signage, Audio Messaging with AI-powered Messaging Copilot, AV Systems, Scent Marketing (via ScentAir partnership), and Retail Media Advertising powered by the acquired Vibenomics platform. Solutions are delivered through tiered SMB subscription plans (Fundamentals, Signature, Engage at $15.30-$36.50/month), Enterprise deployments, and Franchise solutions. The ecosystem spans 500K+ locations across 150 countries, serving 850 brands including QSR, hospitality, retail, automotive, and grocery verticals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music for Business Bespoke music curation, commercial licensing, and playback technology for retail, hospitality, and QSR environments, including cloud-based scheduling and centralized management through the Harmony platform.
• Digital Signage Dynamic visual displays including digital promo boards, digital menu boards, window displays, and video walls with a content management system for multi-location deployment and real-time updates.
• Audio Messaging In-store audio messaging solutions including targeted promotions, announcements, on-hold messaging, and overhead messaging, with AI-powered Messaging Copilot for automated script generation.
• AV Systems Professional audiovisual system design, installation, and maintenance including professional sound systems, conference room AV, sound masking, and drive-thru systems for QSR environments.
• Scent Marketing Sensory brand experiences through custom and core scent diffusion systems developed in partnership with ScentAir, targeting retail, hospitality, and automotive environments.
• Retail Media Advertising (Vibenomics) Programmatic in-store retail media network platform enabling impression-based digital audio and screen advertising campaigns across 500K+ locations, monetized through targeted messaging for CPG brand engagement.
• Managed Services Proactive system monitoring, preventive maintenance, 24/7 technical support, on-site support, advanced help desk, and remote troubleshooting for multi-location deployments, including spare pool services and warranty management.
• Mood Harmony Platform Centralized cloud-based control platform for managing music, messaging, and digital signage across all locations, featuring AI-driven playlist curation, scheduling, and actionable analytics via web browser and mobile app.
• Mood TV Digital entertainment content platform for hospitality and QSR environments delivering curated video content and branded entertainment experiences.
• Drive-Thru Systems Integrated drive-thru technology solutions including audio systems, menu boards, order confirmation displays, and sensor technology (vehicle loop detectors) for QSR operations.
• Harmony Music Player Dedicated music playback hardware device with local storage ensuring uninterrupted playback even during internet disruptions, provided free with annual Music for Business subscription plans.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% of shoppers say an enjoyable in-store atmosphere plays a key factor in opting to make purchases in-store vs. online
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• In-Store Marketplace (ISM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026In-Store Marketplace partnered with Mood Media to launch retail media networks leveraging Mood Media's existing hardware infrastructure. ISM provides programmatic platform combined with Mood Media hardware to enable targeted in-store audio messaging and digital screen advertising. Partnerships include Stater Bros. Markets (165 Southern California locations) and WHSmith North America Media Network (350+ airport stores).
• Stater Bros. MarketsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 May 2026Southern California's largest privately owned grocery retailer (165 locations) launched retail media network in partnership with In-Store Marketplace using Mood Media's hardware infrastructure. Initial phase focuses on programmatic in-store audio messaging reaching 2.5 million weekly customer visits, with future expansion to digital screens. Advertising inventory sold through Vibenomics.
• WHSmith North America Media NetworkflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 January 2026WHSmith partnered with In-Store Marketplace to launch retail media network across 350+ U.S. airport stores, combining approximately 700 digital screens and audio channels in unified programmatic ecosystem. Leverages Mood Media's existing hardware infrastructure, enabling advertisers to reach high-value travelers through targeted campaigns. Early adopters include Frito-Lay and Bose.
• VibenomicscoreTechnology or Integration · 23 March 2023Mood Media acquired Vibenomics in March 2023, a leading in-store digital advertising solutions provider. Vibenomics provides programmatic retail media platform capabilities enabling Mood Media to create unified digital ad platforms, expand in-store media offerings, and enhance advertising insights for retail media networks.
• PlayNetworkcoreTechnology or Integration · 21 September 2021Mood Media acquired PlayNetwork in September 2021, a global provider of music and audiovisual solutions. The acquisition expanded Mood Media's product offerings and customer base through integration of PlayNetwork's services and clients.
• ScentAircoreTechnology or IntegrationScentAir is Mood Media's strategic partner for scent marketing solutions. Mood Media & ScentAir offerings enable capture of brand essence and influence dwell time through multi-sensory experiences. ScentAir develops custom olfactory signatures through partnerships with global fragrance houses.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• STRATACACHE: Large-scale digital signage, in-store media, and retail media network provider serving global enterprise customers. Directly comparable to Mood Media's digital signage, AV systems, and retail media (Vibenomics) offerings.
• Spotify for Business: Consumer-scale streaming giant with a commercial music offering for businesses. Leverages the world's largest consumer music catalog and brand recognition to compete with Mood Media at the SMB and franchise level.

Direct peers

• Cloud Cover Music: Subscription-based commercial music streaming service targeting small and mid-sized businesses. Direct competitor to Mood Media's Fundamentals and Signature SMB plans on price and ease of use.
• TouchTunes: In-store music and interactive entertainment platform for bars and restaurants, with a large installed base of connected jukeboxes. Adjacent competitor in commercial background music and venue media.
• Four Winds Interactive (FWI): Enterprise digital signage and workplace experience platform now part of FS Creative. Competes with Mood Media's digital signage and unified content management for multi-location enterprise customers.
• Stingray Business: Stingray Group's commercial music division delivers in-store music, digital signage, and interactive media to retail and hospitality clients globally. Overlaps directly with Mood Media's music-for-business and AV offerings.
• SiriusXM for Business: Commercial music service delivering satellite-delivered licensed music to retail, hospitality, and healthcare. Overlaps with Mood Media's music subscription and licensing compliance value proposition.
• Soundtrack Your Brand: Direct competitor in the B2B commercial music streaming space, offering licensed music for businesses (bars, restaurants, retail, gyms). Backed by Spotify, it competes head-to-head with Mood Media's SMB and mid-market music subscriptions.
• Rockbot: Cloud-based in-store music and customer engagement platform for bars, restaurants, and retail. Competes with Mood Media's SMB offering while adding social/jukebox functionality.

Others

• ScentAir: Scent marketing partner of Mood Media that supplies the diffusion hardware and fragrance development behind Mood's scent-marketing solution. Adjacent/ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor across the broader music and media stack.

Market position

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/moodmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/moodmedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mood-media
• Instagraminstagram.com/moodmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A8 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mood Media