Short answer: there isn’t one “best” service for every clothing shop — but for most small-to-medium boutiques I recommend Soundtrack Your Brand or SoundMachine (good mix of retail curation, commercial licensing, scheduling and multi‑store controls). For larger or enterprise chains, Mood Media or SiriusXM Music for Business are the usual choices. Use a business-licensed service (not consumer Spotify/Apple/Pandora accounts) to avoid copyright exposure. (soundtrackyourbrand.com)

How to choose (quick checklist)

• Legal licensing: make sure the provider covers public performance / commercial rights (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC/GMR) or that you obtain PRO licenses separately. Consumer streaming accounts are NOT sufficient for public use. (bmi.com)
• Size & scale: single store vs multi-site controls and scheduling.
• Sound/branding: curated playlists, ability to create/lock playlists, seasonal programming and tempo control (important for retail conversion).
• Features: offline playback (fallback), integrations (Sonos, POS, signage), on‑demand/skip vs channel‑style, voice messaging or promos.
• Budget: per‑store monthly fees vary; enterprise bundles and installation costs apply.

Top picks and why (U.S. context)

• Soundtrack Your Brand — strong retail focus, global licensing relationships, curated brand programs and now an on‑demand business option. Good for boutiques that want tight creative control plus compliance. (soundtrackyourbrand.com)
• SoundMachine — flexible, retail playlists, can import playlists from consumer platforms, and explicitly positions itself as handling licensing for business. Good for single stores and growing chains that want easy control and lower entry cost. (sound-machine.com)
• Mood Media / Moodby Play — market leader for enterprise retail (lighting, signage and music bundles), excellent for multi‑location national brands that want a fully managed in‑store media program. (us.moodmedia.com)
• SiriusXM Music for Business — lots of professionally curated channels, simple licensed solution and good for stores that prefer channel‑style programming with minimal setup. (sxmbusiness.com)
• Budget / alternatives: POSmusic, MyInstoreRadio and smaller B2B players offer lower per‑site pricing and simple setups for independent boutiques. (posmusic.com)

Pricing examples (typical)

• Entry-level business music services commonly range from roughly $20–$50+/month per location; enterprise quotes vary widely and may include hardware/installation fees. Soundtrack’s new on‑demand option has been reported at ~$40–50/month in markets where it’s offered. SoundMachine advertises low starting tiers. (Get a quote — exact pricing depends on region, number of stores and features.) (musicbusinessworldwide.com)

Practical next steps

1. Pick 2–3 providers from above that match your scale (SoundMachine and Soundtrack if you’re one to a few stores; Mood Media or SiriusXM for many stores).
2. Sign up for trials / demos (most offer free demos). Test playlists during real store hours and measure customer/staff feedback. (sound-machine.com)
3. Confirm they include PRO coverage (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC/GMR) or get those licenses separately. Don’t use a personal Spotify/Apple/Pandora account in a public store. (bmi.com)

If you tell me: 1) how many locations you have, 2) approximate monthly budget per store, and 3) the brand vibe (e.g., high-fashion, streetwear, family/kids), I’ll recommend the single best option and a short setup checklist tailored to your shop.