Barix SoundScape is a fully integrated, subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) for streaming business music and advertising over IP networks
SoundScape enables quick scheduling and uploading of playlists, which allows Dietch to create specialty playlists on short notice

Audio over IP pioneer Barix announces that Music Matters, a New York City-based custom music provider for luxury lifestyle brands, is among the first customers to deploy its groundbreaking SoundScape IP distribution and management platform. The initial deployment covers hospitality clients including Commune Hotels + Resorts, Hyatt and IC Hotels with additional rollouts to luxury retail and hospitality brands to follow.

SoundScape is a fully integrated, subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) for streaming business music and advertising over IP networks. The complete platform brings together cloud-based content management, reliable end point players and global, centralised monitoring capabilities. Quick to deploy and infinitely scalable, users enjoy dynamic content scheduling, system-wide reporting and monitoring, remote device management, and high-quality, multi-format audio playback among other benefits.

Led by world-class DJ and music curator Jared Dietch, Music Matters specialises in the unique challenges of sonic branding for luxury businesses. With clients worldwide, Dietch’s previous reliance on a self-architected, computer-based scheduling and playback system became more complex and costly to operate as his business grew. Upon a peer’s recommendation, he reached out to Barix and discovered SoundScape.

“I realised I could no longer spend my time and money continuously upgrading computers and operating systems,” said Dietch. “I needed a service that would centralise everything, instead of logging onto specific computers every time I needed to apply an update. With SoundScape, I can upload a playlist and make firmware and software updates once, with the option to apply these changes across the network. The simplicity of the entire system makes our service that much more effective for clients. It allows me to do my job better because I can focus on delivering great programming.”

Simplified content scheduling

A significant element of that, according to Dietch, is simplified content scheduling. The SoundScape portal enables quick scheduling and uploading of playlists, which allows Dietch and his programmers to create specialty playlists on short notice – a common request from clients for special events. Additionally, SoundScape’s failover to secondary playlists, as well as audio player reliability, ensures that the music never stops.

“We were constantly checking our players to make sure they weren’t going down,” said Dietch. “Any moment of stress we have with system elements takes away from our programming time. SoundScape’s concept of a failover playlist is a major benefit, because the number one rule is that there always needs to be music playing. But overall, the SoundScape hardware and technology is rock-solid. The entire platform delivers great value, and has changed the way we work.”