How to add: Background Music feature on Lynx Hospitality TV

How to add: Background Music feature on Lynx Hospitality TV

This KB article covers the configuration and management of Background Music on Smart TV displays via the Lynx Portal. It is categorized into the following sections:

1. When to use this Guide
2. Benefits of using this Guide
3. Step-by-Step Process
4. Platform-Specific Behavior
5. Key Features
6. Related Articles

When to use this guide:

Use this guide when you need to set up, modify, or troubleshoot Background Music on Smart TV displays in the Lynx Portal:

• When you want to enable background music for the first time on a Smart TV, White-Label Home screen.
• When you need to select a track from the Lynx Gallery or upload a custom music file (MP3 / WAV / AAC) for playback.
• When you need to configure audio priority, deciding whether background music or video audio takes precedence during content playback.
• When you want to delete or replace an existing music file, or when a file shows an upload error and needs to be retried.
• When you want to understand platform-specific behaviour (Roku TV vs. Apple TV vs. Android/Google TV).

Benefits:

The Background Music feature and this guide provide the following advantages:

• Enhanced Guest Experience: Background music creates an ambient atmosphere on Smart TV displays, delivering a polished and immersive experience for guests from the moment they turn on the TV.
• Centralized Control: All music settings — track selection, audio priority, upload management, and playback status — are consolidated in a single Configure Background Music screen within the Lynx Portal.
• Flexible Customization: Choose from the curated Lynx Gallery or upload a fully custom track that aligns with your brand identity, ensuring a unique audio experience per property.
• Reduced Manual Overhead: Once configured, music plays in a continuous loop automatically with no ongoing manual intervention, freeing up operational time.
• Platform-Aware Playback: The system intelligently handles audio priority and offline playback based on the TV platform (Roku, Apple TV, Android/Google TV), reducing unexpected behaviour and support tickets.

Step-by-Step Process: Background Music Configuration

Step	Actions
Step 1: Enable Background Music	Navigate to Lynx Portal → Group → Smart TV White-Lable → Home. Locate the Background Music section and turn ON the toggle: Status changes from "Currently not playing on TV" → Active state. If no music is selected, a warning message is displayed prompting you to Select / Upload Music. Note: Background music is only audible on the TV itself and will not play on the Smart TV Preview in the portal.
Step 2: Select from Lynx Gallery	Click the Edit icon to open the Configure Background Music screen. Under Select Music Source, choose Select from Lynx Gallery. Select one track from the available list. (Optional) Click the Play icon to preview the track. Click Save / Close. Note: Only one track can be selected at a time. Music will play in a continuous loop.
Step 3: Upload Custom Music	Click the Edit icon next to the selected music track, then select Upload Music. The system opens the Legal Confirmation Flow (mandatory): Review the legal disclaimer — confirm ownership / license rights and accept copyright responsibility. Select all required checkboxes. Enter your Full Legal Name and provide a Digital Signature. Click Submit. Note:(Roku TV) Due to platform limitations, Roku will always play video audio instead of background music. Your settings will apply to all other devices. Note: Upload is blocked until all checkboxes are selected, the name is entered, and the signature is provided.
Step 4: File Upload & Processing	After legal confirmation, proceed to Select File and upload a supported file: Accepted formats: MP3 / WAV / AAC Maximum upload limit: 500 MB (on Host App) Files < 30 MB: downloaded locally for offline playback. Files ≥ 30 MB: streamed from server. Wait for upload confirmation. The file enters a Processing state while being converted for Smart TV compatibility. If an error occurs: Click Retry Now or upload a new file.
Step 5: Configure Audio Priority	In Configure Background Music, locate the setting: "Play background music over video audio?" Enabled (Checked): Background music overrides video audio — music continues playing during both images and videos; video audio is muted. Disabled (Unchecked) — Default: Video audio overrides background music — music plays during images/static content but pauses during video playback and resumes when the video ends. Click Save.
Step 6: Delete Existing Music	Click the Delete icon next to the uploaded music file name. A confirmation dialog appears: "Are you sure you want to delete?" Click Delete to confirm. Music is removed, and background music is disabled if no alternative track is selected. Note: To upload new music when a file already exists, you must delete the existing file first.

Audio Processing Status Types:

Platform-Specific Behavior

Roku TV

• Background music always stops during video
• Audio priority toggle is ignored in this case
• No offline playback support

Apple TV & Android / Google TV

Supports:

• Full audio priority behavior
• Offline playback (Note: Offline playback for Apple TV is currently in development and not yet released)
• Seamless switching

Key Features

The Background Music feature includes the following capabilities:

• Dual Music Sources: Choose between the curated Lynx Gallery for instant selection or upload a fully custom track (MP3/WAV/AAC) — giving properties complete creative flexibility over their audio branding.
• Real-time Audio Priority Toggle: Instantly switch between background music priority and video audio priority modes, with changes taking effect immediately on the TV display without any restart needed.
• Intelligent Playback & Resume: In Hero Sections with mixed content (images + videos), the system seamlessly pauses music during videos and resumes from the last position (or restarts from the beginning as a fallback) when the video ends.
• Hybrid Streaming + Offline Playback: Files under 30 MB are downloaded locally for uninterrupted offline playback; larger files stream from the server. A hybrid approach can start streaming immediately while downloading in the background, then switch to local playback automatically.
• Platform-Specific Intelligence: Audio priority and offline playback behaviour adapts per platform — Android/Google TV supports full audio priority control, seamless switching, and offline playback. Apple TV supports full audio priority control and seamless switching (offline playback is currently in development). Roku TV always stops background music during video, regardless of toggle setting.
• Legal Compliance Flow: Custom music uploads include a mandatory legal confirmation step (checkbox acknowledgement, full name, and digital signature), ensuring copyright compliance before any file is accepted.
• Live Status Indicators: After configuration, the portal displays the selected music file name, audio conversion status (Processing / Ready / Error), last updated timestamp, and the active audio priority mode — all in one place.

Related Articles

• How to: Configure Lynx Hospitality TV Branding/White Label
• How To: Enable and Configure Lynx Hospitality TV Guidebook

Learn/ Read How to: Get started with Lynx Hospitality TV here.