After a year of major restructuring, strategic resets and some tough decisions, TouchTunes says it is entering 2026 with renewed clarity and purpose – and a sharper focus on helping operators grow revenue from music. Driving that force from next year will be TouchTunes stalwart Toby Hoyte who expands on the changes.
2025 has marked a turning point for the TouchTunes business: the company closed its London office, fully integrated Soundnet into the wider TouchTunes organisation, and reshaped roles internally to strengthen stability and support. The prime move in that programme commences late January when Toby Hoyte becomes the new UK lead taking charge with a clear remit: steady the operation and drive more jukebox revenue for customers.
Reflecting on the past year, Hoyte goes into his new role both stoic and challenging. He argues the wider industry’s tilt toward digital gaming has meant music is often treated as a background necessity rather than a revenue driver. But for TouchTunes, its flagship Angelina jukebox still occupies a premium position in the market, and the business has had to adapt to shifting operator expectations, rising costs and tighter margins.
In his contribution to Coinslot’s end of year review, to be published next week, Hoyte says 2025 has not been without its positives.
One of the standout developments has been re-establishing strong, honest dialogue with operators and retailers. Candid conversations about the state of the UK jukebox market have helped reset relationships and build more constructive partnerships.
Internally, too, TouchTunes has rebuilt support structures, refined internal processes and sharpened its strategy for music delivery, app development and operator engagement.
A major growth opportunity sits in the TouchTunes mobile app, according to Hoyte. “There are thousands if not millions of customers that have never used a jukebox app – but once they do, spend and engagement typically rise. Growing this user base, rather than simply increasing site numbers, is now a strategic priority,” he says.
With new app developments already underway, TouchTunes sees mobile engagement as one of the clearest paths to operator revenue growth in 2026.
The biggest challenge of the year has been managing substantial internal change while continuing to support operators day-to-day. Legacy issues, evolving commercial models and a heavy technical workload required hands-on leadership and a willingness to reset expectations across the business.
Looking ahead to 2026, the message, Hoyte told Coinslot, is clear: TouchTunes will prioritise value over volume. Pricing discipline, stronger operational reliability, and a renewed focus on helping operators maximise revenue from their existing estate will define the year ahead. Strengthening technical support, simplifying commercial structures and collaborating proactively with operators will underpin this strategy.
“2026 is about doing the fundamentals exceptionally well,” he said. “Building a stable foundation, unlocking the full potential of the app and setting the business up for the next chapter of growth.”
Originally published on Coinslot on December 15, 2025. Republished with permission.