It depends. A lot of psychological research goes into Muzak's playlists, and part of that is not getting the listener too distracted by the music. In fact, that was a large part of why they held onto instrumental-only music for so long, and still offer it on several of their channels. Vocals were thought to be too distracting; they didn't want workers or customers to stop what they're doing to sing along to their favorite song. The same reasoning goes into avoiding the hugely well known hit songs, and focusing more on the obscure stuff, which sets a general "mood" without being too obtrusive.imhomerjay said:Playing "forgotten" songs is exactly the wrong thing for stores to be doing. (And I'm sure major mass retail stores will turn off their music because one shopper happens to somehow find Van Halen playing in the background to be a problem. :)
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Muzak
- Thread starter vchimpanzee
- Start date
The one store darn well better. Did I mention the uncooperative manager was gone in no time?imhomerjay said:Playing "forgotten" songs is exactly the wrong thing for stores to be doing. (And I'm sure major mass retail stores will turn off their music because one shopper happens to somehow find Van Halen playing in the background to be a problem. :
Furthermore, when I complained to Muzak about the music in my store getting too loud, the guy suggested I tell them to tuen it of. So far it hasn't come to that because it's not too loud in terms of volume. Just material. And it's still not as bad as the radio stations.
I don't go to parties or bars and yes, I do call the cops about loud music. I did this when there was some community event and I informed the people there was to be no more of that. I don't care if it was officially sanctioned. I want QUIET!gr8oldies said:
You people don't get it. While I don't have a job, these people who yell about soft music in the workplace don't seem to get the point that some of us would not be able to get the job done with noise and distractions. Likewise in a store I need to concentrate on looking through my coupons, looking at sale prices, looking to make sure I don't get a diet drink or fat-free snacks by mistake, making sure I get the specific item the coupon is for, making sure I don't pick up something totally wrong for what I need it for even though it looks like what I intended to get. In a store if I'm buying a shirt or pants I have to make sure of the right size. Is it too much to ask that I have QUIET so I can concentrate???
Background music can make the environment more pleasant, but this hasn't been the case since the days when it was soft instrumental music way in the background. One exception is my local Sears, which switches from big band to dance music to AC to smooth jazz to alternative in the course of just a few minutes. If you can get in and get out quickly while they're doing what you like, that's great.I got lucky yesterday. The music, if you can call it that, in the mall where Sears and Penney's is located, is usually hot AC. Don't ask me why, but they had Brian Setzer's "Jump Jive and Wail". And Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" was on when I first walked in.
I do like my Converse shoes. I've put up with a lot of noise in the stores where those are sold. But I do like all the different colors.
A newspaper article about Muzak made such a claim. I called the paper to say they were wrong. There is a shopping center where I live that has their "Environmental" format playing outside the stores. Mostly smooth jazz, and I don't mean the garbage on the radio that people call smooth jazz. And some of this stuff sounds pretty hip. Sometimes I go there and walk for exercise just to enjoy the music. Mostly I like to walk in neighborhoods with trees and just the birds for music.ddsparxx said:
And Muzak has another instrumental format they don't tell you about. Mantovani is part of that one.
I
imhomerjay
Guest
Then wear earplugs, VC, if you find background music so horribly distracting that you can't find the right type of Pepsi. Most of the rest of us function just fine with the typical audio levels at most stores.
I'm not going to do it if they miss the whole point. Background music should enhance the experience, not interfere with it.
My grocery store has the volume at a reasonable level, and, while the music can be annoying, it's not as bad as what AC radio is doing.
My grocery store has the volume at a reasonable level, and, while the music can be annoying, it's not as bad as what AC radio is doing.
I
imhomerjay
Guest
And for many of us, up-tempo music playing as we shop...um...enhances that experience, broadly speaking (certain niche stores would have different background...or foreground....music). Ancient Muzak stuff? Not so much.
Well, it doesn't enhance my experience. The good news is that even though they played three songs that sounded like what people on the CW message boards ask about when they hear the songs on "Life Unexpected", "90210" or "Smallville", the volume is so low these days it's not really a problem.imhomerjay said:
I
imhomerjay
Guest
vchimpanzee said:
And thankfully the world doesn't cater to those tastes. ;D
D
Darth_vader
Guest
vchimpanzee noted:
"And Muzak has another instrumental format they don't tell you about. Mantovani is part of that one."
#973 on DiSH Network, if you have access to that.
see http://www.dishuser.org/119list.php. NOTE: The Muzaks are in the 900's block. The programmes that do NOT have an AUDxx or CDyy call are still part of the Muzak block, but for some reason or another are not available through DN boxen.
"And Muzak has another instrumental format they don't tell you about. Mantovani is part of that one."
#973 on DiSH Network, if you have access to that.
see http://www.dishuser.org/119list.php. NOTE: The Muzaks are in the 900's block. The programmes that do NOT have an AUDxx or CDyy call are still part of the Muzak block, but for some reason or another are not available through DN boxen.
Not interested in paying.Darth_vader said:
When I walked in the grocery store Saturday, James Taylor was playing.
See, that's how it ought to be.
The next two songs I heard were just garbage. I didn't go where I could actually hear lyrics, so it's not as bad as it could have been.
I was amazed a few weeks ago when I heard a song I liked called "Have a Heart". Not amazed that I liked the song but amazed that Celine Dion had a hit song called that. Could it really be? Celine Dion and some good backing instrumentals?
See, that's how it ought to be.
The next two songs I heard were just garbage. I didn't go where I could actually hear lyrics, so it's not as bad as it could have been.
I was amazed a few weeks ago when I heard a song I liked called "Have a Heart". Not amazed that I liked the song but amazed that Celine Dion had a hit song called that. Could it really be? Celine Dion and some good backing instrumentals?
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