Bad Music Everywhere

[ebusinesstutor]

Whenever I walk into a restaurant, coffee shop, grocery store or any other store, there is music playing.

The problem is that it is usually a poor choice. Everyone likes different music, so if you play one style, like rap, you alienate the people that don't like it.

Some places play the local radio station, but again, not everyone likes that music and it is full of advertising.

If you must play music in your business, follow these guidelines:

1. Have Guidelines: Don't let your staff pick the music - have predetermined music you play.
2. Follow your theme: If you are an Italian restaurant, play Italian music that fits your theme.
3. Use Instrumental: Instrumental is more backgroundish and less likely to offend.
4. Turn down your volume: Unless you are a dance club, people need to be able to hear each other thing. Music should be background, not in your face.

And PLEASE use instrumental only for Christmas music! If I hear the Elmo Christmas song one more time, there could be a Christmas meltdown incident.

[fcnanaimo]

3. Use Instrumental: Instrumental is more backgroundish and less likely to offend.

Oh, I beg to differ. Nothing gets on my nerves faster than terrible instrumental music.

[ebusinesstutor]

Use good instrumental music then.

Instrumental music stays in the background while vocals compete with the conversation you are trying to have with your partner or with the staff at the business.

And songs with voice offend more people than simple instrumental music.

[zedex]

I kinda agree and disagree.

No one form of music will please everyone and instrumentals can be pleasant, but some are not. I prefer to not have it, but if it is played, I simply view it as their choice.

The owners, managers and working staff all have to hear the music all day, everyday and for this one and only reason, I feel they should have the option to listen to what they enjoy. My visit is short term.

I read a study on what forms of "white noise" is most appealling to the greater portion of the general public. Rap and talk radio were among the least preferred all the way around. Opinions on the best white noise varied wildly- so wildly, in fact, they course of study was diverted.

Rather than just asking what people preferred, the least popualr were dismissed, leaving the most popular answers. Then, side by side questions were asked. Modern or contemporary forms compared to older light rock. Older light rock won. Then, that or country. This was the best part. In certain areas, country other areas, older rock.

So, it was split into regions and the study continued. Where country music was opted, a choice between older classic, 70' &80's or modern? 70's and 80's won. Then compare this to classic oldies rock, Oldies won.

Anyway, as the study was fielded down, it turns out most people would prefer to listen to older rock music from the late 50's, all of the 60's and early 70's.

People can understand the words, enjoy the rythym, and relate to the message conveyed. It reminds us of more carefree days, younger days and for many today, days when we wished we had lived through.

Interesting note on holiday tunes: forget instrumentals, forget "new" versions of older material. The larger group much preferred the original, classic renditions, with words, by the original artists.

It was also interesting to note that irate customers tend to calm down alot faster when slower or more favorable forms of background or white noise was played. In this study, it was found that most people start getting irked when Rush Limbuagh is talking. The reason people gave were 1- his opinions and 2- the sound of his voice.

Paul Harvey was a popualr radio commentary personality and many people listened. Why? To get "the rest of the story".

[ebusinesstutor]

I kinda agree and disagree.

No one form of music will please everyone and instrumentals can be pleasant, but some are not. I prefer to not have it, but if it is played, I simply view it as their choice.

I agree that, in many cases, it is best if there is no music.

The owners, managers and working staff all have to hear the music all day, everyday and for this one and only reason, I feel they should have the option to listen to what they enjoy. My visit is short term.

I disagree. Your store or restaurant's goal is to create a wonderful customers experience. It is set up for your customers, not for you. So the music should be what your customers will like, not your own personal preference.

I read a study on what forms of "white noise" is most appealling to the greater portion of the general public. Rap and talk radio were among the least preferred all the way around. Opinions on the best white noise varied wildly- so wildly, in fact, they course of study was diverted.

Interesting study. I agree that rap and talk radio are not good choices.

Rather than just asking what people preferred, the least popualr were dismissed, leaving the most popular answers. Then, side by side questions were asked. Modern or contemporary forms compared to older light rock. Older light rock won. Then, that or country. This was the best part. In certain areas, country other areas, older rock.

So, it was split into regions and the study continued. Where country music was opted, a choice between older classic, 70' &80's or modern? 70's and 80's won. Then compare this to classic oldies rock, Oldies won.

Anyway, as the study was fielded down, it turns out most people would prefer to listen to older rock music from the late 50's, all of the 60's and early 70's.

People can understand the words, enjoy the rythym, and relate to the message conveyed. It reminds us of more carefree days, younger days and for many today, days when we wished we had lived through.

Interesting note on holiday tunes: forget instrumentals, forget "new" versions of older material. The larger group much preferred the original, classic renditions, with words, by the original artists.

It was also interesting to note that irate customers tend to calm down alot faster when slower or more favorable forms of background or white noise was played. In this study, it was found that most people start getting irked when Rush Limbuagh is talking. The reason people gave were 1- his opinions and 2- the sound of his voice.

Paul Harvey was a popualr radio commentary personality and many people listened. Why? To get "the rest of the story".

Yes, I am one of those people who hates a lot of the Christmas music played. I prefer instrumental Christmas music. Failing that, classic songs like Andy Williams are nice. But not so loud that I have problems talking to people or hearing myself think.

[limbery]

I agree with the last post stating that the "restaurant's goal is to create a wonderful customers experience"....so it's not a good idea to be playing loud metal music because the cooks are grooving to it....
As for Xmas music, one of the reasons that I do my buying online at that time of the year is so that I don't have to traipse through stores listening to that stuff...

[ebusinesstutor]

I know, Christmas music is particularly bad. And you can't even turn on a radio station after about Nov 15 without hearing mainly Christmas music. Oh, or were we supposed to say "holiday" music?

[fcnanaimo]

I agree with the last post stating that the "restaurant's goal is to create a wonderful customers experience"....so it's not a good idea to be playing loud metal music because the cooks are grooving to it....

But what if the customers enjoy it? I would prefer a variety of businesses with a variety of music - most big box stores seem to have the exact same mix these days and having worked in one - I have to say I can't stand it. Personally I'd prefer the loud, trendy music that was playing in a restaurant I tried out the other day instead of that god-awful "ez listening" crap. Of course that may be due to the fact that the mix of the place I worked in was not only full of terrible contemporary music, but also they would repeat stuff throughout the day multiple times a day, *every* day. There were some songs that made me want to gouge my ears out with a spoon to avoid hearing even one more time.

And let's not start that "say Christmas/say holiday" crap in February, please. Who cares what people say when they're in the middle of wishing you well?

[zedex]

Allow me to clarify my stance on the employee's and customers opinion.

Suppose you work in a print shop. You are there all day, everyday. As a customer, I would be there all of what 20 minutes of the day and maybe 3-4 times a year. Would the flavor of music make me inclined to buy more/different/less/ or walk out? Not really.

The same could be said for a diner. The cooks, dishwashers, serving staff............... all day, everyday. The customer a short time. As long as some head banging rock or rap crap wasn't blasting out the sound pipes, does it make a difference? A good mix of some 60's, 70's, top 40, C&W would be acceptable.

Most mature people understand that music does affect people and given options, I am sure most employees would be capable of rendering acceptable sound tracks. And, as long as they do, why not go with that?

I ran a high profile, international auto repair shops in several locations throughout the US. Realizing the effect white noise has on people and the compromise that my team of techs were the ones who listened to it constantly, I always allowed them to pick the tunes. Never a complaint on either the selections or volume.

But, if we had a small kid in the waiting room, I also had a TV with a DVD player and a wide selction of children's cartoons and movies. For them, I turned the tunes off and let them watch the show they picked. Nothing worse than having tunes and TV running. Noise clutter always get people anxious and irritated.

[limbery]

But what if the customers enjoy it? I would prefer a variety of businesses with a variety of music - most big box stores seem to have the exact same mix these days and having worked in one - I have to say I can't stand it. Personally I'd prefer the loud, trendy music that was playing in a restaurant I tried out the other day instead of that god-awful "ez listening" crap.

Your point about the god-awful "ez listening" is well noted....there is some music that is pretty awful in every genre...
Maybe you were in the same place I was that had the loud trendy music playing.... They seem to be doing ok for their business, so maybe the customers there happen to like loud trendy music.... My business goes elsewhere...I'm sure I'm not the only one.... and if they've still got enough of a clientele with out me, good for them.
I'm mainly talking music in restaurants rather than auto shops or stores....I can zone it out there and don't care what they've got playing most of the time...(though I've been known to drastically shorten my browsing time in stores due to the music)