tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post3856925026066192303..comments2023-10-17T13:11:28.125+01:00Comments on Sound Business: Why did Muzak go bust?Julian Treasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021201761473677075noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-84566545685532853692012-01-19T21:06:24.393+00:002012-01-19T21:06:24.393+00:00I don't like the muzak either and don't wa...I don't like the muzak either and don't want it forced on me in stores and restaurants. Do you ever try to get them to turn it off, or at least, turn it down? Be prepared for a debate on why it can't, or shouldn't, be turned off. Or just excuses for not accommodating customer. "No, I won't turn it off". " I can't turn it off". "I am too busy to turn it off". They give you the impression there is no on/off switch or volume control. Well, Muzak, is there a on/off switch or volume control? I have an idea for you. Add a great big red push button in a prominent location with a great big label saying "for the convenience of out customers. Push to mute the music for 20 minutes". Now there is a new feature that is sure to please people who enjoy peace and quiet and give them some choice in the matter, and they won't have to bother the manager or listen to their excuses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-9807350055191952082012-01-19T20:51:19.166+00:002012-01-19T20:51:19.166+00:00Well, Richard, what is your response to your custo...Well, Richard, what is your response to your customers who don't like someone else's taste in "music" imposed on them and requests that you temporally turn it off while their in your store? Do you accommodate them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-33166382975658253202011-02-02T23:18:53.811+00:002011-02-02T23:18:53.811+00:00As a run-of-the-mill consumer, I will say quite fr...As a run-of-the-mill consumer, I will say quite frankly that I heartily dislike background music. I enjoy playing my CD's and listening to them mindfully, at home, at a reasonable volume. I believe that there are more people who actively dislike muzak and background music than those who who actively like it; the thing is, few people are willing to come forward and admit this for fear of being labeled as spoil sports. I would appreciate links to the studies cited on this blog.Katherine Masishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03073675821610806044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-13478682894762431282010-01-05T21:55:00.400+00:002010-01-05T21:55:00.400+00:00Umm As a Muzak customer for over 15 years I have t...Umm As a Muzak customer for over 15 years I have to disagree on alot of points here. I constantly have my customers telling me they love the music and how it adds to the atmosphere of the shop. I personally witness people staying longer singing the songs and waiting around to see what comes next. And all I do is chose a different channel every few days so nothing special is going on. My Muzak rep works at a small local installation company not some leasing company and is a fantastic technical resource. Over the years I've used many different Muzak receivers and not a single one is a modified PC, more like a set-top box for satellite TV the only issue is when it snows I used to lose signal but now they have a solution for that as well. Personally I find it strange to walk into a store and be greeted by silence. I find it very cold and informal. I especially see value in the Muzak on hold for telephones. They also have a great delivery method for instore and onhold messages. (Gee I'm starting to sound like my rep) But seriously though its really really easy and incredibly powerful marketing tool. I can easily see an increase in sales after running my custom in store ads for a few weeks. I get the impression from this article that the author has had some negative experience with piped music before and just has it out for it. <br /><br />I will agree though that society's relationship with music has been radically changed as a result of its omnipresence in public places. I wouldn't categorize it as bad though. In fact I personally have bought CD's based off of one song that I heard overhead in my store.<br /><br />Just my 2 cents from an aging shop owner.Richard Bainesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-11182399740720434512009-04-28T10:56:00.000+01:002009-04-28T10:56:00.000+01:00Julian's analysis is insightful and pertinent as u...Julian's analysis is insightful and pertinent as usual. At Sound Strategies we ran a similar, more general piece some months back, where we make the case for treating music access as a utility like water or electricity: http://sound-strategies.typepad.com/have_your_say_about_sound/2008/08/soundings-augus.html#moreAndrew Peggiehttp://www.sound-strategies.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-50693558102719160882009-03-27T11:42:00.000+00:002009-03-27T11:42:00.000+00:00You are correct indeed when you state, "Society's ...You are correct indeed when you state, "Society's relationship with music has been radically changed as a result of its omnipresence in public places: it used to be something we had an active, intense relationship with, but now most of the time it's the soundtrack to some other activity." This, I think, is Conductor Barenboim's sentiment -- that we are no longer trained in listening to the different elements in music.<BR/><BR/>The greatest tragedy (in my view) is the exact music being piped. When I boarded an airline, I hadn't ordered trancemix at 120bmp to be broadcast throughout the entire cabin. Yet that's what the airline forced upon me. When I entered a restaurant to have a nice, quiet breakfast, I hadn't ordered a pop beat at 120bmp with no resolved beats. Needless to say, it ruined my breakfast.<BR/><BR/>A study by Joshua Leeds showed that when dogs listened to Metallica, they barked. But when the same dogs listened to classical music, they were calm and rested.<BR/><BR/>I would like to thank you for noting that there has been a lack of serious research into the area. One has to wonder whether people actually like constant, rapid, unresolved raps pumped into them at such a rapid beat. It really does have an impact on one's physiology. But of course, the Muzak Corporation's wonderful "Audio Architects" may claim otherwise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-15410735835859036912009-02-12T08:14:00.000+00:002009-02-12T08:14:00.000+00:00This is a very thought-provoking and interesting a...This is a very thought-provoking and interesting article. I'm grateful to James van Etten (newsletter Clippings for the Digital Signage Industry) for directing me to it. As one who's involved in creating musical-based promotional ads, I (naturally enough) believe that there's still a place for music to be used as a positive stimulus and not just to engage cynically but to entertain, genuinely. In fact, I'd say that the guys from 30 and 40 years back actually got it right - it's just that now a) people are sick of the same and b) where the formula's changed (particularly with music in TV ads) there's just very little that's genuinely memorable any more. We're trying to change that by attempting to roll the clock back a little, in order to look forward. And we like doing it so much, we send out our own wee messages from time to time, to "fly the flag", as it were. <A HREF="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9IGChII7Zc" REL="nofollow">Here</A> is our latest vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9IGChII7Zc). Thanks again for such a stimulating article.jeznowhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17203887466504141493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6433732056290119756.post-91983439881970029592009-02-12T04:30:00.000+00:002009-02-12T04:30:00.000+00:00Great insight on the reason for the sale. I am dev...Great insight on the reason for the sale. I am developing a digital signage system that provides visuals in much the same way as Muzak provides audio and will look to grow the business and sell it in 5 years.Jeremy Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04492531784569751654noreply@blogger.com