Muzak in (food) stores, at stations etc: love or hate?

[661-Pete]

One thing that surprised me was that in the few German campsites I used they play piped music (I assume the German equivalent of Radio 2) through the toilet blocks. Can’t say it helped me in any way. Nondescript unoffensive pop music. Through all the toilets, 24/7.

Ian

To stop people loitering?

They do the same at French motorway aires (rest areas). Possibly for the same reason?

[Cyril Haearn]

The votes were overwhelmingly against muzak

My conclusion is that members of these fora are abnormal, an untypical group. I know, sorry, believe that I am abnormal in several ways

Super-Stores would surely not play muzak if many people disliked it, and there is surely "proof" that it increases sales!

Cyclists are abnormal, Plus One! Alternative facts welcome

[Cyril Haearn]

*@#*€$¡!
Just got back from the food store, realised I had not bought one of the things on my list
The *** muzak was so awful, I unconsciously had to go, instead of carefully checking my list again, spent less money than I meant to
Can anyone explain why muzak is played in food stores?

[colin54]

Because muzak is the food of loaf.

[Cyril Haearn]

We have "patient surveys" in our waiting room, and one of the most frequent requests is for music or TV

Likely another very frequent request is for the cacophony to be turned orf
Maybe tivi without sound would be best
..
A compromise is only reached, when both (all) parties are unsatisfied

[Cyril Haearn]

In the office next to mine Yob Radio is played all day, sounds like tortured animals howling
Anyone like listening to that sort of thing?

Could I persuade them to upgrade to classic? I might enjoy working with Beethoven and Sibelius

[Cyril Haearn]

The Pet Requisites section of the food store has squeaky toys for dogs to play with, I squeeze them to enjoy the noise as a muzak-antidote (homeopathic remedy?)
Another customer plus oned my doing this
'I am a product tester', I explained

[Cyril Haearn]

Went to the Large Red Store to buy food, my favourite cheese was sold out so I selected two much more expensive products in$t€ad, that and the muzak disorientated me a bit, I shall NOT take time to go to the Cheap Store to save a little cash, mind
Fortunately the newspapers are in a part of the store where the blowers drown out the muzak, spent a while reading, did not buy, got my revenge

Is it mainly males who dislike muzak?

[Cyril Haearn]

The muzak at decathlon is particularly bad but I just read on these fora about really cheap stuff there, makes me want to go as soon as possible
Must remember to take my hearing protection

The stuff would be even cheaper if the store did not have to pay for the muzak
I really believe decathlon wants to make being in the store as unpleasant as possible

[colin54]

I think you're really talking about background music, not Muzak, which has a specific meaning. I like it(music), sometimes, if they're lucky in the local Asda, they'll be playing something by Stevie Wonder and I can whistle along to his harmonica solos. I have yet to see anyone dancing in the aisles to my almost pitch perfect trillings though, I must admit. It quite perks up my day anyway.
Muzak has an exact meaning, I haven't heard any knowingly for years, until now..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0AzWLc6Js
Here's an amusing clip explaining it ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47mYs1SGBq4
Warning ! May contain fake news and nuts.
Muzak Wiki..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzak
I still usually buy bread first at the local supermarket, I wonder if perhaps subliminally I was brainwashed by hearing
John Miles' turgid ' Muzak Was my First Loaf 'on a Music for Pleasure 'chart hits covers' LP in Woolworth's record department 'back in the day'.
An example of 'Early Muzak'.. Ol' Ma Pegitty couldn't buy enough Hovis once the band struck up, buyin' it by the delivery bike basket load she were.The hills were indeed 'Aloaf With the Sound of Muzak' in simpler times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mq59ykPnAE
I don't know the mechanics of actually casting my vote in this type of poll, I'm kind of in favour of the first choice listed, but would only be tempted into buying more if they started selling chromatic harmonicas with accompanying lessons.
Just my 'chip'n pin's' worth on the subject.

[Cyril Haearn]

Thread resurrection alert

Muzakschmusic, whatever, it nearly drove me out of my tiny mind today, there were other noises too, aircon etc, worse than the frightening howling wind outside
No Stevie Wonder or Billy Joel, the cheapest cheapest howling bleating moaning music one may buy
..
Apparently most stores are built so one goes left, like in track cycling, because most (?!) people prefer to turn left
Went to a store this week where one goes in on the left and then turns right! Is that a thing?

[Cyril Haearn]

Thread resurrection alert again

Visited an unfamiliar store today, trying to find my way round, the screeching bleating howling caterwauling muzak nearly drove me mad. Might I have a defence if I ran amok?
..
When away from home I try to use a certain cheap store whose premises have a layout identical to the store near home. No cacophony either

[Cyril Haearn]

Thread resurrection alert

I visited my attorney, was asked to wait in the waiting room for a few minutes
Awful american 'easy listening' muzak was coming back out of the wall, could not see a swith to turn it off

Muzak seems to be ever more ubiquitous

My suspicion is that the attorney plays it to soften up her victims, the game is called 'good cop, bad cop'

[mumbojumbo]

Muzak can be quite illumiating.My preference is anodyne cover versions,and adore the destruction of a song like like Waterloo or Dancing Queen by Richard Clayderman.Removing the urgent vocals and grunge-like rock treatment for a quasi-claasical treatment is so bad its good.

[Cyril Haearn]

Muzak can be quite illumiating.My preference is anodyne cover versions,and adore the destruction of a song like like Waterloo or Dancing Queen by Richard Clayderman.Removing the urgent vocals and grunge-like rock treatment for a quasi-claasical treatment is so bad its good.

I just reopened the poll, please cast your vote!