Background music

Background music (British English: piped music) is a mode of musical performance in which the music is not intended to be a primary focus of potential listeners, but instead used to influence the atmosphere of an environment. Its content, character, and volume level are deliberately chosen to affect behavioral and emotional responses in humans such as concentration, relaxation, distraction, and excitement. Listeners are commonly exposed to background music in public, commercial, and occupational settings, often with limited control over its volume or content. Research shows that people respond to background music in many different ways, with responses varying widely based on where the music is heard, what people are doing, their cultural background, or even what time of day it is.

Background music is commonly played where there is no audience at all, such as empty hallways, restrooms and fitting rooms. It is also used in artificial space, such as music played while on hold during a telephone call, and virtual space, as in the ambient sounds or thematic music in video games. It is typically played at low volumes from multiple small speakers distributing the music across broad public spaces. Research has examined the effects of background music on attention and cognitive performance, suggesting that it can influence concentration during task-based activities, depending on music tempo, complexity, and the presence of lyrics. The widespread use of background music in offices, restaurants, and stores began with the founding of Muzak, or light background music, in the 1930s and was characterized by repetition and simple musical arrangements. More recent research on background music in workplace environments suggests that its use can influence employee satisfaction and perceived work performance, although the effects on productivity vary depending on task demands and individual preferences. Studies in retail environments suggest that background music can influence consumer mood, arousal, and the amount of time spent in stores, which may in turn affect purchasing behavior.

Due to the growing variety of settings (from doctors' offices to airports), many styles of music are utilized as background music. Because the aim of background music is passive listening, vocals, commercial interruptions, and complexity are typically avoided. In spite of the international distribution common to syndicated background music artists, it is often associated with artistic failure and a lack of musical talent in the entertainment industry. There are composers who write specifically for music syndication services such as Dynamic Media and Mood Media, successors of Muzak, and MTI Digital. Multiple studies have correlated the presence of background music with increased spending in retail establishments.