M:Backgroundmusicissupposedtoinfluenceyourattitudesandputyouintherightmood.You’renotsupposedtonoticeit,butit’sjustthere,inthebackground.
W:I’mnotsureIlikethatidea.
M:Well,itseemstowork.Companiespaymillionsofdollarseveryyearforbackgroundmusic.It’ssupposedtogiveyouabetterfeelingaboutyourselfandthepeoplearoundyou.Factoriesuseitalot.Itmakestheworkershappy,andtheyworkbetterthatway.Inonefactory,musicincreasedproductionby4.5percent.
W:Ishouldthinkthey’dgettiredofhearingmusicallday.
M:Theydon’tthough.OnefellowinSanFranciscotoldme,‘Ifthemusicstops,somebodyalwaysrunstothetelephonetocomplain.’
W:NowthatIthinkaboutit,Ican’trememberwhentherewasn’tbackgroundmusicinrestaurantsandstores.
M:Actually,backgroundmusicstartedduringWorldWarIIwhensomefactorieshadtheirownorchestrastokeepworkershappyandcalm.Now,ofcourse,themusicispipedinbyamachine,anddifferentkindsofmusicareplayedatdifferenttimesduringtheday.Theyplayfastermusicatteninthemorningthanateight,forinstance,becauseworkerstendtobeslowerthen.
W:Whataboutrestaurants?Dotheyplaythesamemusicfordinnerandlunch?
M:Idon’tknowaboutthat,butIdoknowthathamburgerplacesplayfastmusic.Whentheystartedplayingfastermusic,theyfoundthatacustomerspentonlyseventeenminuteseating.Thetimewastwenty-twominutesbeforethat.
W:Sotheyhavemorepeoplecominginandouttobuyhamburgers.
M:Exactly.Andthat’sgoodforbusiness.Youcanseewhymusichasbecomesopopular.InLosAngeles,forinstance,thirtydifferentcompaniesaresellingbackgroundmusicservices.
W:Istillthinkthere’ssomethingaboutitthatIdon’tquitelike.
M:Iknowwhatyoumean,butlotsofpeoplewouldn’tagreewithyou.TheXeroxCorporationinRochester,N.Y.spendsmorethan$80,000ayearforbackgroundmusic.Prisonsuseit,andfarmersuseittokeeptheircattlecalm.It’sevensupposedtohaveaneffectonplants.
W:Well,itmaycalmcattle,butit’snotmakingmeforgetI’mhungry.Let’strytogetthatwaitresstobringusamenu.
