Although background music was by the end of the 20th Century generally identified with Muzak or elevator music, there are several stages in the development of this concept: Muzak Holdings LLC is a company, founded in 1934, that is best known for distribution of music to retail stores and other companies. ... Elevator music, also known as lift music (in the UK), piped music or muzak, refers to the gentle, bland instrumental arrangements of popular music designed for play in shopping malls, grocery stores, department stores, telephone systems (while the caller is on hold), cruise ships, airports, doctors and dentists offices, and...

Antecedents

In the Baroque and Classical music era music could be performed as a background to other activities, for instance: Baroque music describes an era and a set of styles of European classical music which were in widespread use between approximately 1600 and 1750. ... The Classical period in Western music occurred from about 1730 through 1820, despite considerable overlap at both ends with preceding and following periods, as is true for all musical eras. ...

• French kings of the baroque era could have music performed during their stately dinners.
• Opera or other public music performances could have such a high "social function" character that few people would actually listen to the music being performed.

The article is about functionalism in sociology; for other uses, see functionalism. ...

Furniture music

Furniture music was an invention of Erik Satie around 1920. This type of "background music" fell into oblivion when the composer died a few years later, and was not again executed until it was rediscovered several decades later. Typical of Furniture music are short musical passages, with an indefinite number of repeats. Furniture music, or in French musique d’ameublement (sometimes more literally translated as furnishing music), is background music originally played by live performers. ... Selfportrait of Erik Satie. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Elevator music

Elevator music is a more general term indicating music that is played in rooms where many people come together (that is, with no intention whatsoever to listen to music). There is a specific sound associated with elevator music, usually involving themes from "soft" popular music or "light" classical music being worked over by slow strings. The type of music for instance the Mantovani Orchestra, and conductors like Franck Pourcel and James Last produced, peaking its popularity around the 1970s. Elevator music can be purchased at royalty free site, The Royalty King Mantovani, born Annunzio Paolo Mantovani ( November 15, 1905 – March 29, 1980) was a popular conductor and entertainer in the easy listening style. ... « In the strange world of show-business where you can find many con-artists and wind merchants, there is a distinguished man, whose look is more that of a diplomat than an artist: Franck Pourcel is discreet, modest and without pretence, this quiet man with a handsome silhouette has recorded... James Last in 2006 James Last together with fan Guenter Krueger from Berlin James Last (born Hans Last on April 17, 1929 in Bremen) is a German composer and big band leader. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ...

Ambient music

The term Ambient music is generally used when more, but often less distinguishable, influences (like for instance elements of Jazz and/or sounds from nature, etc...) are mingled in the "soundscape". Note however that some producers and/or composers of "Ambient music" or "soundscapes" (or similar associated types of music, see Ambient article) might not have (had) any intention to use the qualifier "background" for their music. Ambient music refers to a kind of music that envelops the listener without drawing attention to itself [1] // The term ambient music was first coined by Brian Eno in the mid-1970s to refer to music that can be either actively listened to with attention or as easily ignored, depending... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... A soundscape is an acoustic environment or an environment created by sound. ... Ambient music refers to a kind of music that envelops the listener without drawing attention to itself [1] // The term ambient music was first coined by Brian Eno in the mid-1970s to refer to music that can be either actively listened to with attention or as easily ignored, depending...

Foreground music

In opposition to background music, foreground music is intended to be listened to actively. Especially life style companies in fashion like to employ foreground music, individually compiled and scheduled to increase customer loyalty and the time they stay in the store. However, sometimes the opposite effect is achieved and people are driven out to escape the constant music. Very often these companies have professional DJ's select the music matching their brand. In most cases currently popular chart music is used.

Anime, video game and blog music

Background music (often abbreviated "BGM") is also the term used to describe the music in video games, incidental music in anime, and music in blogs or websites. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Animé redirects here. ... It has been suggested that Online diary be merged into this article or section. ...

See also

• Applied Media Technologies Corporation
• DMX
• Muzak Holdings LLC
• Streamit