A long time ago, the majority of public areas, including grocery stores, elevators, airports, shopping centers, and hotel lobbies, had a unifying sound. The term “elevator music” describes the mellow instrumental music that was formerly nearly always heard in public spaces.
This type of music is often played on stringed instruments. The Mantovani Orchestra and conductors like James Last and Franck Pourcel are well-known for creating much of the elevator music we hear in public places. It’s called “elevator music” because it was commonly played in elevators across the US and around the world. However, you can also hear this music in various other public spaces, retail stores, and as hold music on phone systems. Sometimes, people refer to easy-listening music as “elevator music” in a negative way. In movies or video games, soft elevator music is occasionally used during dramatic or action-packed scenes for comedic effect.
Despite its popularity, many people find this kind of music annoying. This has led to the creation of organizations like Pipedown, which aim to eliminate background music in public areas.
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Elevator music, or Muzak, is a genre of easy-listening music that first emerged in the 1920s. It was intended to be quiet and soothing, with mellow piano melodies, sultry jazz rhythms, or serene classical passages. Its roots trace back to the innovative work of George Owen Squier, a former US Army major general turned inventor. Squier’s work in the early 1900s laid the foundation for Muzak, initially intended to enhance productivity in factories by adjusting the music’s tempo to influence worker efficiency.
The Birth of Muzak
The concept of Muzak emerged from Squier’s patent for telephone signal multiplexing in 1910. This technology allowed for the transmission of music via wires, which eventually led to the creation of Wired Radio. By 1934, Wired Radio was rebranded as Muzak, and its popularity soared alongside the growing prevalence of home radio sets. Warner Brothers and businessman William Benton played significant roles in expanding Muzak’s reach to various public spaces. Techniques like stimulus progression were employed to influence worker productivity through carefully curated music blocks interspersed with periods of silence.
The Rise and Persistence of Elevator Music
Despite the evolving musical preferences of the 1960s, elevator music persisted, adapting to accommodate changing tastes. However, the advent of foreground music playlists and shifts in psychological theories began to signal the decline of traditional elevator music. By the late 2000s, Muzak’s bankruptcy marked the end of an era. After being renamed by Mood Media in 2013, elevator music progressively vanished from the public eye, marking the end of its formerly pervasive existence..
The Evolution of Elevator Music
Elevator music, those smooth, inoffensive tunes that have accompanied countless rides between floors, has come a long way. While you might still encounter calming melodies in some elevators, the genre has dramatically branched out. As musical tastes have evolved, so has what qualifies as appropriate for a short vertical journey. Today, you might hear anything from relaxing lo-fi beats to ambient flute music or even energetic pop tunes in elevators.
The Comedic Use of Elevator Music
Soft elevator music occasionally serves a comedic purpose in movies or video games, cutting between dramatic or action-packed moments to create a humorous effect. However, many people have found this kind of music annoying, leading to the establishment of organizations like Pipedown, which aims to eliminate background music in public areas.
Modern-Day Elevator Music
In contemporary settings, elevator music has expanded its scope beyond elevators. It now encompasses a broad range of genres, catering to diverse preferences. The transition from traditional Muzak to modern playlists has allowed this genre to evolve, incorporating elements like lo-fi beats and ambient sounds.
The Legacy of Elevator Music
The legacy of elevator music is a testament to its adaptability and enduring appeal. Despite its decline in traditional settings, the influence of Muzak can still be felt in various public spaces. The soothing, unobtrusive nature of elevator music continues to provide a calming backdrop in many environments, reflecting its original purpose.
Elevator music, also known as Muzak, is a genre of easy-listening music designed to be unobtrusive and calming. It typically features gentle piano melodies, smooth jazz rhythms, or serene classical movements and is commonly played in public spaces like elevators, retail establishments, and as hold music on phone systems.
2. Who invented Muzak?
George Owen Squier, a former major general in the US Army who is now an inventor, created Muzak. His work in the early 1900s on telephone signal multiplexing laid the foundation for transmitting music via wires, leading to the creation of Wired Radio, later rebranded as Muzak.
3. Why was elevator music created?
Elevator music was initially created to enhance productivity in factories by adjusting the music’s tempo to influence worker efficiency. Over time, its use expanded to more relaxed settings, including elevator rides, to provide a soothing and calming background for people in various public spaces.
4. How has elevator music evolved?
Elevator music has evolved significantly from its early days as traditional Muzak. While it once featured predominantly soft instrumental melodies, modern elevator music encompasses a broad range of genres, including lo-fi beats, ambient sounds, and even energetic pop tunes, reflecting the diverse musical tastes of today’s society.
5. Is elevator music still popular today?
While traditional elevator music has declined in popularity, its influence can still be felt in various public spaces. Modern playlists in elevators now include a wider variety of genres, catering to contemporary musical preferences and maintaining the genre’s original purpose of providing a calming background.
6. What organizations oppose elevator music?
Organizations like Pipedown have been established to oppose background music in public areas. These groups advocate for quieter public spaces, arguing that background music can be intrusive and annoying to many people.
7. What is the comedic use of elevator music?
Elevator music is sometimes used for comedic effect in movies or video games, where its soft, mellow tones contrast sharply with dramatic or action-packed moments. This simple position creates a humorous and often ironic effect.
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