Where do fast food chains/grocery stores/whatever get their mix tapes?

[johnjohn320]

I was in a Wendy's the other day and started thinking about this. Quietly playing over the speakers in these places, there will always be some mix of easy-listening, oldies, R&B, etc. It's not the radio, as there are no commercials, talk, etc. Same goes for grocery stores, department stores, etc.

Mind you, I have no interest in obtaining such a tape; I'm just curious who decides what's on these tapes and makes them. I used to work at a grocery store, and after a few days you'd start to know which songs were coming up. Drove me nuts.

 

[newb111]

Muzak

 

[Barfo]

I wonder if the pay the RIAA for the right to play them.

 

[Q]

I work in a grocery store during breaks - sometimes we use people's iPods, other than that, it's some radio station that's used for grocery stores or some crap like that.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: newb111
Muzak

This.

You'd be surprised how many different stations muzak has. They even have metal, rap, and techno if you so desire.

 

[Eli]

They're usually on a radio station.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: newb111
Muzak

Yep they did, but Muzak filed for bankruptcy a week or so ago. Wonder who will provide elevator music now ?

February 10, 2009

Muzak, the company that provides the soundtrack for our elevator rides and grocery-shopping trips, sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday. The 75-year-old Fort Mill, S.C., company is seeking to restructure a heavy debt load that includes about $370 million in bond debt and a term loan of $105 million.

The company?s chief executive, Stephen P. Villa, says Muzak is a ?solid business with an outstanding customer base.? Indeed, the company?s soft-rock, pop and instrumental sounds reach 100 million people each day, according to its Web site.

Muzak has been distributing music to restaurants and hotels since 1934. The company used to be known for its quiet, mellow instrumental music, but in recent years has moved into pop music and commercial recordings.

Although its name is synonymous with bland background music, Muzak also creates custom phone and in-store voice messages and designs and installs sound systems, commercial television, drive-thru systems, digital signage and sound-masking systems.

 

[RichUK]

The ghetto.

 

[Atheus]

MP3 player in a back room unless it's a very large store. Then they probably have company radio.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: barfo
I wonder if the pay the RIAA for the right to play them.

If the music feed is purchased through a commercial company like Musak, then yes, the appropriate licenses should be paid.

 

[Brainonska511]

ShopRite had a broadcast from a corporate radio. It was awful, because you'd hear the same music every time you worked. 4 years listening to the same crap. I can't listen to that song "Easy like a sunday morning" without cringing....

Towards the end, they start to mix some Chili Peppers into the mix tape, so it made it a little more bearable (along with the few Beatles songs on it as well).