Background music facts for kids

Background music is music that isn't meant to be the main thing you listen to. Instead, it plays in the background. It can change how you feel or act, even if you don't notice it much.

This type of music can help you relax, get excited, or even distract you. Often, you can't control the volume or what songs are playing.

You might hear background music in many places. This includes hallways, restrooms, and fitting rooms. It's also used when you are on hold during a phone call or as music in video games.

Background music is common in places like doctor's offices, stores, and airports. Many different kinds of music are used for this purpose. Studies show that music in stores can even make people buy more things!

Types of Background Music

Incidental Music

Incidental music is played during a play, TV show, or movie. Its job is to create a certain mood or feeling for the story. It helps to make the action more exciting or emotional.

This idea goes back to ancient Greek plays. Many famous composers have written incidental music. It can be simple sounds like drums or complex orchestral pieces.

Furniture Music

The name furniture music was first used by a composer named Erik Satie in 1917. This type of music often has short parts that repeat many times. It's meant to be there, like furniture, but not to grab all your attention.

Elevator Music (Muzak)

Elevator music is a common term for music played in public places where many people gather. This includes elevators, stores, and even when you are on hold during a phone call. It's also known as Muzak or piped music.

This music usually sounds soft and simple. It often uses instrumental versions of popular songs or calm classical tunes. Sometimes, computers even create this music! The term can also describe other calm music styles like easy listening or jazz.

Video Game Music

Video game music is the soundtrack for video games. Some songs are made just for the game, while others are existing songs that the game creators get permission to use. You can hear this music on title screens, in menus, and while you play the game.

Website Music

Years ago, some websites, like Myspace, let users pick songs that would automatically play when someone visited their profile page. This was a form of background music for websites.

Group Fitness Music

In recent years, fitness classes have started focusing more on music. Instructors use music to motivate people during workouts. Since this music is more interactive than typical background music, there are different rules for how it's used and paid for.

Internet Delivered Music

Today, many companies provide background music over the internet. This allows stores to quickly update their music and messages. It's a modern way to deliver music compared to older methods like CDs or satellites.

Business Audio Services

Business audio is a service that provides sound content for commercial places. This content is licensed, meaning companies pay to use it legally in public.

Background music is a big part of business audio. Some companies that provide these services include:

• StoreStreams Inc
• Muzak Holdings LLC
• DMX
• PlayNetwork
• XM for Business
• Music Choice
• CUSTOMtronics Sound
• Applied Media Technologies Corporation
• Trusonic

In the United States, "elevator music" and "Muzak" are often used to describe these services.

History of Background Music

One of the first companies to provide background music was Muzak Holdings, started in 1934.

Today, business audio is created off-site and sent to clients in many ways. This includes using satellites, internet connections, and even older methods like CDs or tapes.

Most music you buy is only for personal use at home. Business audio services make sure that companies can play music in public places legally. They pay fees to organizations like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GEMA in Germany. These fees go to the artists and songwriters.

Older Music Players

Over time, different machines were used to play background music:

• The 1959 Seeburg 1000 was a large record player. It could play up to 1000 songs continuously from special records.
• The Rowe Customusic used special tape cartridges that played music without stopping.
• The 1964 3M Cantata 700 played large magnetic tape cartridges. These could hold up to 26 hours of music.

See also

In Spanish: Música de fondo para niños

• Ambient music
• Applied Media Technologies Corporation
• DMX
• PlayNetwork
• Jamendo