Selects: Muzak: Easy Listening Goodness

This episode explores the history and evolution of Muzak, a brand of background music once ubiquitous in public spaces. Against the backdrop of its inventor, George Squire's, multifaceted career in telecommunications, the podcast traces Muzak's journey from a wired-wireless music subscription service to its dominance in businesses and corporations. More significantly, the hosts delve into Muzak's "stimulus progression" model, a pseudoscientific approach to curating playlists designed to boost worker productivity, and its subsequent backlash in the 1960s and 70s as lyrical depth gained prominence in popular music. For instance, the discussion highlights how artists' reactions to Muzak varied, with some refusing licensing while others saw it as a mark of success. In contrast to Muzak's background music approach, the rise of competitors like Yesco, focusing on foreground music, is examined. The episode concludes by discussing Muzak's eventual acquisition and rebranding as Mood Media, emphasizing its continued relevance in shaping the auditory atmosphere of retail spaces and its pioneering role in technological advancements within the music industry.