Repetition Breeds Familiarity
Research shows that over time, our sensorium has grown more able to tolerate the shock of the new. While Elvis was shocking in the 50's, he is background today. The speed by which we assimilate newness has increased greatly over the last twenty years. Played over and over, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Like A Virgin" have become tunes we hum along with absent-mindedly. These popular hits work the same way that Muzak's earlier instrumentals did, acting as a stimulating but blank texture within the empty spaces of work and consumption.
The culture industries have made it possible for even the most wild and subversive content to be enjoyed by everyone. With repeated air play, song lyrics lose their meaning, turning all music into a background of moods without emotional depth. In a segmented demographic market, Muzak's customers can choose from among a variety of programs that include all forms of music, picking the channels and moods most appropriate to their audience's needs or request custom selections designed to enhance their unique brand personality. Muzak's mission hasn't changed; it merely recognizes that our relationship to culture has.
Muzak is emotion, custom packaged to serve business.
