Muzak!

I've been slowly and not very comprehensively working through the giant stack of un- or little-read New Yorkers in my apartment. I don't think The New Yorker has been as good as it was even a couple years ago, so I'm not feeling quite as guilty as I might have. At any rate, I just got done reading the April 10, 2006 article about Muzak. You may be surprised to know the company still exists and you probably heard Muzak today if you left the house.

For me, and most people I imagine, Muzak equals already overplayed pop songs, instrumentalized. The word automatically invokes an image of a 17-year old me at my part-time hardware store job, ringing up a toilet plunger and wasp spray as an instrumental "Papa Don't Preach" floats in the background.

Now Muzak "audio architects" create "audio brands" for many of the businesses you patronize. You may even hear it while you work if your employer is a corporate HQ. Anyone who's been to a mall knows at least some stores put thought into what music is playing. (Ambercrombie and Fitch's soundtrack is "Over 21? Keep out!") But way more do than you might have thought. Muzak even has a competitor, D.M.X.

Be afraid, be very afraid.