Muzak

[6] Inventor George Owen Squier, credited with inventing telephone carrier multiplexing in 1910, developed the original technical basis for Muzak.

[10] Squier recognized the potential for this technology to be used to deliver music to listeners without the use of radio,[7] which at the time was in early state and required fussy and expensive equipment.

Early successful tests were performed, delivering music to customers on New York's Staten Island via their electrical wires.

[11] By the 1930s radio had made great advances, and households began listening to broadcasts received via the airwaves for free, supported by advertising.

Squier remained involved in the project, but as the home market became eclipsed by radio in 1934 he changed the company's focus to delivering music to commercial clients.

While Muzak had initially produced tens of thousands of original artist recordings by the top performers of the late 1930s and 1940s, their new strategy required a different sound.

[15] The music was programmed in 15-minute blocks, gradually getting faster in tempo and louder and brassier in instrumentation, to encourage workers to speed up their pace.

Rather than using orchestral re-recordings as Muzak had for its Stimulus Progression program, they licensed original recordings, and included vocal music.

They also offered many styles, from rock and pop to Spanish-language programming (for Mexican restaurants), jazz, blues and classical, as well as the traditional "easy listening."

Foreground music markets included restaurants, fashion stores, retail outlets, malls, dental offices, airlines and public spaces.

[21] A small contingent of Muzak's business continued to provide their trademarked background music sound where it remained popular, particularly in Japan.

[22] Muzak was, since the 1940s, a franchise operation, with local offices each purchasing performance licenses for subscribers to the music, delivery technology, and brand name for their geographic areas.

"Muzak is an evil force in today's society, causing people to lapse into uncontrollable fits of blandness," Nugent said.

The plan would pay all banks everything they were owed in some form and would give high-ranking unsecured creditors ownership in the reorganized company.

The company emerged from bankruptcy in less than 24 hours due to the agreement of all stakeholders, strong strategic plan, and stable team.

[42][43] In January 2021 Mood Media was acquired by Vector Capital, a private equity firm specializing in investments in technology businesses.