Background music

Background music (British English: piped music) is a mode of musical performance in which the music is not intended to be a primary focus of potential listeners, but instead used to influence the atmosphere of an environment. Its content, character, and volume level are deliberately chosen to affect behavioral and emotional responses in humans such as concentration, relaxation, distraction, and excitement. Listeners are commonly exposed to background music in public, commercial, and occupational settings, often with limited control over its volume or content. Research shows that people respond to background music in many different ways, with responses varying widely based on where the music is heard, what people are doing, their cultural background, or even what time of day it is.