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Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

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Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#21

Post by rovyko »

balabaster wrote: post #13
save_ferris wrote: post #10

I experienced this working in retail during the holiday season back when I was in college. The little bell intro to Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is You", will forever haunt my dreams. I rarely listen to Christmas music anymore because of that experience. Nowadays, I get irritated when I've burned through a 2 hour playlist twice at work and need to find something else to listen to, but I totally take the a…

I moved from the UK to Canada 20 years ago this September. Back in High School and University, I worked retail for about 5 years or so. By the time I left, I haaaaaated Christmas music. Couldn't stand it. Now after 20 years in Canada, I really miss it. Nothing here is the same as it is in the UK when it comes to Christmas traditions. There's no carolers, the smells aren't the same, the shops aren't the same. Everythi…

>There's no carolers, the smells aren't the same, the shops aren't the same

Growing up in Canada, I thought carolers and olde-timey Christmas themes only happened in movies these days. Are these traditions still alive in the UK?

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#23

Post by narrator »

grawprog wrote: post #6

I went into a Starbucks the other day early in the morning that didn't have music playing yet, it was really weird. It was actually kind of disconcerting. I think that's the only time i've ever been in one with no music. Everybody's voices echoed really loudly. You could hear every conversation going on and people ordering from the other side of the store. As much as I dislike their music choices usually, I kind of u…

Perhaps the music is to keep people from talking on their cell phones.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#25

Post by Chris_Chambers »

balabaster wrote: post #13
save_ferris wrote: post #10

I experienced this working in retail during the holiday season back when I was in college. The little bell intro to Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is You", will forever haunt my dreams. I rarely listen to Christmas music anymore because of that experience. Nowadays, I get irritated when I've burned through a 2 hour playlist twice at work and need to find something else to listen to, but I totally take the a…

I moved from the UK to Canada 20 years ago this September. Back in High School and University, I worked retail for about 5 years or so. By the time I left, I haaaaaated Christmas music. Couldn't stand it. Now after 20 years in Canada, I really miss it. Nothing here is the same as it is in the UK when it comes to Christmas traditions. There's no carolers, the smells aren't the same, the shops aren't the same. Everythi…

I’m stunned that you believe those heartwarming traditions common in the UK 20 years ago would still exist today after everything that’s been happening.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#26

Post by alex_anglin »

rovyko wrote: post #21
balabaster wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I moved from the UK to Canada 20 years ago this September. Back in High School and University, I worked retail for about 5 years or so. By the time I left, I haaaaaated Christmas music. Couldn't stand it. Now after 20 years in Canada, I really miss it. Nothing here is the same as it is in the UK when it comes to Christmas traditions. There's no carolers, the smells aren't the same, the shops aren't the same. Everythi…

>There's no carolers, the smells aren't the same, the shops aren't the same Growing up in Canada, I thought carolers and olde-timey Christmas themes only happened in movies these days. Are these traditions still alive in the UK?

Canadian here and these happen in my neighborhood. YMMY elsewhere, as OP has mentioned.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#27

Post by paxys »

sjg007 wrote: post #15

I once sat in a Starbucks for a few hours and I noticed that the music shifted with the customer base. So oldies and jazz got played around the time senior citizens would come in and the vibe would change depending on the demographic at that time. I thought it was interesting.. Maybe coincidence.. maybe not.

Definitely not a coincidence. Starbucks puts a lot of effort into music curation. Here's a good article that goes into some detail - https://www.fastcompany.com/3067250/meet-the-music-nerds-beh..., and also touches upon what you mentioned.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#28

Post by peterwwillis »

The music is also a factor of what the manager feels like playing. I know that sometimes they can change to a different station and change the volume, though they'll always claim they can't.

I've had to leave Starbucks on several occasions because the speakers were blaring. Other times the musical selection is the opposite of "easy listening", like you're working in a club or something.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#30

Post by GuB-42 »

I don't know about Starbucks but have you ever been to a Family Mart convenience store in Japan? I'm wondering how the music didn't drive the employees mad.

The Family Mart welcome song is probably the most recognizable but the same goes for stores like Bic Camera and many others.

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