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Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

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Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#171

Post by baroffoos »

nomel wrote: post #58
maxxxxx wrote: post #22

In general I don’t understand why people think that it’s ok to pollute every bit of space with noise of their choice (aka music). I view it as a big nuisance.

I think it shows the motivation of the business. They're creating an area of easy conversation, not concentration. By having something similar to the volume of conversation, you make conversation both "safe" and less distracting. Safe since speaking won't break some period of silence that is bound to happen. Breaking silence in a populated area requires a certain amount of social tension, "Why is everyone quiet? Will…

Absolutely. I avoid places that are dead silent because I don't really want some random employee listening to everything I say.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#172

Post by johnvanommen »

benbristow wrote: post #97

The Starbucks I frequent often (a kiosk at Glasgow (Scotland) Central Train Station) seem to have their own music on their phones or something. Always hear something different. I suppose it depends on the type of Starbucks.

> The Starbucks I frequent often (a kiosk at Glasgow (Scotland) Central Train Station) seem to have their own music on their phones or something.

In the United States, a venue can be fined for playing music without a license. An acquaintance of mine has a restaurant and was sued for playing music that was unlicensed.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#173

Post by baroffoos »

cheesymuffin wrote: post #159

I'm going to teach you all a hack. You can ask the employees at Starbucks (and most semi-reasonable coffeeshops) to turn the music down. Yes, I know, it's amazing what you can get by using your words.

Can I ask the pub to stop giving me hearing damage?

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#174

Post by Zimahl »

maxxxxx wrote: post #22

In general I don’t understand why people think that it’s ok to pollute every bit of space with noise of their choice (aka music). I view it as a big nuisance.

My wife managed a department at a craft store and one day their sound system broke. She said that was worse than the repetitive music. Retail spaces are not designed for good acoustics and that music really drowns out a lot of even more nuisance sounds.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#176

Post by roel_v »

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…

My children are in a primary school level 'English as a second language' program in Australia right now, and my son got a 'Spot's first Christmas' book to take home to read yesterday. So then I had to explain what 'Christmas carolers' are, and why they would be at Spot's door if they're only a thing on the other side of the world? And also - snow? In December, at the height of summer? So that quickly devolved into a long story on colonialism, British world dominance of yore, and what a 'pommy' is . Ah that Spot.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#177

Post by benbristow »

johnvanommen wrote: post #172
benbristow wrote: post #97

The Starbucks I frequent often (a kiosk at Glasgow (Scotland) Central Train Station) seem to have their own music on their phones or something. Always hear something different. I suppose it depends on the type of Starbucks.

> The Starbucks I frequent often (a kiosk at Glasgow (Scotland) Central Train Station) seem to have their own music on their phones or something. In the United States, a venue can be fined for playing music without a license. An acquaintance of mine has a restaurant and was sued for playing music that was unlicensed.

In the UK there's two main licensing companies called PRS/PRL. Businesses primarily have licenses with them that covers 99.9% of bases when it comes to licensing.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#178

Post by benbristow »

justjash wrote: post #106
benbristow wrote: post #97

The Starbucks I frequent often (a kiosk at Glasgow (Scotland) Central Train Station) seem to have their own music on their phones or something. Always hear something different. I suppose it depends on the type of Starbucks.

I think the one near my office in the US has its own Spotify playlist that they use in store. I am pretty sure they had a link to it or something on the wall if you wanted to follow. I'm going to have to try and remember to look again next time I go in.

Using Spotify in a business setting is actually against the Spotify Terms of Conditions.

https://support.spotify.com/is/using_spotify/the_basics/use-...

Not that most of the bars that I go to actually read the T&C's. I've heard Spotify adverts in some...

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#179

Post by zxcvbn4038 »

I certainly have sympathy - I used to work with a woman who watched Gone With The Wind three times a day, every day. That’s twelve hours a day, eighty-four hours a week, every week. Best part of quittin’ time was not having to see or hear Gone With The Wind until the next day - weekends were never more appreciated.

I quit listening to radio when a local recruiting agency bought every ad slot, day and night, for six weeks. I’m not going to say their name because I don’t want them to ever know anyone listened to their ads or remembers them.

Re: Starbucks' music is driving employees nuts

#180

Post by iamjaredwalters »

cheesymuffin wrote: post #159

I'm going to teach you all a hack. You can ask the employees at Starbucks (and most semi-reasonable coffeeshops) to turn the music down. Yes, I know, it's amazing what you can get by using your words.

Do you recommend a condescending attitude at all times or just this time?
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