You\u2019ve probably heard elevator music at one time or another\u2014perhaps while riding in an actual elevator, while in a waiting room, or while placed on hold during a telephone call.<\/p>\n
But what is the origin of elevator music and what styles of music fall into this category?<\/p>\n
Elevator music is also known as Muzak, an American brand name developed in the 1920s\u2014representing a type of background music played in public places. Elevator music has also been called \u201cpiped music\u201d or \u201clift music\u201d, all terms that describe easy listening, piano, jazz, or light classical music.<\/p>\n
Muzak was originally used to boost productivity for factory workers. Muzak’s inventor, Major General George Owen Squier, created this relaxing style of music to help improve people\u2019s moods.<\/p>\n
Squier\u2019s technique was called \u201cStimulus Progression\u201d, and was used to help speed up factory workers by playing 15-minute segments of music. He incorporated upbeat instruments and consistently increased the tempo of the music to encourage the workers to match the pace.<\/p>\n
The first elevator music was created in the 1930s by American musician and bandleader, George Wright. He was hired by a real estate company in New York to provide the music in their building\u2019s elevators. Alongside his band, The Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra, he recorded a series of discs that were played on a phonogram in the elevators.<\/p>\n
The music was played to help soothe the nerves of travelers, as passenger elevators were new and unknown machines at the time. This proved to be a success, and elevator music was soon heard playing in doctor\u2019s and dentist\u2019s offices.<\/p>\n