Although background music was by the end of the 20th century generally identified with Muzak or elevator music, there are several stages in the development of this concept.
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In the Baroque and Classical music era music could be performed as a background to other activities. For instance:
Incidental music is music in a play, radio/tv program or some other form that is not primarily musical, adding atmosphere to the action. It can be dated back at least as far as Greek drama. A number of classical composers have written incidental music for various plays.
Furniture music was an invention of Erik Satie around 1920. This type of "background music" fell into oblivion when the composer died a few years later, and was not again executed until it was rediscovered several decades later. Typical of Furniture music are short musical passages, with an indefinite number of repeats.
Elevator music is a more general term indicating music that is played in rooms where many people come together (that is, with no intention whatsoever to listen to music). There is a specific sound associated with elevator music, usually involving themes from "soft" popular music or "light" classical music being worked over by slow strings. This type of music was produced, for instance, by the Mantovani Orchestra, and conductors like Franck Pourcel and James Last, peaking in popularity around the 1970s.
The term Ambient music is generally used when more, but often less distinguishable, influences, like elements of Jazz or sounds from nature, are mingled in the "soundscape." Note, however, that some producers and composers of "ambient music" or "soundscapes" (or similar types of music; see Ambient music article) might not have any intention to use the qualifier "background" for their music.
In opposition to background music, foreground music is intended to be listened to actively. Lifestyle Companies, in particular, like to employ foreground music, individually compiled and scheduled to increase customer loyalty and time spent in their stores. However, sometimes the opposite effect is achieved: if the music proves to be too intrusive, it may drive people out of the store. Very often these companies have professional DJs select music matching their brand. In most cases currently popular chart music is used.
Background music (often abbreviated "BGM") is also the term used to describe the music in video games (sometimes written "VGM"), incidental music in anime, and music in blogs or websites.
In recent years the proliferation of Internet delivered background music by such companies as Trusonic has gained traction. This allows the retailer to instantly update music and messages which are deployed at the store level as opposed to using older compact disc and satellite technologies.
Quotes about background music, often referred to as elevator music (for the common practice of playing this genre in elevators) or Muzak (a trademarked name of a company famous for supplying this music)
  | Symphonex - Symphonex Music/Media Automation Systems by ERG Music |
| | Streamit - Internetradio, church radio, instore audio, background music, ip-audio and webradio hardware and solutions |
| | PCM Technologies, Inc. - PCM Technologies - The global leaders in on-demand business music, video, A/V and security solutions |
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