The art of (background) noise

Background music - in the form of muzak - used to be merely a trivial irritant. But now it's rather more than that: carefully and deliberately curated playlists in order to set moods, build brands, bolster "experiences" and ultimately subtly influence and manipulate behaviour (especially that of consumers). I probably can't speak for all music fans, but personally Jake Hulyer's Guardian article on a growing industry makes for illuminating and alarming reading.