Classical Music at Walgreen's

This was news to me, but apparently it's been around for awhile: using classical music to deter loiterers...

https://www.wsaz.com/2023/08/11/drug-store-chain-is-blasting-classical-music-out...

Bach would certainly keep me in the store :)

There's a Subway (a U.S. sandwich shop chain) at a bus stop in downtown Chicago that always plays classical music. It certainly hasn't driven anyone away.

What I find interesting about this is the classist assumption that someone who is homeless would not want to listen to classical music. Of course, if a store is "blasting" any kind of music, the sheer volume might keep people away.

>2 lilithcat: Of course, if a store is "blasting" any kind of music, the sheer volume might keep people away.
Yes, exactly.

I thought what they played was Musak and it can get grating at times.

>2 lilithcat: >3 kac522: Repetitiveness would also do it. We were subjected to the Best Bits(TM) of The Magic Flute - the same 15 minutes on a loop - at a restaurant once, and we seriously considered leaving before dessert!