Background music for a website

interimaudio · 10-23-2007, 03:01 PM

Hello. I am a professional music producer and I recently started a website that is changing the way we think and feel about background music. It's not boring "muzak". It's pro quality instrumental music that you can use to significantly increase the appeal of your website. Please take a listen and by all means, ask any questions you like. You won't be dissapointed. Thank you.

Interim Audio

www.interimaudio.com

waffles · 10-23-2007, 04:53 PM

No, the problem with music on websites isn't that the music is poor quality. Well, not the entire problem anyway because I do have to concede the point that this is generally true.

The problem with music on a website is that it is something that I don't know is going to happen that interferes with my viewing your site. If I want to hear music I'll turn it on myself. And most of the time, I've already got something playing from my computer anyway so your music would cut into that.

Something else to consider is that when people don't want to hear music they have the speakers turned off. From a business standpoint, you're paying for something that your visitors don't know exists.

In today's world of tabbed browsing music is even more of a problem. If I have to look through multiple sites to figure out which one is making noise I'm more likely to just close it.

interimaudio · 10-23-2007, 05:17 PM

you make a fantastic point regarding the intrusiveness of the music. (from my business standpoint though, i'm assuming that website owners are not going to take that fact into consideration. afterall, since when was marketing meant to be subtle or non-intrusive? haha.) unfortunately companies have failed to consider the fragile nature of trust. consumers don't mind being exposed to marketing, as long as its on our own terms. i've considered that issue when developing my own site, which is why there is no music playing when you enter the page. the audio page is clearly labeled and the media player requires the viewer to manually select audio for listening. ultimately i think that if the site gives some kind of visual indication that music might be around the bend, like a content site for a new product (like a car or something), or if the content is fashion or forms of entertainment. i don't think the viewer should be shocked by the presence of audio on the site.

webwhat · 10-23-2007, 07:00 PM

For me, the only time I tollerate music on a website, is when it is on a myspace page. Other then that, It is just annoying.

waffles · 10-23-2007, 08:11 PM

Not even then. I got Greasemonkey so I could have those not play anymore.

bobchrist · 10-24-2007, 08:00 AM

I don't see any problem for using background music especially for a music site which is focused on music lovers.

guinanie · 10-24-2007, 08:51 AM

background music for a website could be effective if the users like to hear music that makes them happy. but is background music makes your site slow?

cldnails · 10-24-2007, 03:24 PM

Attractive website, but you should probably remove the link.

As for adding music to a website, I think it's a nice fresh approach, but still intrusive and something I would not care for. Like so many things I think it all hinges on your core audience and how THEY perceive such a thing.

Chatmaster · 10-25-2007, 06:15 AM

Look, I absolutely hate any kind of background music on any site. I ussually have about 20+ sites open and then suddenly I have this stupid music interfering with my streaming radio or media player music, and I cannot find the idiot site that is causing this issue. The first thing I do is close the sites I think is suspect. But now for my straight forward opinion. There is absolutely no marketing benefit for your site by adding background music. You can have a toggle where people can choose to listen to background music while cruising your site, but please do not go the route of adding it by default. People have different music taste, and what you might feel is cool, will irritate someone else.

Something very important you need to understand is that most internet users are busy with more things than just viewing your site. If they are halfway like me they are multi tasking like crazy, you will cause more problems than anything else.

my_misyel · 10-25-2007, 06:39 AM

just an opinion, let the visitors choose first to hear the background music rather than they want to close it or disabled the button sometimes visitors get disturbed and will leave your site ...

i don't have problems opening any sites with background music, provided i am at home.

MaxBountyAdam · 10-25-2007, 09:27 AM

I think that background music on a site almost cheapens it. I mean even if the music is really good or really relevant to what I am viewing you are going against the whole revolution and point of the internet in general. I am mean the whole thing about the internet that makes it so popular and so regularly consumed is I get to choose what media I consume from it. So if I like videos, I watch videos, I don't want a video shoved in my face, same applies with music, if I wanted to be listening to something I would be already listening to it. Now it is a great add on to a site, but you have to give the surfer who is consuming your content the choice of whether or not they want to listen. We are in an age of media snackers, people will consume content they want when they want, they have the ability to do so and you need to respect that power they have been given. If your music is good enough in the background of your site, people will play it and listen to it, you have to give them the choice though or they won't give you the time of day.

Sorry for a long post from a junior memeber or Newbie .. but that is just my two cents

x3mario · 10-25-2007, 09:38 AM

Background music is good for those who love music but in general, I don't think that more people will agree that they like site with music background. Sometimes music can destruct the concentration of the reader/visitor especially if they don't like the music.

swiftmed · 10-25-2007, 06:14 PM

your music is certainly good, but in my own opinion, if i go to a website and music starts blaring out of my speakers which i didnt ask for, nor expect, 9 times out of 10 i leave the website. i like the "no frills" approach to websites where content speaks for itself, and im only shown the content when i ask for it. i dont like it when content (music, popups, popunders) start coming at me which i didnt ask for, therefore leave