Washington’s SEATAC Many airports are engaging local artists and meticulously selecting playlists to help brighten travelers’ emotions, so background music is no longer an afterthought.
This summer, London’s Heathrow Airport constructed a stage to debut up-and-coming British artists. The airport plans to revive the initiative in 2025 because it was so successful.More than 800 concerts, including jazz combinations and country musicians, take place annually on the five stages of Nashville International Airport.Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic plays live merengue music to welcome travelers.
When Tiffany Idiart and her two nieces were recently on stopover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, they were thrilled to hear musicians.
I enjoy it. Grace Idiart, 9, stated, “There are many people here, and they can all hear it.” They might have had a difficult day if their flight had been delayed or anything. Therefore, the music might have improved their mood.
Additionally, airports are curating their recorded playlists with care. In the tunnel that runs between its terminals, Detroit Metro Airport plays Motown hits. An area radio station has put together a playlist of local tunes for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. For its enormous digital waterfall, Changi Airport in Singapore commissioned a unique piano accompaniment.
The presence of music in airport terminals is not new.The 1978 album “Music for Airports” by Brian Eno contributed to the definition of ambient music. It is simple and intended to soothe.
Technology is making background music less generic and more suited to particular locations or times of day, according to Barry McPhillips, head of international creative at Mood Media, which supplies music for airports and other public areas.
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Mood Media formerly known as Muzak develops playlists to appeal to business travelers or families depending on who s in the airport at any given time. In the duty-free store, it might play more upbeat music, but in the security queue, it might play more subdued music.
In our opinion, it’s a soundscape, McPhillips stated. We plan for each of these situations.
He stated that Mood Music uses science to decide on things like loudness, speed, and even whether to play a song in a major key or a minor one.
What impact do we wish to have on their emotions right now? “McPhillips said.” It s not just like, Here s a load of songs. It s a load of songs for that 10-minute segment, and then we move to the next 10 minutes.
In order to give tourists a flavor of the place they are passing through, many airports are going low-tech by employing local musicians to serenade them.
Chicago s O Hare and Midway airports have more than 100 live performances each year. Phoenix s Sky Harbor International Airport began a live music program five years ago and now has two stages featuring local artists.
Tami Kuiken, the manager of airport music in Seattle, said the Seattle-Tacoma airport launched its live music program about a decade ago after a city commissioner heard live music at the airport inAustin, Texas.
The idea was like, Man, why doesn t Seattle have music? We re a music city too, Kuiken said.
At first, the airport created a playlist featuring emerging artists along with famous ones likePearl Jam. Then it decided to try live musicians for a 12-week trial. It was so successful that the airport now features live musicians daily and is building new performance spaces.
People s anxiety levels are very high when they re traveling, Kuiken said. The feedback that we started getting was that once they got through the checkpoint and they were greeted with music, all of a sudden their anxiety and stress levels dropped.
The programs also benefit musicians, who get paid to perform and gain wider exposure. When Colorado Springs Airport announced a live music program in March, more than 150 musicians applied. It now hosts two two-hour performances each week.
Roz McCommon sings at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on November 26, 2024, in SeaTac, Wash.AP Photo/Manuel Valdes
David James, a singer and guitarist who plays at Seattle s airport about once a week, said waking up in time for a daytime gig took some adjustment. But he s gained new fans from all over the world.
I get really sweet responses from people all the time, saying, That was so soothing to be able to just sit and listen to music in between flights, James said. So it feels like it s especially therapeutic for people.
Country stars likeBlake SheltonandKeith Urbanhave come through Nashville s airport and interacted with local musicians, said Stacey Nickens, the airport s vice president of corporate communications and marketing. Shelton even gave one his guitar.
Otto Stuparitz, a musicologist and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam who has studied airport music, said airports should think carefully about their selections. Music that s meant to be actively listened to like live music or catchy pop songs can be very distracting in an already chaotic environment, he said. He has noticed some airports especially in Europe — turning off piped melodies altogether.
But McPhillips said big spaces like airports can feel cold and unwelcoming without background music.
A well-crafted audio strategy is one that people aren t particularly cognizant of, he said. They just know they re having a good time and that it s appropriate.
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