Cracks in Muzak Monolith as a Young Rival Grows

Muzak, the company whose name has become synonymous with syrupy instrumental renditions of pop songs piped into elevators, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February. Muzak may soothe the savage elevator-riding breast, but can it soothe nervous shoppers? It has been a decade since the company, based in Fort Mill (SC) underwent a major brand overhaul veering away from elevator music to provide businesses with tailored playlists, including the not-so-syrupy original versions of pop songs, as background music. They have also expanded their product offerings to include digital signs, audio installation, commercial television, and on-hold and in-store messages. But Muzak's expanded repertoire did not save it from joining the ranks of troubled music providers like Sirius XM Radio and Clear Channel Communications. Bob Finigan, Muzak's vice president for product and marketing, insists the bankruptcy filing was "independent of the current economic crisis," and instead the result of debt incurred a decade ago when Muzak made a series of acquisitions, but he declined to specify what those acquisitions were. And there is another issue for Muzak to fight: perception.