You might consider a wireless sound system when upgrading your audio. Wireless works well in the expansion/remodeling phase because there are no wires to weave through walls and ceilings. Wireless sound does not effect your wireless internet. A small transmitter, which plugs into your Smile radio receiver or other music source, transmits the sound wirelessly to the four speakers so they can be placed virtually anywhere.

One wireless system on the market is the Eos Wireless Business Music 4 Speaker System Bundle. Eos offers a simple way to stream digital music wirelessly throughout any business over four speakers. Eos wireless speakers are fully self contained so you can plug it into a wall outlet without mounting or taking up any valuable space — or remove the integrated power supply for desktop or bookshelf use.

The Eos wireless music system is simple to install and works with Smile Radio. You can see the system details here.

Here’s a sample of some of the current and coming customizable, often talked about music sources:

All these services, and others, are making it easier to access vast amounts of music. That’s great for music discovery and for people who love music.  But is it good for business – your business?

First, none of this music is licensed to be played in businesses, including dental offices and medical facilities.  The services mentioned above do pay the artists, writers and labels to use the music, but only for individual consumer listening.  These services are not licensed for broadcast and public consumption.  Which means that you shouldn’t legally play these in your dental practice or medical office because that’s public performance.  A different music license is needed for that and Smile Radio has that lisence.  That means you’re covered, you’re legal, and the musicians, songwriters and labels are getting paid their fair share.

Second, access to all this music still ideally needs someone, a real person, to oversee and manage it. Yes, it’s possible to have a computer run playlists, match songs based on sound and music DNA, or do a random shuffle.  But do you really want that kind of automation in a business environment?  Probably not.  None of these services has your business in mind when the music is chosen.  Computers don’t always know to screen music for content, mood, and appropriateness.  And if it’s left to you to choose all the music, generate playlists and keep it fresh, well, you’ve got better things to do with your time.

These are two key reasons that we believe Smile Radio, overseen by human music programmers, and paying the music copyright licenses required, is the best music choice for dental offices. Oh, did we mention it sounds good, too!

The song was the punch line of a Budweiser commercial where a mean cowboy walks threateningly into a bar. After getting served his Bud beer, the cowboy softens up and breaks into song. “Blue jean baby, L.A. lady…” The bar’s piano player joins in and soon everyone in the bar, and likely everyone viewing the commercial, is singing along to “Tiny Dancer”. It’s a 60 second spot. Most TV commercials, especially Super Bowl ads, are 30 seconds long so it gives the song time to establish.

It’s rather inexplainable why “Tiny Dancer”, of all songs, has become a song that so many people, from teens to baby boomers, can identify with and sing along with…loudly.

TV AND FILM EXPOSURE

Part of the reason “Tiny Dancer” is so popular is that it’s been exposed to new generations every few years. It was in TV’s WKRP In Cincinnati in the late 1970’s. It occupied a key position in the 2000 movie Almost Famous. That movie clip has received millions of views on YouTube.

Tim McGraw covered “Tiny Dancer” on his 2002 album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors. In fact, McGraw’s version reached number 49 on the Country chart! That same year McGraw and Elton John performed the song on the American Music Awards.

NEVER A HIT SINGLE

Amazingly, “Tiny Dancer” is not one of Elton John’s biggest hits. It only reached number 41 on the Billboard chart in 1972. It was not included on Elton John’s gigantic selling album Greatest Hits that, since 1974, has sold 17 million copies in the U.S. and 32 million worldwide. The song wasn’t even on Elton’s Greatest Hits Volume II from 1977! Re-issues of Volume II since 1986 on CD now include “Tiny Dancer”.

So “Tiny Dancer” has really taken off into a different category of song decades after it’s original release. Perhaps it’s the under-exposure (not being burned out) by radio and other media that has helped “Tiny Dancer” survive for so long.

For whatever reason, some classic songs survive to become familiar and loved by new listeners, new fans and new generations. Most songs simply wither away. Most classic songs remain locked in time, fading year by year, gaining no new exposure and no new fans. “Tiny Dancer”, much like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin”, endures.

If anyone knew what makes “Tiny Dancer” a timeless song, we’d replicate it and duplicate it. Thankfully, we don’t know. It’s just one of those things. So drink another Budweiser, turn on Almost Famous and sing along. “Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band…”

The fact is, people aren’t buying nearly as many CDs as they used to. (Read this about declining music sales.)  It’s too easy, and often free, to get music digitally over the the Internet.   The CD couldn’t compete with free or mp3’s.

The sagging interest in acquiring discs hit the companies that make the discs, and that goes beyond the record label.  Here’s an interesting story about the closing of one of the last factories in the United States that manufactures the compact disc.  Read more.

What are the 20 most popular versions of Christmas songs?  Here’s the list of most played Christmas songs on American radio…

1. Burl Ives – Holly Jolly Christmas
2. Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
3. Andy Williams – The Most Wonderful Time Of The Yea
4. John Lennon – Happy Xmas/War Is Over
5. Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
6. Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (chestnuts roasting)
7. Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock
8. Band-Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
9. Jose Feliciano – Feliz Navidad
10. Leroy Anderson – Sleigh Ride
11. Wham – Last Christmas
12. Hall & Oates – Jingle Bell Rock
13. Bing Crosby – White Christmas
14. Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime
15. Eagles – Please Come Home For Christmas
16. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Canon
17. Bing Crosby – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
18. Gene Autry – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
19. Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
20. Harry Simeone Chorale – Little Drummer Boy

Americans in August, 2010 streamed music online just about as much as they downloaded music.  Around 30% of Americans downloaded music to their PCs in that month compared to 29% who streamed music on their computers. The two figures are “likely now in a dead heat,” writes Evolver.fm about the published findings from the NPD Group.  The study spotlights the evolving listening habits of music-lovers in the U.S.   You can find Evolver.fm’s full coverage here.

So it’s somewhat comforting to know that there is a group of independent music stores around the country that are keeping the tradition of the “record store” alive and well.

From their web site:  The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) is a group 59  independent music stores in 21 states. Each member is bound by its shared love of music, a reputation for great selection and customer service in each’s community.  Each CIMS account is as unique as the market it represents. These retailers have been recognized by the music industry and their local communities for their outstanding dedication to customer service and developing artist support.  Most importantly, CIMS member stores continually seek to challenge the jaded, color-by-numbers advertising and marketing of other retailers.

If you’re into music and you live in the vicinity of an independent music store, take the time to go in and look around.  You may not recognize the artists and feel a bit “unhip”, but you’ll be supporting a vanishing section of Americana – the record store.

The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project  tracked seven key appliances of the information age: cell phones, desktop and laptop computers, mp3 players (like iPod), gaming consoles (XBox, PlayStation, Wii), tablet computers (iPad), and e-book readers (like Kindle).

Digital device ownership is highly correlated with age. Some examples: 85% of Americans own a cell phone while 96% of 18-29 year olds have a cell phone. With mp3 players like iPods, 75% of 18-29 year olds have one compared to 31% of 50-64 year olds.

The typical adult under age 45 owns four devices, while the typical adult between the ages of 55 and 64 owns two and the typical senior over 65 owns just one.

Please read the more on the Pew report here to see how you measure up against other Americans with devices you own or don’t own.