What kind of music?

So what kind of music should you use on your Government Access or Public Acccess channel?

(Anything from GovAccessMusic.com, of course!)

I'm sure you'd like something a bit more useful, so here are some thoughts:

1. Match the style of the music to your content. You probably shouldn't use uptempo edgy guitar music for screens describing disaster preparation procedures -  and real slow meditative tracks don't work for pictures of graduation ceremonies or school activities.


2. Match the time of day as well - uptempo might work in the morning (to pep people up), but then again it might be annoying for those who wake up slowly.


3. Variety is good - but within limits. It can be jarring when successive tracks vary wildly stylistically or in instrumentation. For example, going from a slow vibraphone piece directly to a hard rock guitar-driven piece probably won't work - UNLESS you are doing it to grab attention that something just changed (like going to a new program).


4. I personally like using Christmas music during the summer months. It's a nice reminder of tunes that people realy do like, but are dreadfully tired of by December mainly becuase the radio stations have been playing Christmas music since mid-October).

So do you have any suggestions? How do YOU decide what music to program? Leave a comment, and we'll probaly write about it later!