Elevator music (also known as
Muzak,
piped music,
weather music, or
lift music) refers to a type of
popular music, often
instrumental, that is commonly played through speakers in
elevators,
shopping malls,
grocery stores,
department stores, telephone systems (while the
caller is on hold),
cruise ships,
airliners (during flight after taking off),
hotels,
airports, business offices,
restaurants, bars,
hospitals, as well as
electronic program guides,
weather forecasts, television
testcards, and some
arcade game venues. The term is also frequently applied as a generic term for any form of
easy listening,
smooth jazz, or
middle of the road music, or to the type of recordings commonly heard on "
beautiful music" radio stations.