Music in Airport Terminals

flymco753 · Thu May 24, 2018 2:42 am

I’ve visited many airports and noticed some have a good assortment of music played throughout the terminal. What other airports have music in the terminal other than the ones I’ve listed?

-MCO: classical flute, violin, and piano assortment.
-TPA: trending music.
-SRQ: trending music.
-ATL: Motown saxophone jazz.

EightyFour · Thu May 24, 2018 2:48 am

ICN has live piano music from time to time.

gatibosgru · Thu May 24, 2018 2:53 am

Flew out of ICNs new terminal last month and there was an actual quartet playing for us at the gate, live.

gatibosgru · Thu May 24, 2018 2:53 am

EightyFour wrote:
ICN has live piano music from time to time.

Just beat me to it!

Wingtips56 · Thu May 24, 2018 3:02 am

I haven't been to SMF in some years, having moved away, and haven't seen the new Terminal B. But in all the years I worked in the old terminals, there was always some form of Muzak playing. (Standing in the loo one day I realized the Muzak version of the " Laverne and Shirley" TV show theme was playing. A moment too far, I think.)

But for the week leading up to what used to be the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee every Memorial Day Weekend, various guest bands would play in the terminals. (The festival morphed into a more general jazz festival, but sadly has been discontinued this year.)

I think most airports I've been in have soft background or "elevator music" playing to soothe the savage beasts.

PanzerPowner · Thu May 24, 2018 3:27 am

I demand that it be federal law that at the time an airport has the lowest amount of passengers within the property grounds, Africa by Toto must be played.

rosecityspotter · Thu May 24, 2018 3:28 am

PDX (Portland, OR) frequently has an assortment of performers that volunteer their time to perform. Of course they accept tips and have CD's available, but they aren't paid by the Port. From what I have seen, it is always well received and seems to help make an often stressful experience a little bit less stressful...

stl07 · Thu May 24, 2018 3:30 am

Amman airport had some pretty interesting traditional Arab music blasting throughout the terminal

flyingadam89 · Thu May 24, 2018 3:33 am

The tunnel between B and C at ORD has a rendition of Rhapsody in Blue.

FA9295 · Thu May 24, 2018 3:33 am

PDX is always known for their music...

OKCDCA · Thu May 24, 2018 3:44 am

OKC has it on the west end of the terminal. Instrumentals are usually okay, vocals, not so much...

n2dru · Thu May 24, 2018 4:25 am

ATL used to have a jazz pianist and vocalist in the atrium a few years ago. Not sure if they still offer that. Also some African folk music to accompany the art displays between Concourse T to A.

william · Thu May 24, 2018 4:40 am

Depending on the time of day, you will see and hear live music at AUS.

FATFlyer · Thu May 24, 2018 5:06 am

At Fresno (FAT) during December, a rotating group of 5 pianists played live holiday music on a Steinway grand piano in the concourse near the gates.

A few videos of some of the performances:
http://www.facebook.com/FresnoYosemiteInternational/videos/2018166898418958/
http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article191332694.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq21_6AReQg

Door4Right · Thu May 24, 2018 5:11 am

CLT often has a pianist in the central atrium area.

FromCDGtoSYD · Thu May 24, 2018 5:14 am

Changi has soothing classical music playing, different soundtrack for each terminal I believe.

TasFlyer · Thu May 24, 2018 5:19 am

Then there's this dude at SEA ...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jzircVhkUjE

nws2002 · Thu May 24, 2018 5:39 am

TUL uses TouchTunes which allows you to control the terminal music like a jukebox through a phone app.

blink182 · Thu May 24, 2018 5:40 am

T5 at LHR had/s Lakme’s flower duet playing on rotation in the WCs of all places. I get the historic association with BA, but this placement was just well, odd.

More elegantly, Bradley terminal at LAX has nature sounds playing on loop.

packmedic · Thu May 24, 2018 5:42 am

rosecityspotter wrote:
PDX (Portland, OR) frequently has an assortment of performers that volunteer their time to perform. Of course they accept tips and have CD's available, but they aren't paid by the Port. From what I have seen, it is always well received and seems to help make an often stressful experience a little bit less stressful...

SEA has a very similar setup going on

jhknight · Thu May 24, 2018 5:45 am

IAH underground train, most terminal to parking walkways and restrooms have a mixed country music variety ❤️

conaly · Thu May 24, 2018 6:01 am

In SIN I've once heard a piano-version of "Kimi wo Nosete" (Carrying you) from the anime movie "Castle in the Sky".

metaldirtnskin · Thu May 24, 2018 6:08 am

My personal fave - probably the best choice for arrival at YYZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOTDf8vt9CE

...OK, maybe the second best.

LH658 · Thu May 24, 2018 12:18 pm

IAH terminal d live piano, and terminal A live string instruments.

BrazilExPat · Thu May 24, 2018 12:24 pm

BUR plays an eclectic mix of 80s music, of which I’m in complete support.

Nami · Thu May 24, 2018 12:26 pm

I’m not sure if it counts as music, but at HEL you can hear birds chirping in the toilets.

Blackbirds, song thrushes, marsh warblers, Blyth’s warblers, robins and willow warblers to be more specific.

londonistan · Thu May 24, 2018 1:06 pm

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned " Music for Airports" by Brian Eno, one of the first of a series of 'Ambient' music recordings from the mid seventies. It was designed to calm and soothe, especially the more nervous flyer. I'm not aware of any particular airport terminal that plays it, but give it a listen and see what you think.

southwest1675 · Thu May 24, 2018 1:12 pm

IAD plays oldies.

Midwestindy · Thu May 24, 2018 1:12 pm

Nashville (BNA) has country music

stlgph · Thu May 24, 2018 1:41 pm

LGA is bustling with the sound of failure.

2Holer4Longhaul · Thu May 24, 2018 1:51 pm

I recall hearing "Born in the USA" at IAD last time I flew there.

Antarius · Thu May 24, 2018 2:16 pm

stlgph wrote:
LGA is bustling with the sound of failure.

airtrantpa · Thu May 24, 2018 2:23 pm

flymco753 wrote:
I’ve visited many airports and noticed some have a good assortment of music played throughout the terminal. What other airports have music in the terminal other than the ones I’ve listed?

-MCO: classical flute, violin, and piano assortment.
-TPA: trending music.
-SRQ: trending music.
-ATL: Motown saxophone jazz.

I think it 2006 or 2007 TPA played xmas music from november to april. Same 6 carols over and over. I remember i was going to bid for the ramp in late march if the music didn't change. I still hate xmas music today becuase if it.

flymco753 · Thu May 24, 2018 2:29 pm

Midwestindy wrote:
Nashville (BNA) has country music

Totally forgot that. I recall using the restroom and enjoying some Billy Currington whilst in a stall.

flymco753 · Thu May 24, 2018 2:31 pm

airtrantpa wrote:
flymco753 wrote:
I’ve visited many airports and noticed some have a good assortment of music played throughout the terminal. What other airports have music in the terminal other than the ones I’ve listed?

-MCO: classical flute, violin, and piano assortment.
-TPA: trending music.
-SRQ: trending music.
-ATL: Motown saxophone jazz.

I think it 2006 or 2007 TPA played xmas music from november to april. Same 6 carols over and over. I remember i was going to bid for the ramp in late march if the music didn't change. I still hate xmas music today becuase if it.

I never understood why TPA did that, I remember flying in for Easter to see my great grandpa when he was alive and was very confused of the April Christmas music. Not too mention that year they kept the decorations up for like 8 months.

B777LRF · Thu May 24, 2018 2:39 pm

Music blaring out over the PA is just about the worst thing I can imagine, after constant boarding calls (here's looking at you FRA!). Luckily many airports are 'silent' these days, meaning no sodding boarding calls, certainly no music over the PA, and sound off the phalanx of TVs showing CNN.

mikegigs · Thu May 24, 2018 3:14 pm

BOS typically has acoustic (or generally more calm) versions of popular songs or they sometimes have jazz if I'mnot mistaken

flymco753 · Thu May 24, 2018 5:42 pm

Add TVC, they play trending music in their 4 gate terminal.

shamrock350 · Thu May 24, 2018 6:17 pm

Rarely hear anything playing in European airport, I've certainly never noticed it.

Sometimes you'll get live performances, British Airways once did a pop up orchestra for a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRKKmY5yCv0

Flower Duet and British Airways go hand in hand so this would have been a really nice surprise.

william · Thu May 24, 2018 6:33 pm

I am surprised anyone notices the music in the airport. I do not, I have my NC headphones on listening to my jams at the gate. From what I see, a lot of people do the same.

cedarjet · Thu May 24, 2018 6:56 pm

londonistan wrote:
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned " Music for Airports" by Brian Eno, one of the first of a series of 'Ambient' music recordings from the mid seventies. It was designed to calm and soothe, especially the more nervous flyer. I'm not aware of any particular airport terminal that plays it, but give it a listen and see what you think.

Quite right, you guys have to check out Music For Airports. I think it was conceived as an art installation to play in the terminal for either Pittsburgh Philly or LGA. Apparently passengers said it made them feel sad and anxious! And to be fair it’s not traditional Muzak, it has a bit of substance to it. Anyway give it a spin, magical album, and read up on its history, fascinating.

terence757 · Thu May 24, 2018 7:13 pm

Heard Sin City by AC/DC at LAS.

Yflyer · Thu May 24, 2018 8:27 pm

Wingtips56 wrote:
I haven't been to SMF in some years, having moved away, and haven't seen the new Terminal B. But in all the years I worked in the old terminals, there was always some form of Muzak playing.

I remember arriving at SMF once (I think it was a Delta flight, which would make it Terminal A, but it's hard to remember). During deplaning there was some Muzak being piped into the plane. After I exited the plane and entered the terminal, I realized it was the exact same Muzak that was being played in the terminal.

But for the week leading up to what used to be the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee every Memorial Day Weekend, various guest bands would play in the terminals. (The festival morphed into a more general jazz festival, but sadly has been discontinued this year.)

Also, for a few weeks around Christmastime SMF has live bands playing in the terminals. In Terminal A the band performs near baggage claim IIRC. I rarely fly out of B, so I don't know where they put the band there, but I'm sure they have one there too.

flyb · Thu May 24, 2018 8:39 pm

Edmonton (YEG) has EIA Live which is a live music program featuring local artists usually located in the Domestical/International terminal.

http://flyeia.com/music

afcjets · Thu May 24, 2018 8:50 pm

T1 at LAX always played pop or rock music, I haven't been to T1 though in almost 15 years though.

paullam · Thu May 24, 2018 9:10 pm

APW (Apia, Samoa) frequently has a live group performing some traditional music welcoming arriving passengers.

jns13 · Thu May 24, 2018 9:21 pm

BHM always seems to have RnB playing just loud enough to be slightly annoying. Always kind of fun around the holidays, though, when they switch to the holiday RnB soundtrack.

This isn't terminal-wide, but on the train from arrival gates to customs at ZRH, they pipe in the sound of cows mooing, distant yodeling, and other "Alpine" sounds. After an overnight from the US when I'm exhausted, the whole thing feels a bit surreal/dreamy, but it is pleasant and calming.

ojjunior · Fri May 25, 2018 4:39 pm

TasFlyer wrote:
Then there's this dude at SEA ...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jzircVhkUjE

Loved it!

C525C · Fri May 25, 2018 4:54 pm

LAS D gates plays The Killers almost 24/7. Asked one of the gate agents one time (I know, I know) and seems to be a mutual promotion of their hometown band. I love The Killers, so it's alright by me!

drdisque · Fri May 25, 2018 4:58 pm

ORD has various musicians at the exits of the tunnel to the CTA station and parking garage to Terminals 1 and 3. Their quality varies and I heard one playing holiday music last week.

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