Music or no music on a website? Thoughts?

[Joshua_Lee]

Just curious to see what your thoughts on websites with background music. Don't just say no, but say no with an explanation as to why. If yes, then why. Thanks for your input!

 

[justlooking]

It's OK if your website does not open the music by default. Let your visitor decide.
If you really want it to start immediately, make sure your visitor can easily find the turn off button.
As far as I'm concerned, it a definite NO-NO. it's really a matter of consideration for your visitors.
For one thing, not everyone might like your music. I'm sharing my office, so I can't take a chance of going to a website where all of a sudden my speakers start blaring.
If I'm entering a site where I have no way of shutting down the noise, I close the site and never og back there again.

 

[mjhoward]

No, if I wanted to listen to music, then I probably already will be... if thats the case, I dont need your website music interfering with what I was already listening to. I hate when I'm listening to something, click a link, then unexpectedly am blasted with a bunch of noise.

 

[Studio7Four]

Just say "No". (Well, assuming that you're talking about a photography website and not a band's site.)

1. It's just one more thing to load, which can slow down browsing.
2. Some people browse while having their own music play in the background. A competing tune from your website is usually discordant and right off the bat leaves the viewer with a bad impression.
3. If the viewer doesn't have their own music going, they may not be aware of the volume setting on their computer and can get blasted when your music starts unexpectedly - again, bad first impression.
4. Even on sites that allow the viewer to pause or mute the site's music, there is no standardization on where to find these controls, and much of the time they are hidden until you mouse over the proper area. Now the viewer has spent the first X-amount of time looking to shut off the music rather than looking at the site's real content.
5. Go ahead, try to pick music that appeals to every viewer (or at least the vast majority of them). With music tastes so varied, you're more likely to annoy the viewer or have an indifferent reaction, so why add it?

And finally...
6. For a photography site, you ideally want your images to impress on their own merits. Music can do one of two things when paired with an image or slideshow - it can detract from the image, or it can lead to the suspicion that you feel the image needs the music to add something (even if this is not the case).

Just the opinion of someone who does his fair share of web surfing...

 

[Stradawhovious]

NO music.

In addition to the reasons above, regardless of what it is you put on your website its bound to turn some people away.

FWIW, the second I hear music on a website, I close the browser, regardless of what it is. I'm certain I'm not the only one.

The last time this happened, yesterday, it was a MIDI version of "Hooked on a Feeling"

There ought to be a law. :x

 

[Abby Rose]

No. It's obnoxious. And a lot of peoples internet is too slow for music.

 

[mwcfarms]

Agree with everything mentioned. I want to see the content, not hear the music. I know you can turn stuff off but usually I get fed up and just close my browser.

 

[clanthar]

Never -- obnoxious!

I'm usually listening to music at the computer. I knew a photographer who had a chance once to photograph Miles Davis. He said, "Miles Davis was God talking to us." I agree. So I'm at the computer listening to God and I hit your website and you're going to interrupt God with what?!

Joe

 

[Rosshole]

do some market research to determine whether or not the market that you are aiming for likes music while they browse your site.

 

[mrpink]

Music on a site = instantly closed tab.







p!nK

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Website + Music = Bad idea.

There is not much more anoying then music on a website imho.

 

[robb01]

NO

 

[MohaimenK]

NOPE! Most people always turn it down and especially a lot of people are surfing websites at work so make it w/out music.

 

[deebert]

My vote is "no" for many of the reasons above. I also occasionally listen to loud music. I frequently forget to turn my speakers down so when I come across a site with music and it scares the crap out of me I have no desire to keep looking!

Even if my speakers are at a normal volume and I get to a site with music I look for an "off" button for about 3 seconds and if the website does not make it easy for me to turn it off then I'm outta there.

 

[jfreaksho]

I also will instantly close the window or tab in question for unexpected music playing.

There was even a website for a charity I wanted to support that received an instant tab closure when their music started. I did, in this situation, take the time to email the webmaster and let him know what happened and why. Perhaps I should see if they took my advice to heart... after hitting the mute button, that is.