You might also be interested in
Replies (9)
Please login or register to join the discussion.
Dolly Parton!
Sageuk has just revealed on Twitter that they are currently listening to Islands in the Stream. You heard it here first!
As for the crew here at Sift towers, we aren't listening to anything right now - boo! As it's Friday I might crack out the classic Take That tunes later though...
Explore Spotify - if your boss & colleauges will let you!
What a great post - and one that revives a proud AccountingWEB.co.uk tradition.
My first observation is to pass on something I heard on Radio 4 on Saturday morning, that US troops in Afghanistan listened to violent thrash metal to get them in the mood before going on patrol. Maybe best to avoid that genre before engaging with HMRC helplines, then.
Much like GaryMc, my tastes veer towards the more antique wing of classic rock, with a healthy side-order of psychedelic, folky sounds from the 60s. Cue a link into Spotify, the internet music sensation that all the kids have been telling me about.
You register for the free service, download a small client program to your computer and get instant access to an online streaming jukebox of humongous proportions. Trying to remember some half-forgotten disco anthem from your youth, or a particularly obscure prog act that you used to love, but that disappeared from your collection when you cleared away your vinyl? Type the song title or artist into the Spotify search box and more often than not you'll hit paydirt. You can then create your own playlists or just chuck songs into the Spotify queue for a neverending stream of sonic surprises and pleasures.
I'm a bit lazy about the queuing, so my technique is to find an artist I like and then scroll down their discography until I find a track on a big compilation album. This has brought me to delights such as Meet Me on the Ledge, the Island folk box set (Fairport, John Martyn, Nick Drake) and Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra Records, which has 100+ tracks by the likes of Love, Tim Buckley and the Holy Modal Rounders.
Wigout indeed, baby!
(Sadly I am unable to make any sensible claims about what this stuff is doing for my productivity)
__________________________
John Stokdyk, Technology editor
PS - On behalf of the press release sponsors, I would point out that while Spotify is legit (you can pay $10 to upgrade to a Premium service that banishes the ads and some of the money raised finds its way to the labels and artists), I would caution against playing it out loud to entertain your colleagues - that might well violate the PRS policy on public performances).
PPS - Don't forget to tell us the tunes and artists you'd recommend for the AccountingWEB.co.uk Friday Afternoon Spotify Playlist.
Music While You Work
Does anyone realise how much firms have to pay to the PRS (Performing Rights Society) for staff to listen to music in the workplace? The answer is megabucks. It is an absolute ripoff as the money does not end up with the performers as the PRS has no idea what employees are listening to. Of course, there is the PPL to pay as well. My office used to be at the rear of my husband's China Shop and Restaurant where music was playing. We paid our dues to the PRS who had the audacity to send a long form to complete demanding a copy of our accounts, numbers of rooms, toilets, staff, customers, etc etc. When I telephoned asking them to point me in the direction of the legislation requiring me to produce this private information they back pedalled extremely quickly, fumbled an excuse and rang off. This statement the PRS have made is just to get more dues in and nothing to do with employees' welfare at work. One of my clients was taken to Court by the PRS because she had a line dance club and did not have a licence with the PRS to play music in public - the fine was £1200. She did not know she needed one; another case of igorance is no defense in law.
TheAncientOne
Music While you Work
Incidentally, I work from home and listen to The Rock Radio via the Internet most of the time. I work much better to Metallica, AC/DC, WASP, Alice Cooper, Motorhead etc. (:-).
TheAncientOne
Music While You Work
Two quick points.
Fox and Embrey (1973?) and Embrey & Fox (1974?) suggested that music was best used with repetitive tasks, and that the more familiar the listener was with the music, the more complex a task he or she could perform while listening. also the more complex the task, the more quickly the music caused the performance to deteriorate.
Secondly, can anyone tell me why did HMRC Central Yorkshire Area use the tack "White Flag" by Dido as their music on hold?
Spotify or Planet Rock? - it's a close call
I'm with John S on music genres, although I probably veer away from the folkier stuff towards blues. My Spotify playlists include an eclectic mixture from Brad Paisley and Sonny Landreth to Elmore James and The Beachboys.
When net traffic or our dodgy ADSL connection let me down I resort to Planet Rock on my DAB radio, so it's 70s rock all the way!
Music makes the world go around!
i listen to anything from trance, reggae, rock and a wide variety in between!
Currently listening to The Chemical Brothers which seems to make me work faster and lose my usual hunger pangs!