160 million people around the world hear anonymous background music, i.e. Muzak, every day. Thank You For The Music looks at this underrated type of music and shows how it works. To the accompaniment of 26 Muzak recordings, established professionals talk about making, programming and distributing the music. The programme features American author Joseph Lanza and the Dutch music programmer Theo van Leeuwen. Van Leeuwen has programmed the entire repertoire of Philips Background Music for nearly 30 years. The film also visits the Paul Natte Orchestra, van Leeuwen's house band, at a studio in Hilversum, the Netherlands - the "roots" of European background music. Joseph Lanza is known for his visionary works Elevator Music and Cocktail. Thank You For The Music shows that Muzak does not always succeed in manipulating the listener. Since Muzak can also be listened to, it can't always control people's fantasies. "By taking away the ego of the artists, background music allows the listener to fill in the blanks." - Joseph Lanza [club telex]

Thank You For The Music Directed and edited by: Mika Taanila [info] Screenplay: Mika Taanila & Anton Nikkilä Cinematography: Jussi Eerola Sound design: Pietari Koskinen Producer: Lasse Saarinen © For Real Productions Music: MALCOM CARLTON ORCHESTRA FRANK CHACKSFIELD ORCHESTRA THE RAY CONNIFF SINGERS ALEC GOULD ORCHESTRA MANTOVANI PETE MOORE ORCHESTRA MUZAK CORPORATION PAUL NATTE ORCHESTRA NICKY NORTH ORCHESTRA RONNIE PRICE ORCHESTRA MARCO RIBALDI KEITH ROBERTS ORCHESTRA Theo Van Leeuwen: programmer Joseph Lanza: man on the moon Valle J. Oikarinen: dental surgeon Eero Vallila: Muzak importer Kari Vallila: Muzak importer's son Paul Natte: composer Jerri Ann Husch: sociologist Robert Van Den Berg: managing director Markku Berg: salesman