From Muzak's decimal-point deceptions to elevator lobbies nationwide, background music has been quietly shaping us for over a century—and Larry Mossey is here to tell you exactly how it happened. Dead Air is a wry, anecdote-packed journey through the absurd history of songs designed to be ignored, tracing how passive listening became a disciplinary technology for keeping us calm, compliant, and shopping. Part cultural history, part memoir, Mossey blends colorful historical figures, his own radio-school mishaps, and a healthy dose of deadpan skepticism to uncover the science (and pseudoscience) behind the sound that's always playing. It's escapism wrapped in irony—perfect for anyone who's ever wondered why that supermarket feels so soothing.
Where to get it
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