Just say no to music on websites

The idea of music on websites comes up several times a week on another forum I frequent.  The questions are typically "where can I find...", "is it legal to...", or "how do I...".  The question is never "should I".  Personally I think that music on a website is almost always a bad idea unless you're running a site like YouTube where sound is part of what the visitor is there for.  I think that very few sites, including photographer's sites, fall under that umbrella.

Before getting to the point where you start picking out what music to put on your site let's look at a few different types of visitors and their opinion of music on sites.

1 - User has no problem with music on sites and likes the music you've selected.

2 - User has no problem with music on sites, but doesn't like the music you've selected.

3 - User does not like music on websites. 

4 - User either has speakers muted or sounds disabled in their web browser.

5 - User is playing music through iTunes, Media Monkey, or something similar and doesn't want that music interrupted by your choices.

Of these 5, only the first is going to have a positive experience with the music playing on your site. 

Number 2 probably will be ok as long as your tastes are totally opposing to theirs.  Typically music on a photographer's site is wedding type music and not too irritating to anyone, but I've seen some sites with 80s music playing and some of that can be really bad 

Numbers 3 and 4 are probably pretty similar in their opinions of music on a site. They're either going to dislike the music and probably hit the back button or not hear the music at all, neither of which is the situation you're looking for.

Number 5 is pretty close to 3 and 4, but rather than the music just being sound it's actually an interruption of what they've got going on their computer.  This is the group that I usually belong to.  Rarely do I work on a computer without music coming from somewhere, whether it's Media Monkey playing music from CDs I've ripped or Pandora playing on my iPhone. 

Of course it all comes down to opinion.  I'm sure for every person out there that feels that music on a website is bad for the user experience there's someone who will argue that it enhances the user experience. 

I thought of that one too.  But I figured anyone who was browsing sites at work would be in the speakers on mute group. 

I agree.
Just say no.
I jams up my browsing flow.

C

I HATE music on websites, HATE IT.  I usually have Pandora or iTunes going, and I have play lists that fit my mood, or what I am doing.  I HATE when I take a break to browse the web while I am working and some stupid music starts playing over mine.  If I can't find the mute button in point one second I hit back.

Exception: If I am on a website where they have a slideshow or video presentation of their product/service/art/whatever then I expect it to have music and I think it adds to the experience.  BUT I am not talking about something on the front page of their website, I am talking about something you have to click on if you are interested in seeing more, something worth pausing my own music for.  Like perhaps a wedding videographer, they should have samples of their work set to music that you can click on IF YOU CHOOOSE.

(rant over, thank you very much.)