Soundcheck

Sound Business Advice

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Offices, stores and restaurants are spending millions of dollars crafting the way they look, but not the way they sound. Find out how music and environmental noise affects productivity and sales. Plus, the U.S. military scouts for musical talent. And, a live performance from the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble.

Listen to the whole show

The Sounds of Success

What we hear has a powerful affect on our emotions and moods. Companies that craft "soundscapes" inside their stores, restaurants and workplaces stand to increase productivity and sales. We talk to Julian Treasure, chairman of strategic sound consultancy business The Sound Agency, about his book, "Sound Business."

The "Sound Business" web site
More about Sound Business

Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble

Soweto is the black township in South Africa where the struggle against apartheid was born. It's also home to a music school founded by a professional viola player from London. Today on Soundcheck: the story of the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble and a live performance from group.

Buskaid web site

Armed Forces Entertainment

As the war in Iraq enters its fifth year, U.S. troops are serving longer deployments and multiple tours of duty. We talk to Wall Street Journal reporter John Jurgensen about Armed Forces Entertainment, a division of the Pentagon that scouts lesser-known bands to entertain troops stationed in across the Middle East.

John Jurgensen's article on Armed Forces Entertainment
Armed Forces Entertainment web site