Both convenience stores and super markets play background music, but whereas the former manage to delight me, I cannot stand the latter. Convenience stores play J-Pop, which is easy, fun and pleasant to listen to. Supermarkets, on the other hand, are apparently too cheap to pay for the licenses to offer proper music. I can understand that J-Pop is maybe not appropriate for an elderly audience, but then why not traditional Japanese music, Western classical music or nothing at all? Why play ill-paced instrumental (and weird instruments at that) versions of popular songs (from across the board)? Does not Michael Jackson need to approve slowed-down, pan flute versions of Beat it?