You could say that you're legally only allowed to play the first 30 seconds "Like iTunes" otherwise there will be "big licensing fees". This is a damage-control situation as the attention span of someone on a page with midi blaring at them will be < 2 secs.
Alternatively you could say "What if the user has their speakers off or muted? A button to turn on the sound will let them know they can listen." If they say "Well their loss" you can ask why they are doing it in the first place. Try phrasing your arguments so that they "can" do something else rather than they "can't" do what they're doing. On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 1:25 AM, Lesley Lutomski <ubu...@webaflame.co.uk> wrote: > Thanks to all who have replied. > > As far as "don't do it" goes, you're preaching to the converted here, but I > don't seem to be able to get the message through to my clients. > > The clients in question are a committee (first problem!), who all say "Oh, I > know nothing about computers/the internet" but at the same time refuse to be > guided. Referring them to usability articles is a non-starter, because > they'll just not look at them. I've tried reducing the arguments to very > basic, non-technical issues, but my powers of persuasion are apparently > lacking. > > Given that I can't afford to turn down the work, I'll take on board the > points folk have made here and promise to do the least-awful job on it I > can! > > Thanks again. > > Lesley > > Brett Goulder wrote: >> >> I would just point your client to some usability articles and educate them >> why background music is very bad. >> >> My 2 cents would be to just not do it. >> >> http://completeusability.com/regrettable-background-music/ >> >> >> >> Bruce P wrote: >>> >>> Smalllll player and an off button one can find immediately is a >>> prerequisite :) >>> >>> Bruce >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lesley Lutomski" >>> <ubu...@webaflame.co.uk> >>> To: <wsg@webstandardsgroup.org> >>> Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 6:50 AM >>> Subject: [WSG] Background music on web pages >>> >>> >>>> Hi all, >>>> >>>> I apologise if this is off-topic, but I'd really appreciate some advice. >>>> >>>> I have clients who insist they want background music on their Web site. >>>> I've tried to dissuade them, but without success. What is the most >>>> acceptable/least intrusive method of doing this? UK licensing requirements >>>> differ depending on whether the music is downloadable or not, so I need to >>>> sort out the method in order to advise them on the licences. I'm still >>>> hoping the complexities of the licensing system will succeed where I've >>>> failed and put them off the whole notion, but in case not, I'd be most >>>> grateful for some input here. >>>> >>>> Thank you. >>>> >>>> Lesley >>>> >>>> >>>> ******************************************************************* >>>> List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm >>>> Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm >>>> Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org >>>> ******************************************************************* >>> >>> >>> >>> ******************************************************************* >>> List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm >>> Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm >>> Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org >>> ******************************************************************* >> >> >> ******************************************************************* >> List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm >> Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm >> Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org >> ******************************************************************* >> >> > > > ******************************************************************* > List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm > Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm > Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org > ******************************************************************* > > ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org *******************************************************************
