What is the bland music in American TV and films?

[dave50]

Has anyone noticed when there is a scene of a party on an american film or TV show, especially from the 70's and 80's, they show well dressed people dancing with their partners to some band which is in the background playing the most bland, nondescript music ever heard with no melody whatsoever. What is this music and where do they get it from?

[emmie]

probably from the elevators in posh hotels.. x

[factor-fiction]

Good question. I have noticed that. Often the dancers are dancing with great enthusiasm which doesn't seem to match the music. I suppose the music had to be quiet so that you could hear the conversations

[bibblebub]

Like this from the inimitable Police Squad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Ou82xK_28

[factor-fiction]

Great example, bibblebub. I'd forgotten how good Police Squad was- I've just watched part 1 and will now find parts 2 and 3

[bibblebub]

I made sure that I got the DVD when it was released. I'm always glad that they only made a few episodes because it would have become too samey if they'd created many more.

[tonymclark]

It will more than likely be royalty-free music. A fee will be paid to a music library, but the film or TV producers don't have to pay royalties after that. It saves on a lot of paper work.
Composers often contribute atmospheric music to music libraries. They get a fee for the work, but no royalties after that.
There will more than likely be no music playing to the extras dancing. Films are usually shot with one camera, so the action has to be repeated for the different camera angles. If the music could be heard, it would be a nightmare for the editor as it would be impossible for the actors to say the same lines at precisely the same time as the same bit of music that was playing the last time they spoke their lines.
Tracking down the title won't be easy as this type of music is rarely, if ever, released commercially.