Yikes -- Client wants a song to play on his site!

[h0kie99]

First of all, I told him that I didn't think this was a good idea, but he is all about it. This is a large private club in our area and they host wedding receptions there. He wants just 1 minute of a wedding song to play when the user clicks on the "wedding" link. I almost threw up in this meeting... I mean, COME ON! I just got married and if I ever opened up a website with a song playing I would shut it... BUT... this is what the client wants.

Having said that (ughhhh), he gave me a CD and there is one song on it that he wants me to put on his site. My question is, how do I do this? I have 2 questions, actually:

1. How do I edit the song so that I can save a version of it that is much shorter? I used to do this with .wav files like 8 years ago but I haven't messed with music file editing since... I'm sure things have changed.

2. Where do I put the code in the HTML to make it so that the song plays just ONCE (no loop) when the user opens up the wedding page?

Thanks!!!!

[wordmunger]

You might be able to do this with garageband or iMovie.

Re: the site: I don't know how to do the HTML, but please include a link to "turn off" the music. This could be accomplished by moving to a sound-free version of the identical Web page.

[Blue Velvet]

Websites that have music load & play when you arrive.

Usually when your favorite song is on iTunes.
And it's never anything worth hearing.

One sneaky way to dissuade him is to casually mention the copyright issue and the possible fines.

Unless it's one of his own creations... :eek:

[decksnap]

For trimming- download the shareware 'MP3 Trimmer'. It is for just such a purpose, and allows you to fade in/out. There's also 'mAC3dec' for converting audio types.

[h0kie99]

Can I upload the file as .mp3 and play it that way on the website? Or do I have to convert it to some other method?? Also, where in the code do I put the song so that it plays automatically when the page is loaded?

Good idea about "click here for no song"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[decksnap]

Sound control can also be accomplished easily by using the streaming audio component in flash- it will give you a scaleable controller and such...

[ChicoWeb]

Wow. Tell him the reality of having music on his/her site. That it will piss people off, make them shut their window, and he would lose business. Just tell him striaght up that he will loose business and this is not an industry standard technique and that it is very unprofessional. I would never integrate music into a clients site. I don't care what he/she thinks they want. Thats why we are the professionals.

[h0kie99]

I know, I know, it's soooo bad. They went from playing music the entire time to just playing a 1 min blurb on one page, so I feel like I talked them down... but this is really bad. You know, the real problem is that my boss closed the deal on this site and agreed to do that without question. It was only when I met with them to get their site requirements that they talked about the music file and I almost spit my water all the way across the room! So, I'm in a bit of a bind... my boss closed the deal with the song included. I have tried to explain my point of view but I don't want to mess up the deal.

[Stampyhead]

I agree with everyone here that, in most cases, putting music on a website is very low-class and trashy.
That said, if you absolutely have to do it then Flash is the way to go. The problem with having the music play straight from the HTML is that it comes up full volume with no way to turn it down or off (unless th user does so on his own speakers, of course). Flash allows you to adjust the volume of the music and allows the user to turn it of if he does not want to hear it. I believe a Flash movie has to be at least 18 x 18px, so you could create a Flash movie that is little more than a sound file and a button to turn off the music.
Good luck!

[h0kie99]

It's hard to tell clients that their ideas suck. True? Sometimes I get good responses and people are relieved that I'm working FOR them and trying to make their site as great as it can be... but others get really really offended...

[iceTrX]

First of all, there HAS to be a controller for the music. Usually I close any website that has annoying music as soon as it starts playing, and I would never stay at a website that didn't have the option to the turn the music off. It would bother me less if the music didn't start playing by default. Maybe you can talk your client into not having the music autoplay? Explain to him that its very unprofessional and annoying to have music play without the users permission first, and it could result (and most likely will) lost customers.

[jayscheuerle]

If it's commercial music he doesn't have the rights for, you could mention to him that it's illegal to put it up...

[Blue Velvet]

...what song is it?

[AppleMatt]

Flash allows you to adjust the volume of the music and allows the user to turn it of if he does not want to hear it. I believe a Flash movie has to be at least 18 x 18px, so you could create a Flash movie that is little more than a sound file and a button to turn off the music.
Good luck!

Best idea so far, have a flash movie. Fade the music in when it starts and out when it ends (to waste the most of the minute possible) and have it set very quiet. Also, the movie should just be a little speaker icon (with waves coming out of it) and "turn sound off" underneath. When it's clicked it would change to an icon with no waves and "turn sound on" under it.

AppleMatt

[James L]

If you get to speak of this to him, first off ask him about artist permission, copyright violation, and royalty agreements for the music use (as others here have already suggested).

Secondly, come up with a list of hypotheticals on why it is a bad idea. Such as:

EX 1:

Sally is working as a secretary at a law firm in her cubical. During her break (or maybe even during work) she decides to google wedding venues in her area for her upcoming wedding. She clicks on your clients site, and all of a sudden music is blaring in the office gaining the attention of, and distracting, her coworkers. In a panic she closes the window and goes back to work, or to the next venue on the list.

EX 2:

Tom works long hours, and only gets surfing time late at night. He has the voume cranked on his laptop as he listens to iTunes with headphones before bed. He is not doing that right now, but is surfing for wedding info. All of a sudden your clients site comes up, music blares, and it wakes up his wife, and or baby, in the middle of the night.

You could come up with dozens of these examples of why this is a ****** idea.

Cheers,

James

[Peterkro]

I'm guessing here but its probably the wedding march or something similar,in which case its long out of copyright.I'd just do a mock up and let him play,He will soon se how truly annoying it is.

[h0kie99]

James - I love your scenarios. Definitely made me laugh... and they are true.

And yes, it is TOTALLY a wedding song for the wedding page of the client's site. I just sent an e-mail to my boss explaining how much I am against this and if this (and the header frame thing in my other post) is going to be a deal breaker or not. If not, I suggest we have another conversation with them.

Thanks for your support!!!

[scottwat]

This seems to be angelfire and those dumby guides fault. It seems like most people know the web as the pathetic mid to late 90's creation where everyone could show of there "cute" little kids, or there kitty cats. And you always heard some dumb a$$ song playing. My advice, do a very professional job, don't include the song when you show him the first version, then if he asks put it on there and show him why its such a bad idea. Oh and make sure to add a flash into, and lots of animated gif's.

Don't you wish the web had style guide!!!

[stylum]

Can you just show them this thread?
It's filled with the point of view of Pros...

[h0kie99]

I have definitely copied/pasted this thread and although I am editing out anything that would be inappropriate, I am going to show this to my boss... DEFINITELY.

[scottwat]

Honestly if it were me, I would do the best, most professional job I could do and explain to them the perils of putting music and corny nonsense on the web, and explain to them that you are a professional not just some nephew or cousin putting up a website. They are hiring you to generate revenue for their business. Also, I assume you would add a tag line on it to tell who developed the sight. That is your reputation as a pro-programmer. If you generate revenue and build a successful sight that is money for the client and you and future references and referals and portfolio material for future employment for you.

[Mr. Anderson]

Sound/music is always so cheesy. Just make sure if you have no choice in the matter - they are paying you - put a mute/off button on there for the music. Also, make sure that the volume isn't at 100%, if its a wedding song, you could probably get away with something subtle.

Good luck :D

D

[snkTab]

I think music sucks on websites, unless suited.

However, you have to abide by the clients wishes no matter if "you" don't like it. Your job is to implement his vision even if it is cheesy. Maybe the wedding he host at the place are cheesy. You can politely remind the client that from a user standpoint, it's distracting and then the rights issues. But, be professional in a business standpoint not in a I'm a professional web designer and I don't include music standpoint.

That said, say something like "music on websites is generally not a good idea. users will go to your website in different enviroments and have different preferences on what they listen to. they are coming for the visual presentation which is also what we would like them to see and the audio will distract them from the visual presentation. music is also a bad idea because most web browsing contains no sound, thus music will at some level will be unwelcome by the users. we recommened that the website not have music/sound because it does not add value to the message that your site is trying to portray and may actually hurt sales."

as far as having your professionalism on the line, you are just going to have to take losses (in that aspect) if the client is way to thrilled with music. just move on and not include him in your portfolio. professionalism is in the way you act. IMO, never tell the client that you are a professional developer when you are trying to persuade him. flaunting credentials is just going to belittle the client. merely suggest the benefits and discuss them with your clients. Communication is the key. when it comes down to it, he knows his business, you know web design, thus harmony is most likely achieved with a good mixture of the too.

[zim]

If it's commercial music he doesn't have the rights for, you could mention to him that it's illegal to put it up...

Correct, if he does not have right of use for the song then you should not put it on. File this one under ethics.

[CanadaRAM]

I'm guessing here but its probably the wedding march or something similar,in which case its long out of copyright.I'd just do a mock up and let him play,He will soon se how truly annoying it is.
Sure, if it is a public domain song and he performs it himself, there will be no copyright problem. However, anything off a CD also has performance rights -- the performance of the music is protected as well as the copyright on the music itself and the lyrics.

[angelneo]

Most likely the client would want this thing his way... so to make the best out of worse, i suggest you go with applematt suggestion to put it in a small flash clip and do a fade in and fade out with volume control.

[maya]

a JScript will also allow to play, pause, stop volume control the music on the site. Have you tried doing that, you can also have a small selection of tracks to play from.

You can also have the music phase in and out of various pages. :)

[AmigoMac]

Can you just show them this thread?
It's filled with the point of view of Pros...

Yes, show him this thread! and tell him twice that music into a website sucks... ohhh "el cheapo" website... grrr... come on..

[jayscheuerle]

However, you have to abide by the clients wishes no matter if "you" don't like it. Your job is to implement his vision even if it is cheesy.

In the end perhaps, but simply implementing a client's vision is a job any Web-hack can do. As a designer, you should use your reputation to sway your clients toward something that you can be proud of having in your portfolio. Your work is a reflection of yourself and you are defined by the work you do. If he absolutely MUST have music, find a way to make it inobtrusive and possibly tasteful. I think QUIET and BACKGROUND are the key words here. Think of it like Muzak- it's best when you don't notice it. - j

[Yvan256]

However, you have to abide by the clients wishes no matter if "you" don't like it. Your job is to implement his vision even if it is cheesy.

No, the jobs of professionnals is to recommend people. If I went to buy a car with square wheels, I sure hope as hell they wouldn't sell me one just because I asked for it.

[decksnap]

No, the jobs of professionnals is to recommend people. If I went to buy a car with square wheels, I sure hope as hell they wouldn't sell me one just because I asked for it.

Wish it were that simple- unfortunately there's more than one kind of client- there's the kind that understands how to use you for more than your production abilities, and then there's the 'shut up and do it' kind. It is seldom that you are lucky enough to have all of the good kind of client, because both kinds pay the bills.

[zim]

Wish it were that simple- unfortunately there's more than one kind of client- there's the kind that understands how to use you for more than your production abilities, and then there's the 'shut up and do it' kind. It is seldom that you are lucky enough to have all of the good kind of client, because both kinds pay the bills.

True but if a client asks you to do something that is wrong such as use copy-protected media then you have the right to refuse, this is part of any designers/educated individuals training. If you do not properly educated the client on the subject they could turn on you if they are ever pursued by the rightful owners of the copyright... I have seen it happen too many times... this is why studios sometimes have legal representatives.

I think the situation here is that if the music is owned by someone and the client is creating a promotional site for profit then you should not put the music on, unless they have obtained the proper rights to do so.

If the music is not protected and or your client has the rights, then by all means go ahead but take time to address the issues that have been commented here in this forum.

[Benj]

Sure, if it is a public domain song and he performs it himself, there will be no copyright problem. However, anything off a CD also has performance rights -- the performance of the music is protected as well as the copyright on the music itself and the lyrics.

This is spot on. There is copyright in the song and the performance (and even the arrangement). So he either has to have a version out of copyright (a 60 year old record..) or some lame-o cobbled together job.

Having said that I bet there are non-copyright protected versions of the wedding march knocking around....

[Flowbee]

Just use a midi file instead... it would sound ultra-classy!

http://midisource.freeservers.com/

[Blue Velvet]

Just use a midi file instead... it would sound ultra-classy! [Listen] (http://midisource.freeservers.com/bride.mid)

[Edit: The link is midisource.freeservers.com/bride.mid for all you PithHelmet users.]

I can't get the link to work (access verboten) – but do I really want to?
Is it bad or is it just bad?

[snkTab]

In the end perhaps, but simply implementing a client's vision is a job any Web-hack can do. As a designer, you should use your reputation to sway your clients toward something that you can be proud of having in your portfolio.

that's why I included this line in my post on how to sway the client.

That said, say something like "music on websites is generally not a good idea. users will go to your website in different enviroments and have different preferences on what they listen to. they are coming for the visual presentation which is also what we would like them to see and the audio will distract them from the visual presentation. music is also a bad idea because most web browsing contains no sound, thus music will at some level will be unwelcome by the users. we recommened that the website not have music/sound because it does not add value to the message that your site is trying to portray and may actually hurt sales."

and also in the end, the client doesn't care about your portfolio, he cares about his webpage.

[Flowbee]

I can't get the link to work (access verboten) – but do I really want to?
Is it bad or is it just bad?

Just bad. Imagine Mendelssohn's Wedding March as played on the cheapest Casio keyboard.

[scem0]

Just let him use the stupid song.

It's his choice and will be his problem in the future.

But instead of linking to his page with his song on your design site (if one exists), just host his site on your own server and take out the song. :)

scem0

[AdamZ]

Tastefully done music on a website is soon going to be nessasary. Ever increasing bandwith with allow for more multimedia like experiences on the web. We are an audio and visual culture. Would you expect no music on CNN or ESPN. Those clients clients who want music on their sites, me being one of them, recognize wanting to stimulate as many senses as possible for marketing to our customers. The question is, why NOT have music or even better, a narrative voiceover? Common guys, every one and there mother can put together a website. What sets you professionals apart is the ability to DESIGN. These clients are bussiness owners who are future thinkers, you better listen to their wants, and insatead of hating sites with music, DESIGN one that knocks peoples socks off. Would you ever listen to Star Wars without the music track. Expand your abilities.

[scottwat]

Would you ever listen to Star Wars without the music track. Expand your abilities.

The more likely question is would you come to Macrumors, or slashdot, or ebay, or yahoo, or amazon, if they all had music playing in the background. The key to effective design is to compliment what people are doing, whether its listening to music or watching tv or sitting in a cubical on lunch break. Music competes, not compliments. Watching TV or a movie and surfing the web are very different things. I also would suggest that the purpose of the site is to inform prospective clients, not entertain them.

[dejo]

Would you expect no music on CNN or ESPN.

That's different. The question should be: Would you expect music on CNN.com or ESPN.com? My answer: No. P.S. Both these sites don't have background music. What is necessary for one medium may not be necessary for another medium.

[Flowbee]

Tastefully done music on a website is soon going to be nessasary.

The day that most websites feature background music is the day I go back to reading books. ;)

[Wes]

Just use a midi file instead... it would sound ultra-classy! [Listen] (http://midisource.freeservers.com/bride.mid)

[Edit: The link is midisource.freeservers.com/bride.mid for all you PithHelmet users.]

Link doesn't work as it sees the referrer is macrumors.com

Anybody **wishing** to hear this song go here: http://midisource.freeservers.com/ and then click the 'Wedding March (Here Comes The Bride) ' link.

[Flowbee]

Thanks for clearing that up. I've removed the link form the original post.

[Note: The links to the songs on Midisource may not show up if you have PithHelmet enabled.]

[varmit]

What the pros have to say about music on websites: "If I wanted your site to make sounds, I would lick my finger and rub it on the screen." Enough said.

[mrgreen4242]

Tastefully done music on a website is soon going to be nessasary. Ever increasing bandwith with allow for more multimedia like experiences on the web. We are an audio and visual culture. Would you expect no music on CNN or ESPN. Those clients clients who want music on their sites, me being one of them, recognize wanting to stimulate as many senses as possible for marketing to our customers. The question is, why NOT have music or even better, a narrative voiceover? Common guys, every one and there mother can put together a website. What sets you professionals apart is the ability to DESIGN. These clients are bussiness owners who are future thinkers, you better listen to their wants, and insatead of hating sites with music, DESIGN one that knocks peoples socks off. Would you ever listen to Star Wars without the music track. Expand your abilities.

I can garauntee that that will never be the case. Why? It's annoying. Period. I've never seen a site that included background music that worked well. Yes, you want any video or animation sequences to have accompanying audio, but for a standard page, it's got to be the most obnoxious thing on the web.

This is a generally widespread sentiment. Look at this thread. Probably 1% of people would actually like this. The rest of us go to the competitors, music free, site and the offending business goes under, along with their aweful musicical webpage. If I ever end up at a site with background music, and I don't see a button to turn it off within .5 seconds I hit the back button and leave. And never visit again.

This simply won't become the norm becuase people don't like it. Nothing to do with the fact that you CAN do it easily now, it's a matter of usability.

Rob

[James L]

Tastefully done music on a website is soon going to be nessasary. Ever increasing bandwith with allow for more multimedia like experiences on the web. We are an audio and visual culture. Would you expect no music on CNN or ESPN. Those clients clients who want music on their sites, me being one of them, recognize wanting to stimulate as many senses as possible for marketing to our customers. The question is, why NOT have music or even better, a narrative voiceover? Common guys, every one and there mother can put together a website. What sets you professionals apart is the ability to DESIGN. These clients are bussiness owners who are future thinkers, you better listen to their wants, and insatead of hating sites with music, DESIGN one that knocks peoples socks off. Would you ever listen to Star Wars without the music track. Expand your abilities.


I completely 100% disagree. Having music, or sounds of any kind, start up as soon as a user loads a page is terrible design. Having multimedia at the controls of the user is another thing.

You know what I am doing right now while typing this? Listening to a tune from my iTunes library, while surfing.

You know what I was doing an hour ago? Photoshopping a logo for a client, with the laptop on my...well, lap... sitting next to my wife who was watching t.v. I was also surfing the web in the background when I needed a sanity break from the PS document.

Yesterday I met a friend for lunch, and while he was finishing up his work I jumped on their wireless network and surfed a bit.

In ALL of those cases, I would have been PISSED if I loaded a webpage and audio started playing out of nowhere, stamping on my iTunes song. My wife would have been pissed if it screwed up her watching her movie. It would have been embarrassing to my buddy to have audio start blaring out of his cubicle area.

Nope.... audio and video need to be at the control of the user.

Edit: Your Star Wars analogy is a bit off. When I sit down to watch a movie I expect sound. When I surf it is usually while multi tasking on other things, such as watching that movie, listening to tunes, iChatting, etc. If you took a poll the vast majority of people do NOT expect sound when surfing the web, can't remember where their speakers are set, etc. People want control of their computer, and sounds shooting off unexpectedly is not control.

[Philoman]

I agree with everyone here that, in most cases, putting music on a website is very low-class and trashy.
That said, if you absolutely have to do it then Flash is the way to go. The problem with having the music play straight from the HTML is that it comes up full volume with no way to turn it down or off (unless th user does so on his own speakers, of course). Flash allows you to adjust the volume of the music and allows the user to turn it of if he does not want to hear it. I believe a Flash movie has to be at least 18 x 18px, so you could create a Flash movie that is little more than a sound file and a button to turn off the music.
Good luck!

Wow. Tell him the reality of having music on his/her site. That it will piss people off, make them shut their window, and he would lose business. Just tell him striaght up that he will loose business and this is not an industry standard technique and that it is very unprofessional. I would never integrate music into a clients site. I don't care what he/she thinks they want. Thats why we are the professionals.

I think music sucks on websites, unless suited.

However, you have to abide by the clients wishes no matter if "you" don't like it. Your job is to implement his vision even if it is cheesy. Maybe the wedding he host at the place are cheesy. You can politely remind the client that from a user standpoint, it's distracting and then the rights issues. But, be professional in a business standpoint not in a I'm a professional web designer and I don't include music standpoint.

That said, say something like "music on websites is generally not a good idea. users will go to your website in different enviroments and have different preferences on what they listen to. they are coming for the visual presentation which is also what we would like them to see and the audio will distract them from the visual presentation. music is also a bad idea because most web browsing contains no sound, thus music will at some level will be unwelcome by the users. we recommened that the website not have music/sound because it does not add value to the message that your site is trying to portray and may actually hurt sales."

as far as having your professionalism on the line, you are just going to have to take losses (in that aspect) if the client is way to thrilled with music. just move on and not include him in your portfolio. professionalism is in the way you act. IMO, never tell the client that you are a professional developer when you are trying to persuade him. flaunting credentials is just going to belittle the client. merely suggest the benefits and discuss them with your clients. Communication is the key. when it comes down to it, he knows his business, you know web design, thus harmony is most likely achieved with a good mixture of the too.

I do agree with snkTab professionalism. You do not talk your client out of something becase you can't do it. It shows your shortcoming as a problem solver and as well as a communicator.

As for the sound on web site, it all depends on contents and style of the site. There are sites that have sound that enriches the contents tremendously. This applies to site contents that is more entertainment and fashion oriented.

Having a beautiful classical track such as the Bach Aria with wedding picture can bring tears to your eyes and make the contents more meaningful.

As a designer, your expertise is to communicate and to solved problems. A good designer challenges and pushes the envelope and make it successful with given assets and guidlines.

[Apple Hobo]

Prime example of why web music sucks: link (http://www.centromedia.com/en/products/falcon/)

What's better than a quality midi song? A really loud, uncontrollable midi song! :D

[dornoforpyros]

I had a client once who DEMANDED that his website play the sound from THX certified movies when it booted up. You know that annoying horn blast while the letters explode or whatever it is.
We tried telling him many times that 1)It was cheesy as hell and 2)It's illegal to use that clip because we don't own it and we'll get sued.

I think eventually my brain dead boss just made him sign a wavier that said he was responsible if Lucas films found out and sued.

fyi> I don't work for this company anymore.

[Makosuke]

Would you expect no music on CNN or ESPN.
...
Would you ever listen to Star Wars without the music track.
That's not the question; the question is: Would you want a soundtrack to start playing when you open a copy of Time magazine or pick up the newspaper?

Of course not. You're not opening that magazine or newspaper for a multimedia experience, you're reading--emphasize READING--it to extract information and maybe get some pretty pictures. This is the same as what 99% of the people who use the web spend 95% of their time on the web doing. And this is why, so long as the web looks anything like it does now, in-your-face music will always be annoying.

Want proof? Try going to the Cartoon Network (http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/) website, specifically the Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi (http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/puffyamiyumi/index.html) section of it.

You'll notice that despite the fact that the page looks like Pink Crazed Barbie threw up on it and is apparently targeted at caffine-addicted 12 year old girls, not to mention is advertising a series whose only apparent appeal is that it stars cartoon effigies of an annoying girl-band, it still doesn't start playing a soundtrack when you first load the page. There's a nice, goofy looking boom box that thoughtfully tells you clicking on it will play a song.

Even kids who go to look up information on a hyperactive cartoon about Japanese pop stars don't want to be hit with music when they load the page--and this is an entirely flash site covered with "multimedia"--animation and video clips everywhere.

It's just bad.

[mcarvin]

As a designer, your expertise is to communicate and to solved problems. A good designer challenges and pushes the envelope and make it successful with given assets and guidlines.

I agree, except that while the medium allows for all sorts of wonderful (and not so wonderful) experiences, you must respect all likely user scenarios. It's not unreasonable to expect that the site would be viewed from a location where music is inappropriate and could get the visitor in trouble. As others above have said, very bad business.

When a designer does a site for a business - any size business or site, doesn't matter - the designer's #1 priority is to make the business look as good as possible in accordance with business goals, available assets, and available resources (designers, programmers, copywriters, etc). The designer's expertise makes it happen.

If I'm missing a site type here, please correct me. The only sites which I find autoplaying music appropriate for are artist/designer portfolio and musician/band sites, and possibly movie promo sites. Go visit some high-profile corporate or design sites -- thinking like Razorfish, IBM, Adobe, Fuel, and the like. There's a reason they don't regale you with music as soon as you load the page.

[Philoman]

If I'm missing a site type here, please correct me. The only sites which I find autoplaying music appropriate for are artist/designer portfolio and musician/band sites, and possibly movie promo sites. Go visit some high-profile corporate or design sites -- thinking like Razorfish, IBM, Adobe, Fuel, and the like. There's a reason they don't regale you with music as soon as you load the page.

As for the sound on web site, it all depends on contents and style of the site. Refer to my previous posting. There is no clear cut answer. As a designer, having appropriateness is another skill and talent.

Adobe, microsoft, Sony all had some kind of multimedia contents in the past. By the way, i'm sorry but adobe, razorfish, ibm are all too conservative and they are not good examples. We were not refering to these type of sites. Refer to my original post. Bottom line, there is no clear cut answer. There are many conditions. Banwidth, audience, appropriateness, timing, budget, deadline, content, audio quality, style and whatever comes to your mind. They all play a part. As a designer, you take all that in consideration. Then be a team player by having open ear to your client and your art director. If you have a better idea, present it in a professional manner. Case closed.

[scem0]

I have a lot of sympathy for you. Having a client tell you to put music on a website is like telling a cook to make a good meal out of fecal matter, it just doesn't work.

I still maintain my original stance of hosting your own, musicless version of the site on your company's server, and giving the music-loving bastard his fecal-matter ;).

scem0

[h0kie99]

Wow, a lot of interesting responses to this one! I had no idea this would get so heated... but now that I've read through all the responses, I can see why. Many different opinions out there.

We ended up deciding to put the damn song on the site, but we're using flash in this existing solid colored bar and there will be a slider for volume and an on/off button.

Hosting a music-less version is also a great idea for portfolio purposes!

Thanks everyone! Have a great weekend.