Recently public radio's Marketplace featured a segment on city shopkeepers using a new tool to move loiterers (homeless and teens) from their storefronts. Shopkeepers have fixed speakers to the building facades and are playing music selected to annoy loiterers. It's been successful in many parts of the US. In this particular city - I've forgotten where - it was determined that old timey country music (?) was most effective. Police are happy because it frees them to pursue more serious crimes. Shopkeepers know that this doesn't change loitering behavior; it simply moves it to another neighborhood.
I see a couple of issues here. Should music be used as a form of behavior modification/torture? How do you discourage loiterers without driving the staff mad and annoying potential shoppers? If each neighborhood shopping area starts broadcasting music, will the streets become a cacophony of noise polluting the air?
On the lighter side, what music would chase you away? An oom-pah band would do it for me.
Comments?