I'm another who votes for NO music in stores and most restaurants, especially NO radio! If there must be music, let it be recorded music that is not too intrusive rather than some stupid radio station.

But I would say that there are some restaurants where the music enhances the experience of dining, if it is carefully chosen recorded music that suits the mood of the place.

For instance, the instrumental music that usually plays in Japanese restaurants suits them perfectly as far as I'm concerned.

What one needs is a restaurant owner who has enough subtlety to actually choose specific recorded music that truly harmonizes with the place, rather than being lazy and just turning on the damn radio... If people like the atmosphere, they'll eat there. If they don't, they won't.

I had any number of jobs over the years where I was tortured by having to listen to music I mostly couldn't stand for 8 hours a day, five days a week. Now I work at home in blessed silence.