"Why is there recorded music in restaurants, pubs, and other places where you might actually WANT to talk to others?"

One reason is that it keeps one table from having to listen to another. I remember a quiet restaurant where "She was sick the WHOLE TIME she was pregnant!" sailed through the air to every table.
That's when I knew what background music was for.

I agree that it should be in the background, not so loud that people have to raise their voices to speak to one another.
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Can't help anybody on the TV issues. I don't watch TV.