In a store, like a chain, does the company, decide what kind of music that they play in the store and how loud it is? What kind of panel do they use for the intercom or radio playing?

Since today we went to a store called Bealls Outlet and the music was turned up so loud there was a bass coming from the speakers. Which I didn't know ceiling speakers could even produce bass. Bealls Outlet usually plays XM Satellite radio in their stores, and the song playing so loudly was Life Is a Highway by The Rascal Flatts.

I hadn't noticed it turned so loud before, unless maybe it was just the song the made it seem so.

In a store, like a chain, does the company, decide what kind of music that they play in the store and how loud it is? What kind of panel do they use for the intercom or radio playing?

I believe this depends on the store/chain...
Some the corporate office controls everything, others a manager can select from a group "stations" which in some cases they are in reality 'playlists' since the music isn't broadcast, but rather stored on a music system in the store or streamed over the internet.
Store management could also set the volume in many cases since there has to be an amplifier in the store (depending on the amp, that may be able to be 'locked' (or atleast a max level set) as well).

Since today we went to a store called Bealls Outlet and the music was turned up so loud there was a bass coming from the speakers. Which I didn't know ceiling speakers could even produce bass.

When the re-modeled the Target near me, they also must've replaced the sound system, because it now puts out bass (not like thumping bass or anything, but enough that the music actually sounds pretty good...not like the tinny/cheap bass-less sound of a common ceiling speaker). The volume is also kept at a reasonable level, like it should be. you don't go in a store to be blasted by whatever music they're playing..it should just be there in the background.

I have objections to music played in stores and restaurants-music that is NOT my choice.And I cannot turn it down or off.Music is ART and NOT wallpaper-when are places going to realize this????I have had to ask at eating places to turn the music down when I am talking to the person I am eating with.

Garinei Afula here, seems to be obsessed to Mizrachi Music . In every branch of Garinei Afula that I visited, I heard mainly Israeli Mediterranean Music, of singers like Omer Adam, Sarit Hadad, Static and Ben El Tavori, Eyal Golan, Avi Peretz, Shlomi Shabat, Itay Levi, etc... All I can say it is a crap and horrible music which have often uses clueless language...
There is a bakery near the city center of Kiryat Ata, which turning up Mizrachi Music at full volume.

There are clothing stores here that I would like to see what they have to offer, but the music is obnoxiously loud, so I avoid them...

I have slight autism, and one side-effect is that I cannot tolerate so-called 'piped' music, whatever the volume level. It's not a major problem in shops, as I can just leave, or not shop there, but in places where I have to spend a significant amount of time, like the hairdressers (it's a girl thing  ) then it's really difficult and I have to wear earplugs. Even then it's still audible to a degree.

I just don't understand why places have to play music. I can see no justification for it whatsoever; if they think it increases sales, then they are so wrong with me, as even if I went in there with the intention of buying something, I will just walk out again and take my custom elsewhere,. In fact, the BBC did a survey a few years ago. They visited a large shopping centre (mall to you lot over the pond..!) and divided it into two. One half had the music switched off, the other half kept it on.

Guess which half got the most sales..?

Here is a UK site which is active in protesting about the onslaught.