| MTI Digital | |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | Southfield, MI, |
| Hq Location: | Miami Beach, FL, US |
| Area Served: | United States, Canada |
MTI Digital is a provider of in-store music, advertising, digital signage, and on-hold messaging and hold music for retail stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants in the United States and Canada.
MTI Digital was founded in 1988[1] as Music Technologies International by Lorraine Golden, who previously acted as general manager for Detroit radio stations WNIC and WQRS, and owner of WDTX.[2] [3] The company was founded as an alternative to the easy-listening elevator music that was common in retail stores of the 1980s,[4] instead providing an experience similar to that of FM radio with popular music interspersed with commercial advertising.
MTI initially provided background music by satellite to retailers such as Kmart,[5] tailoring the music and advertising to each specific retailer and its vendors.[6] In 2000, the company partnered with fellow background music provider Muzak to focus on in-store advertising sales to retailers such as Toys "R" Us and Rite Aid. This partnership saw MTI's focus shift from background music to point of sale advertising targeted at a retailers’ customers for much of the next decade.[7]
MTI ended its partnership with Muzak and pivoted back to in-store background music by 2009.[8] The company rebranded as MTI Digital in the 2010s and provides music and messaging via digital receivers rather than satellite,[9] as well as digital signage, menu boards, and sound system design.[10]
MTI Digital is a WBENC-certified Woman-owned business.
MTI Digital's music and messages are programmed using a media player located at each location connected by the internet to MTI's servers. Audio advertisements and music playlists are regularly updated on each player, ensuring that the content is up-to-date, and allowing MTI to customize the music and messaging program for each retailer and location.[11]
MTI provides music, audio messages, and digital signage primarily to national and regional convenience and retail stores as well as QSRs in the United States and Canada, including Rite Aid, Jared Jewelers,[12] Wawa,[13] Sonic Drive-in, Kum & Go,[10] Allsups,[14] and EZCorp.[15]