You may have seen them before. Rue de Lorraine, boulevard Aristide-Briand or rue Sébastopol. Cylindrical, sometimes alone or in groups, perched about five meters high on buildings, they are heard several times a year. Around fifteen speakers are scattered throughout the city center. Belonging to the municipality, the institution has been making sound systems available to associations which operate this broadcasting service, on an ad hoc basis, for 20 years now. “The objective is to liven up the city when there are commercial events,” explains the city’s technical service.
How does it work?
No news flashes, no columns, but simply advertisements, music or entertainment during events. It is from the sound room located near the Halle aux Grains that the machine starts up. Associations use a service provider to host and share announcements.
During the Corrida, the Club Athletic Brioude (CAB), the organizing association, asked Frank Marret to host the competition during the day. “It's live. On a day like this we couldn't do without entertainment with a speaker because he sets the pace for the day, motivates people, keeps them there and ensures that they don't “don't get bored,” explains Anne-Sophie Florentin, president of the CAB.
More recently, it was the Union of Traders and Craftsmen of Brioude (Ucab) which, as usual, operated the sound system for the end-of-year celebrations. “There is a pre-recording done by the speaker with a fairly extensive program and it is a trader from the association who takes care of turning the soundtrack on and off,” explains Aurélien Pic , president of UCAB.
“It’s a bit lively.”
Of course, we don't hear them every day, but the speakers are a real part of the city and some people view them favorably. “I find that it creates a bit of excitement during the end-of-year holidays and during the various events,” thinks Daniel, manager of the Maison de la Presse, rue Jules-Maigne. “Sometimes customers aren't always aware of what's going on in the city if they don't have social media. I am thinking in particular of local commerce week. They can therefore know the information via the speakers,” explains Aurore, manager of the Oze lingerie boutique.
But not all opinions are unanimous. Rémy Nugier, director of the Super'B'Immo agency, rue Sébastopol, recognizes that even if, “it's not disturbing, sometimes it's still a bit loud when there's music.”
From the residents' side, opinions are also mixed. Louis, who lives on rue du 4-Septembre, has a loudspeaker that no longer works, attached right next to his window. However, “I never made a request to repair it and I have no interest because at the time, I heard it and it bothered me. Even if I don't doubt its usefulness.” Claude, who has a functional loudspeaker near her window on Place Saint-Julien, no longer pays attention to it. “It doesn't bother me. In general, I don't really listen to what's being said. I have nothing against it. It's logical that there's noise in town.”
Alix also, who has lived on Sébastopol Street since September, is not disturbed by the sound emitted. Quite the contrary. “As I work remotely, I have the impression of having a presence, as if there was someone speaking to me. It's part of the noise in the city, like the traffic which is quite noisy “.
“This is the first time we have had complaints.”
It's not new that the Union of Traders and Craftsmen of Brioude (Ucab) takes over the City's sound system to liven up the center at the end of the year. However, Aurélien Pic, president of the association, is categorical: “This is the first time that we have had complaints.”
90 decibels in apartments?
Like every end of the year, Ucab enlivens the City and launches its soundtrack. On the program: local advertisements and music, from morning, around 9 a.m., until evening, 7 p.m. And this past December was no exception.
-However, this is the first time that Aurélien Pic has received some complaints. Sure, a little, but enough for him to care. In question? The loud sound that the speakers would generate. “Some residents complained that they had 90 decibels in their apartment,” the president of UCAB was surprised. The content of the ads was even denounced.
If the latter says he came to each request, responded to each email (while collaborating with the City's technical department), and apologized for the inconvenience caused, he does not understand certain unjustified reactions. “I have shopkeepers who went near the loudspeakers and noticed that when cars pass in the street, we hear the loudspeakers more,” explains the president.
So why were some voices raised this year? “I have no explanation. I think it's the climate. People are quite grumpy this year. I see it clearly in our business, we have people who are much more virulent”, notes Aurélien Pic .
What is certain is that the merchant finds this a shame. “During the holiday season, it's the only time we do our own advertising. We're not there simply to liven up the city, but also to please customers. Today, if there are merchants It’s because there are customers and it’s also to thank them that we do this.”
Any changes for next year?
Following these glitches, he does not rule out changes for next year. “I'm going to check with the City of Brioude to check all the city's loudspeakers, and see if we can move those located near the windows and which may be in the way.”
And to add concerning the entertainment during the end-of-year holidays. “I'm thinking about reducing the broadcast time. For example, doing two weeks instead of three weeks. Or not doing any animation at all? We don't know.”
Pauline LOSBAR
