> Another post in this thread backs up entirely my point that this is music to be played in the background, not thoroughly consumed and heard

Those two are not necessarily exclusive. I enjoy some kinds of songs as background music as well as by itself. Why would I listen to background music that I wouldn't like otherwise?

> I hope to provide a counter-point to The Guardian, which is neither an authority on music nor the broader culture.

Neither are you. Or anyone else except the individual person deciding what they want to listen to.