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After doing 10 years of gyms here in Chicago, I have to say the best policy was that of the first ine I went to, affiliated with a university. They had listed times of when they would be playing certain music in three hour blocks, shifted the rotations every six weeks, and stuck to it.
As I shifted from neighborhood to neighborhood, I experienced the silence of a local Y (you could here the elderly's joints crack), the Thuggin Love soundtrack of a Bally's where they allowed the tykes to play Grand Theft Auto in the playroom, and a gym downtown where it was primarily Cher themed techno. To be honest, I can see why they do the techno...it is for the most part inoffensive, upbeat, and can be tuned out pretty easy when lifting. Now I workout here in hidden suburbia, where people like the classic rock as they sit at the juice bar that serves Doritios, and you can watch others work out.
For the record, the best music to work out to is Bad Religion, NOFX, et. al for cardio, Tool, Sunny Day Real Estate while lifting.
