Occasionally I'm a BM provider at dinner parties where I don't want to risk silence. Jazz at level 2 is a safe bet or Far Eastern ceremonial music from speakers in an adjacent room. Physical separateness from the audio source transforms it into "actual" background music by adding aerial perspective rather than just being quiet. If you want your friends to actually listen to some music make them a tape to take home. I once had a take away meal that had a light activated musical chip in the bag as on birthday cards. It played away whilst I ate my crispy duck and Singapore fried noodle.