When 'All Music Must Be Approved' Turns Into a Workplace Remix: A Malicious Compliance Story
Picture this: You’re a door greeter at your local shopping centre, and for hours on end you endure the same 15-song playlist looping relentlessly. If you hear “Too Sweet” by Hozier just one more time, you might just lose it. But finally, a glimmer of hope—management grants you permission to play your own music. Freedom! Except, there’s a catch: every single song must first be approved by your bosses.
And thus begins a workplace tale that’s equal parts righteous rebellion and accidental lesson in office politics—a story so relatable, Reddit’s r/MaliciousCompliance couldn’t help but weigh in.
The Plan: Outwitting the Playlist Police
Our protagonist, u/dye-area, is no musical lightweight. With a love for everything from indie rock to obscure jazz, their playlists stretch well past 12 hours. So, when told that every song must be approved, they hatch a plan: submit massive playlists—dozens of hours long, with overlapping tracks and endless variety. If management wants to micromanage, let them waste hours sifting through musical obscurities!
But before you cue the “Mission: Impossible” theme, pause for a reality check. Is this the kind of “malicious compliance” that sticks it to the man, or does it risk backfiring in a symphony of unintended consequences? Reddit’s comment section, as always, was ready with a chorus of opinions.
The Community Chorus: When Compliance Goes Cacophonous
From the start, Redditors saw trouble brewing. The top comment by u/Wanderer--42 cut straight to the point: “And then they can just say you don't get to listen to your own music because that is a privilege they were allowing.” Their reply, u/algy888, delivered the classic line: “It becomes a ‘this is why we can’t have nice things.’”
Others echoed this sentiment—like u/[deleted], who reminded everyone that “this isn't really malicious compliance, it's more along the lines of it takes 1 person to ruin it for everyone.” The consensus? Pushing the limits too far might just snap the privilege for everyone, not just the playlist rebel.
On the flip side, some comments offered a reality check about why approval is necessary. As u/Famous-Fondant522 pointed out, “doesn’t it kind of make sense they have to double check the songs to make sure they’re appropriate?” After all, nobody wants a workplace singalong to explicit tracks like “Cigaro” by System of a Down or “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails—hilarious in theory, disastrous in reality. (As u/CapeMonkey shared, one retail job quickly clamped down on music privileges after Afroman’s infamous “Because I Got High” made a surprise appearance.)
Then there’s the legal angle: u/Bubbly-Inflation-251 reminded everyone that public spaces have to manage music for copyright and licensing reasons, not just for taste or language. So even well-meaning managers have to watch what plays over the speakers.
Remixing the Rules: When Malice Meets Maturity
Here’s where this story takes a wholesome turn. The original poster, after reading the community’s feedback, had a change of heart. In a rare display of Reddit self-awareness, u/dye-area edited their post: “I have realised that it would not actually be the malicious compliance that I estimated it to be and would in fact just be me ruining it for others.”
Instead, they decided to submit just a handful of songs each week, slowly building a custom playlist without overwhelming management. The update? The manager turned out to be “super chill,” thought the original plan was funny, and even wanted music recommendations!
Reddit loved the growth. u/foyrkopp praised the OP for listening to feedback and changing their plan. Others, like u/Zoreb1 and u/AngrySquidIsOK, had advocated for exactly this kind of incremental approach: “Just give them smaller batches and build playlists over time. Otherwise, you’re going to lose any right to it at all.”
Lessons from the Lobby: Music, Maturity, and Management
This saga isn’t just about playlists—it’s a microcosm of workplace culture, rules, and privileges. Music at work can feel like a right, but as u/AffectionateRoom995 bluntly put it, “Music is a privilege at work, not a right.” When management tries to be flexible, pushing the limits too far can lead to everyone’s loss. It’s a lesson in the delicate balance between personal freedom and shared responsibility—a lesson well-heeded by our protagonist.
And let’s not forget the lighter side: As u/StreetLegendTits_ joked, “If I hear ‘Yah Mo B There’ one more time, I’m going to yah mo burn this place to the ground.” Sometimes, it’s the shared suffering (and the chance for a little harmless rebellion) that brings us together—one approved song at a time.
Encore: What’s Your Workplace Music Story?
Whether you’re stuck with corporate-approved elevator music or sneaking in your favorite indie tracks, the battle for better workplace playlists is real. Have you ever tried to sneak a questionable track past your boss, or had a music policy backfire in spectacular fashion? Share your story in the comments below—or tell us what song you’d add to the ultimate work playlist!
In the end, a little compromise and a lot of good tunes can make even the most monotonous shifts feel like a jam session. Just remember: with great playlists comes great responsibility.
Original Reddit Post: 'All Music Must Be Approved'