‘Hold music’ is annoying. It doesn’t have to be that way

Most music just doesn’t sound good over the phone because of the highly compressed audio signal. (Image: Depositphotos)

Sun, 26 May 2024

By Kate MurphyWhether it’s a bossa nova version of Stairway to Heaven, a synthy string composition or an energetic xylophone riff, you would be forgiven for thinking that “hold music” was designed to make you hang up. Surveys suggest people rank dog poop and going to the dentist as less aversive than waiting on hold for customer support.But industry insiders and analysts say rather than malicious intent, companies typically just don’t give much thought to what their customers hear while on hold – or at least n...

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