Din after dialling when we could be soothed by Mozart

BRIAN Sheridan writes asking why is music in shops always pop and why classical on telephone lines (Yorkshire Post, January 8)

I don’t know which organisations Mr Sheridan calls, but I rarely encounter classical music on hold lines. I only wish I did. Nothing is more certain to infuriate me than having to wait an eternity for a call centre to reply, let alone having to suffer further aggravation from an unwanted din.

As my calls generally concern a need to straighten out cock-ups I initially pick up the phone in an irate mood and by the time my call is answered, if I have been subjected to a barrage of aggressive popular music, my irritation has increased tenfold.

Classical music, on the other hand, can have a calming effect on the listener and documented medical and psychological research has proved that.

Mozart’s music is just one example. It can reduce stress and tension, moderate heartbeat and lower blood pressure. Loud music in shops also drives me towards the nearest exit. Another point is that classical music is much cheaper to use.

Royalties do not have to be paid to long-dead composers. It has been reported that town halls all over the country are spending vast amounts of council taxpayers’ money on usage rights for contemporary hold tunes.

Twelve local authorities spent over £300,000 in royalties over the past three years.

At a time when councils are cutting back on vital services using the excuse that they are cash-strapped, this waste of money should be stopped immediately.

From: Carol Warrington, Sicklinghall, Wetherby.

DESPITE the fact that I am a music lover, I am totally opposed to music in public places. It is far too intrusive and as far as I am concerned, in busy supermarkets, pubs, restaurants etc, there is enough sound from the general hubbub of all that is going on.
To have to shout to make
oneself heard above it all is
awful.

Recently I had lunch in a restaurant with friends. One of them is slightly hard of hearing and she struggled to hear parts of our conversation because of the music. In fact, we were very tempted to ask for it to be turned off. Also, recently, my daughter and I had an evening meal in a restaurant in the Trinity Centre in Leeds.

We sat out of the main restaurant on the “terrace”. We both remarked how nice it was to eat in peace with no music and to be able to converse without shouting at each other. However, when we needed to go inside to find the toilets, we were bombarded with music!

Music in busy public places should be banned.