wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

It is somewhat disheartening that, at this late date, there has been no coalition of Senators that have requested a fifth option: jazz & blues (rock & soul or hip hop would be too much to ask for). These types of music are just as all-American as J.P. Sousa! I suppose it is understandable when you consider the overall complexion of the Senate...

Actually, tasteful soothing elevator music can be okay on a phone hold, but tasteful music, like elevators, has its ups and downs (sorry).
But, when a human answers after a couple rings and gently asks if I would mind being put on hold (me having no choice); then rips me into roaring Beethoven, I don't care if it's eating up cell phone minutes!

Branching off of the complaint about hold music triggering a negative Pavlovian response:

I find myself resenting classical music more than any other type of music experienced whilst on hold. I find myself resenting what I assume to be a presumption on the part of the company or service I've called - the presumption that classical music will have an instantaneously pacifying effect upon the caller, and will make me instantly more patient and less resentful of the time waste. Given the fact that classical music often has just this push-a-button psychological effect (is in The Port Authority Bus Terminal), I find my resentment doubles as I do when watching a simplistic, insulting, tear-jerker of a happy ending film. In short - I am simultaneously insulted and frustrated by the humiliating reality that my psychological make-up is indeed as common and as simply manipulated as market researchers believe it to be.

Yes- the IRS is the worst! Only the Nutcracker Suite alternating with eine kleine nachtmusik! And then the Nutcracker... and then eine kleine nachtmusik! And then the Nutcracker... and then eine kleine nachtmusik! And then the Nutcracker... and then eine kleine nachtmusik!And then the Nutcracker... and then eine kleine nachtmusik!

When I worked for a NYC management consulting firm, employees were invited to bring in their favorite music on CD and each day the hold music was composed of a different consultant's favorite music. It tended toward cool jazz which was actually very aligned with the company's image!

Gotta agree with Laurie!

Here in NYC area on hold TimeWarner Cable blasts Mozart at distorted levels, interrupted periodically with boasts of the high quality of their digital service.

Even using speaker phone is not a solution, as turning the volume down to bearable levels makes it impossible to hear when the rep picks up.

Horrible but typical of a monopoly .....

Marketing? Who wants to hear "marketing" while waiting?? It's totally invasive to be marketed to when one calls a customer service or informational or help or pretty much any line. Music is a billion times preferable to "marketing."

Funny topic... What I hate is when they have music - but it sounds like it is being run through broken speakers ... grating!

I am a musician. My main objection to music while on hold is that I'm trapped listening to music not of my choosing. I would be very happy if there was a "press *1* to turn off the music while on hold" option. It's especially annoying if there is music in the air on my end clashing with music coming over the phone while on hold. It means I must turn off my stereo or TV, or if I'm out somewhere continue to listen to clashing music styles until taken off hold.

Another recent "innovation" I find particularly annoying is that when I call some people's cell phones, I get a recording that says "Please enjoy this music while we connect your call". I want to scream "NO!", but if I want to complete the call I'm stuck. It seems we cannot go 10 seconds in life without it being filled with someone else's idea of appropriate music.

My pet peeve is music that is too loud and/or distorted. The worst is when it sounds like a radio that is just not quite tuned into the station...

I always assume that the offensive music is there to try and entice me to hang up, so instead I hang in!

I called the IRS two weeks ago and they are still playing "The Nutcracker!" Please! Could we at least have some Stevie Wonder or something more topical?

Being a native of Atlanta, I used to love calling the Coca-Cola Company and asking my sister or friends who work there to put me on hold. Coke only played vintage and comptemporary Coca-Cola advertisements: everything from "I'd Like To Teach the World to Sing" to Aretha Franklin belting out her Coke ditty...

Best hold "music" ever: U. S. Census Bureau. Not music but a loop of (interesting) facts about the USA. Loop changes periodically.

My big problem is with a company who has a monopoly on their service, such that I cannot switch to an alternative.

I have problems with them all the time, which is bad enough. But they've had the same hold music for years. The music is fine, except for the fact it now raises a Pavlovian response of fury in me any time I hear it. I remember all the times I've called, all the time I've spent on hold, all the people who couldn't help, all the lies they have told me, all the appointments I make for them to come to my home, for which they are late and usually unable to address the problem.

If they'd changed the music every now and then, I might not be as angry when I finally get to speak to a person each time I call.

On hold with Apple tech support the other day. Really some dreadful stuff. Thought Apple would have dished out some hip jams. Downgrade.

Not only hanging up - when I'm out shopping for anything - anywhere, if I hear good store music I will likely linger on inside the store - increasing my chances of purchasing something I wouldn't have purchased if I'd just walked in perused some items and walked out - are you listening retailers!!!

Here in the UK one of the main cellphone operators use a repeating loop of the children's song 'the animals came in two by two and they came..' on their customer complaint line - it's a long wait and an especially cheesy annoying arrangement - just an accident? I think not. I can't hear that song without wanting to smash my cellphone...