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Soundcheck / July 13, 2009

Soundcheck

Monday, July 13, 2009
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  • phone on hold

    When "Please Hold" is Music To Your Ears

    Call almost any customer service number, and you can expect to hear at least a few bars of classical music or Lite FM before an operator picks up. On today's show, why the music you hear plays a big role in whether you hang up... or keep holding. Also: From Durban, South Africa, veteran guitarist and songwriter Syd Kitchen.

Songs to keep you Hanging

Over 70 percent of business callers are put on hold and the average person spends 60 hours a year on hold, according to industry research. That’s where on-hold music comes in to play. Today: Emily Ethridge, a reporter with Congressional Quarterly, talks about how U.S. senators and other politicians brand themselves using hold music. Also joining us is David Sandler, president of MusicWorks, a production company that specializes in on-hold music.

Weigh in: Have you ever had any good or bad experiences with "on-hold music" when calling a customer service line? Has the music ever driven you to hang up?

"Calling a Senator Can Be Music to Your Ears" by Emily Ethridge
MusicWorks web site

Syd Kitchen

Syd Kitchen Live

Syd Kitchen is known as the Afro-Saxon Dylan in his native South Africa. An uncompromising figure on the south African music scene since the 70s, Syd is now recording a new album in the States with Paul Simon’s “Graceland” band.

Syd Kitchen's web site

The Pacifica Quartet

Soundcheck

Carter Burwell and Maya Beiser

Soundcheck

Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar's Ode to Jack Kerouac

Soundcheck

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.

RZA on the Tao of Wu

Soundcheck