What are the best practices for selecting Hold Music?

Choosing the right on-hold audio can improve caller satisfaction and even influence how a customer views your business. Here are a few expert tips:

• Match your brand personality: Choose music that reflects your business tone — upbeat and modern for tech startups, or calm and classical for professional services or retail businesses.
• Use voice announcements strategically: Consider short, recorded messages between songs (“Thank you for holding…”) to communicate promotions, service updates, or business information.
• Stay within legal limits: Always ensure you have proper licensing for the track. Avoid using commercial or copyrighted songs unless you’ve purchased the rights or a royalty-free license.
• Keep it short and seamless: Use looping or short tracks that sound continuous. Avoid sudden starts or silence gaps.
• Optimize for clarity: Choose audio that sounds clear on phone speakers — avoid heavy bass or overly complex instrumentals.
• Know your audience: If you serve multilingual or international clients, use neutral or instrumental music that appeals broadly.
• Avoid annoying repetition: Rotating two or three different tracks keeps long hold times from feeling repetitive.
• Test the volume and tone: Play it back in your system to ensure it’s balanced — not too loud, tinny, or distorted.