QUIET SCOTLAND
The Scottish campaign for freedom from intrusive music in public places
People power
Many people find it difficult to complain about music in public places. However, if you don’t say anything, shops and restaurants will have no idea how widespread this problem is, nor how much business they are losing. Here are some suggestions for positive ways in which you can get your views across.
If music has been introduced recently, emphasise how much you have enjoyed shopping/dining in the past without the music. Ask why they have changed their policy.
Sometimes the music has been switched off in a shop where it is usually played. Whatever the reason (the system might be broken or someone might have forgotten to turn it on) tell the staff how much more pleasant the atmosphere is without the music. Ask them if it is a new policy.
At the check-out don’t immediately complain about the music. Instead ask a general question, such as "Who chooses your music for you?" "Are you enjoying the music?" etc. It is amazing how often the assistant will start complaining about it, too. They have to listen to it all day long.
Unless you are being served by the manager of a small business, it's unlikely that the person dealing with you will have any control over the playing of music. They usually say it is a "management decision". It is far better to write to the chief executive officer.
When you write, companies will often tell you that no-one ever complains about the music. This is strange as they usually have a standard response they send out. In order to avoid this standard letter try to ask a question, point out some research or provide personal experience so that they have to think about their reply to you as an individual. For example, if you are unable to enjoy a meal in a noisy restaurant because of a hearing problem, point this out and ask if they have a quiet area so that you can enjoy a meal in their restaurant, too. If you are in a card shop trying to buy a bereavement card and a totally inappropriate lyric is being played loudly throughout the shop, tell them how distressing you find it. If you are worried that music is being played in an environment where people are doing work which entails studied concentration, point this out. Can members of staff turn off the music if it distracts them? Ask them what research they have done to show that their customers want music as they shop or eat. They will often ignore this last question because either they will have done no independent research, or they will be relying on research from the music industry. Sometimes they don't even realise that the research they are using is supplied by the music industry; they think that, if it is on the internet, it must be accurate. If they ignore your question, write back and ask politely why they haven't answered you.
If you are booking a meal or hotel, ask in advance if they play piped music. This helps emphasise the fact that background music is not universally appreciated. If they say they play it, ask how loud it is. If you find it a problem because of a hearing difficulty or health issue, make sure they know that is the reason.
If you enter a restaurant or cafe and discover music is playing, ask the staff if there is a restaurant nearby that doesn't play piped music. Quite often they will offer to turn off the music for you.
One of the most difficult places to complain is in a medical situation. Patients don't want to upset their doctor or dentist and yet this is the very environment where they suffer most. We have prepared a list of quotations from genuine people with medical conditions, illustrating the difficulties they have when being forced to listen to music, radios and televisions in a medical environment. If you find it difficult to complain, please email us and we will send you a copy that you can forward to your medical practitioner.
If you join Pipedown, you will receive, as part of your membership, a selection of comment cards and stickers which you can leave in shops and eating places to express your views.
Finally, please make a point of praising businesses that don't play music. Enough e-mails to the chief executive might dissuade yet another business from taking out a music licence.