Mozart's music, it has been claimed, is good for babies' development, studying and even the cultivation of plants. But now we can add another use to the list, as a Freedom of Information request has revealed Mozart's work to be the most popular choice for 'on-hold music' with councils.
The two pieces in particular which topped the list were his his Symphony No. 40 and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Music by Debussy, Handel and Strauss also featured in the list.
Information from 150 councils was released after a Freedom of Information request. Mozart’s music is out of copyright and thus free to use, which may be why it is so popular. But director of the Royal College of Music, Colin Lawson, took a different view:
‘I think the real reason is Mozart can be listened to at so many different levels. He is at the top of the classical charts regularly. The Mozart phenomenon is an extraordinary thing. You can have Mozart-themed chocolate, ski holidays, tours – he seems to have a particular resonance for the troubled 21st century.'
While it seems that Mozart may be the favourite for councils, it’s certainly not for customers as the Freedom of Information request revealed that some councils had found people were less likely to hang up if they were listening to pop music by artists including Fleetwood Mac, Lionel Richie, Abba and Aretha Franklin.
Declan Kennedy