In this Section

• Why play licensed music?
• Phone connection
• Music Pricing & Options 
• Testimonials
• Copyright Law

Why play licensed music on hold?

Music on hold connection

All small business phone systems support music on hold. In most cases, the music source simply plugs into a jack on the cabinet. A few brands require a phone technician to install the music source. Look on the phone system's cabinet for a female jack; it's usually marked either "music or "MOH." If you don't see one, ask your hardware vendor. Single line or multi-line telephones without a central system need an adapter to play phone music on hold. Marketing Messages stocks 2 line and 4 line adapters.

Music Pricing & Options        

Budget: Music CDs, including a Lifetime Music license for 1 location.
Includes a Lifetime Music license for 1 location. Available in Classical, Easy Listening (we call it "Safe Bets"), Jazz, Big Band, Rock and traditional Holiday music. Available either with or without reassurances to hold, in a female voice, every 60 seconds. For example, "Thank you for waiting. We appreciate your patience, and we assure you that we will take your call just as quickly as possible." There are 7 different reassurances.

Available in Classical, Easy Listening, Jazz, Big Band, Rock and traditional Holiday music.

To Order, Call 800-486-4237, extension 121

Premium: for 24/7 "always-on" reliability
The USB-1100 digital announcer stores and plays music in a continuous audio loop. The music is stored on a Sandisk 128 mb removable USB flash drive plugged into the unit. To update your music, you simply copy a new MP3 file from a computer's USB port to the USB flash drive (included); then plug it back into the USB-1100. Marketing Messages can email you new music MP3's at any time.

• No moving parts to wear.
• Always on after a power failure (unlike CD players).
• No more replacing CD players every 4 to 6 months.
• 64 minutes of memory @ 128 kbps, ideal for phone use.
• Able to play Messages-On-Hold for promotions or special situations.
• Compatible with all phone systems: 600 and 8 ohm outputs. Includes audio cable.
• 3 year warranty.
• Choose the songs or the genre you like best from our selection. There is room for 3 songs per 8 minutes of memory.
• Marketing Messages ships the machine with your music pre-loaded. Just plug it in and set the volume.

The USB-1100 digital announcer loads via USB flash drive (includes a 128 mb Sandisk flash drive)

• 256 minutes of memory
• PC & MAC compatible.
• Made in USA
• 3 year warranty
• $400.00   Quantity discounts available

Custom Digital Music On Hold files
Choose the songs or the genre you like best from our selection. 

 To Order, Call 800-486-4237, extension 121

For VoIP or switches accepting Digital files

• Marketing Messages can create custom music files and email or FTP them to you.
• Choose the songs or the genre you like best music page link. There is room for 3 songs per 8 minutes of memory.
• Tell us the format you require. The most common formats are:
  - 8 Bit CCITT u-Law Mono WAV files @ 8k; 16 Bit Mono WAV files @ 8k; and MP3 files
• Choose the songs or the genre you like best from our selection

 To Order, Call 800-486-4237, extension 121

Testimonials

IntelligentHire, div. of Gannett Co
"Everyone loves the new music…people aren't snoring while on hold anymore! So thanks for all of your help."
- Brooke

Electronic Data Systems (E.D.S.)
"We are really delighted with the music and the fast service you gave us. Believe it or not, we received two faxes from customers the first week saying how much they liked our new music. My supervisor gave your name to someone at Aspect for their customers."
- Elizabeth

Enslow Publishers
"Thank you for following up with me regarding the music on hold CD. I appreciate you getting the CD to me so quickly. We had a chance to play the full length CD and love the music on it. Thanks again for all of your help!
- Amy

Automatic Data Processing (ADP)
"You are so proactive! This time I would like some fun, upbeat jazzy music for the summer. Thanks again."
- Hilda

Harvard Management Co.
"I was truly impressed with the selection of music, the availability, and the prompt delivery. This makes it easy for me to please our employees and our callers. In the past we received complaints, but since we started using your digital announcer and music on hold we have received no complaints at all."
- Eileen

Columbus Metropolitan Library
"We're all set up and very, very pleased… these music on hold CDs have made a big difference to the quality of the wait experience for our library customers. (Also - to staff!) Thank you so much for all your help - and for your very quick service."
- Mary

Roxio, Inc.
"Thank you so much for getting the music to us so quickly. It was a pleasure doing business with you, and when we need more music, I'll be sure to contact you. Thanks again."
- Dale

Copyright Law

What are your legal obligations re music on hold?
The following is excerpted from a Better Business Bureau Publication.

Music in the Marketplace:
"Who Pays the Piper?" Why Do I Have To Pay Royalties?
The short answer to this question is: "Because the law says you do." But, clearly, some further explanation is needed as to why, for example, a merchant has to pay to play radio music in his or her store, when playing the radio or listening to tapes at home or in one's car is "free."

Generally speaking, public performances are very broadly construed under the law and are defined as performance "at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered." This has beep interpreted to mean that most performances at so called private clubs and fraternal organizations are "pub­lic" under the Copyright Law.

Early versions of the copyright law limited the exclusive right to performances given "publicly for profit." Today, however, the "for profit" limitation has been repealed and only an explicit list of exempt performances do not require a license from the copyright owner. These include perfor­mances by instructors or students in the course of face to face teaching activities of non profit educational institu­tions, performances of music in the course of religious services at a place of worship, and performances by the /'public reception of a transmission on a single receiving / apparatus like those commonly used in private homes when no charge is made to hear or see it and the perfor­mance is not further transmitted to the public.

Given the broad scope of the protection given copyright holders and those assigned their rights, anyone whose business in one way or another performs music for its customers or members should be aware that they may be called upon by one or both of the major performing rights organizations to license the performance of copyrighted works in their respective repertories. And buying a license ­from one organization, say BMI, does not protect a business from liability for unauthorized performance of songs in ASCAP's or SESAC'S repertories.

A list of places and events at which licensing could be required including, but is not necessarily limited to: restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels where live or recorded music is played; shopping malls; stores that play broadcast or recorded music; spas, gyms or other sites that offer exercise to music; trade shows; conventions; dance stu­dios; skating rinks; private clubs or fraternal organiza­tions; offices and stores that use "music on hold” for telephone customers; factories; summer camps; and, schools.

This Better Business Bureau Publication has been made possible, in part by grants from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).