What on-hold music should you choose for your business?
On-hold music isn’t just a stopgap whilst your caller waits. It’s the first real auditory contact with your brand, often even before a human picks up the phone. A poor choice can give the impression of an amateurish approach; a good choice reinforces your professionalism from the very first seconds of a call.
This guide helps you choose the right music for your industry, avoid the most common pitfalls, understand SACEM and SCPA rights, and create your audio file in just a few minutes using Voconix. If you’d like an overview of the entire call journey first, visit our page on being put on hold.
callers
believe that the wait seems shorter when there is music playing.
the French
believe that a high-quality on-hold recording has a positive impact on the company’s image.
average waiting time
on the phone: the minimum amount of time during which your music shapes the first impression.
distinct factors
Key considerations: the choice of musical style and the quality of the recording itself.
The pitfall of overfamiliar music (and «lift music»)
There are two pitfalls that constantly crop up when choosing hold music, and they are polar opposites.
The all-too-famous track
Putting the latest hit on your on-hold music might seem like a good idea, but it rarely is: a well-known track draws attention to itself rather than to your brand. Worse still, it may seem out of place depending on your sector: an upbeat pop track on a law firm’s hold line is more likely to surprise than to reassure.
«Elevator music»
In contrast, the ultimate cliché: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, often played back from a poor-quality recording. This style of music, sometimes referred to as «elevator music» or «muzak», is associated with waiting rooms, shopping centres and car parks: repetitive, dated, and heard so often that it becomes invisible rather than memorable.
The right choice lies between these two extremes: an original style that is consistent with your brand image, neither too distinctive nor too generic. That is exactly what a true sound identity consistent.
What sort of music suits your line of business?
The most suitable musical style depends, above all, on your business and the image you wish to project. Here is some guidance organised by broad sector categories, with a direct link to the guide specific to your business.
Health and wellbeing
Calm, soothing, understated
Legal and finance
Understated, classic and sophisticated
A catalogue of over 10,000 tracks, covering all genres
Whether you’re looking for a recognisable commercial track or an unobtrusive royalty-free composition, Voconix offers an extensive catalogue, organised by atmosphere and sector. Here is an overview of the variety on offer:
Each track in the royalty-free catalogue is accompanied by a SACEM and SCPA exemption certificate. Commercial tracks remain available for businesses that prefer a contemporary, recognisable track, whilst managing their own copyright declarations.
Tailoring your music to the seasons and events
Your on-hold music doesn’t have to stay the same all year round. A touch of Christmas in December, a lighter atmosphere in summer, or a more upbeat track during a sales period can make your messaging more relevant, without compromising your brand’s sound identity.
The rule to remember: vary the track, not the style. Stick to the same general style (tempo, instrumentation, atmosphere) so that your callers continue to recognise your brand, even with a different track.
This principle applies particularly to periods when the venue is closed: See our guide to closure notices and holidays to combine music and a voice message at these specific times of the year.
The recording quality is just as important as the choice of track
We often focus solely on the style of music, overlooking an equally crucial factor: the quality of the recording itself. Even an excellent choice of music, when played back via a compressed file or a poor-quality recording, still comes across as amateurish.
There is a clear difference to the ear between professional-quality music and the same music played back through a smartphone speaker or an old, worn-out CD. Yet this is exactly what happens when hold music is implemented without technical rigour.
On Voconix, every track in the catalogue comes with a standardised sound level for telephony, without having to manage the compression, format or audio mix yourself.
Commercial music, royalty-free music or AI: what’s changing for your SACEM and SCPA rights
Commercial music
A well-known track (on the radio or streaming platforms). This automatically triggers SACEM and SCPA royalties, unless the work has entered the public domain (the author has been dead for more than 70 years, and the recording itself predates that).
Royalty-free music
Composed specifically outside the scope of SACEM and SCPA management. Requires a certificate issued in the service provider’s name, but no annual licence fee is payable.
AI-generated music
Composed without any identifiable human creative input. Generally falls outside SACEM’s remit, subject to recent regulatory changes.
The exact calculation of the charges depends on the number of telephone lines your business has. Our comprehensive guide to SACEM and SCPA rights sets out the 2026 figures and the reporting procedures.
Technical compatibility: music and VoIP telephony
VoIP (Internet telephony) systems have different technical limitations to a conventional line. Music that is too complex, with a lot of bass or rich harmonics, may suffer a loss of quality due to the audio compression used by VoIP systems and IP-PBXs.
In practical terms, opt for music with relatively simple melodies, featuring predominantly mid-range frequencies rather than deep bass or very prominent treble. This is exactly the type of music already selected from a catalogue designed for business telephony, rather than general-purpose music intended for hi-fi or streaming.
The catalogue Voconix is specifically selected and optimised for telephony – whether VoIP, IPBX or a standard line – without the need for any additional technical configuration on your part.
Several lines, several services: music for every occasion
If your company has several lines or departments (general enquiries, after-sales service, accounts, etc.), there’s no need to play exactly the same music everywhere. You can give each line a slightly different atmosphere, whilst maintaining the same voice and overall tone to ensure consistency.
For example, a customer service line might benefit from a more soothing atmosphere (callers are often upset), whilst the sales line can maintain a more dynamic tone. With Voconix, each message is created independently, with no requirement for duplication across your different lines.
Create your on-hold music in 2 minutes with Voconix
With Voconix :
Choose your style
Browse over 10,000 tracks, categorised by mood and sector, already optimised for mobile use and free of SACEM/SCPA royalties.
Add a voice message if necessary
Combine your music with an information message by AI voice, to turn the waiting time into a genuine point of contact.
Check the rendering
Listen to the final mix before approving it, to make sure the volume level and the balance between vocals and music are just right.
Download and integrate
The file is ready in a matter of seconds, in a format compatible with your system. Reuse the same music to ensure consistency across pre-hook, IVR and answering machine.
Voconix
Don’t leave it to chance to choose your on-hold music any longer
Over 10,000 tracks optimised for mobile phones, free of SACEM and SCPA royalties, and compatible with an AI voice. First message free, no credit card required.
Choose my on-hold music for freeFAQ: On-hold music
What is the difference between hold music and a telephone on-hold message?
On-hold music consists solely of background music. An on-hold message adds a spoken announcement (opening hours, services, news). Both can be combined in a single file, as permitted by Voconix.
Why should you avoid using a song that’s too well-known for your phone’s hold music?
A well-known song title draws attention to itself rather than to your brand, and may seem out of place depending on your sector. An original style that is consistent with your brand image is always preferable to a trendy hit.
What is "lift music"?
It is a term used to describe repetitive, old-fashioned background music, such as a generic version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Often associated with waiting rooms and shopping centres, it is perceived as old-fashioned and forgettable.
What sort of music should I choose depending on my line of business?
A classic, understated style is suitable for the legal and financial sectors; a calm, understated atmosphere suits the healthcare sector; and a more dynamic style is appropriate for the commercial and industrial sectors. Please refer to the detailed table further up this page, depending on your sector.
Does the quality of the recording really make a difference?
Yes: 64% of French people believe that the audio quality of a hold music track has a positive impact on a company’s image. Even a good choice of music that has been poorly recorded (compressed file, poor source) still gives an amateurish impression.
Do I have to pay royalties for my on-hold music?
It depends on the type of music chosen: commercial (SACEM/SCPA royalties payable), royalty-free (certificate required, no royalties payable), or AI-generated. Our dedicated guide sets out the exact amounts and procedures.
Is all music compatible with VoIP telephony?
No, music with deep bass or very rich frequencies can suffer a loss of quality during VoIP compression. A catalogue designed specifically for telephony avoids this problem.
Can I use the same music for my voicemail and on-hold music?
Yes, it’s actually recommended to ensure the consistency of your sound identity. Reuse the same style on pre-hook, waiting, IVR and answering machine.
Should you change your on-hold music regularly?
It doesn’t necessarily have to be the overall style, but you can adapt it from time to time for a particular season or event, whilst staying within the same sound palette to maintain a recognisable identity.
How do I create my on-hold music with Voconix?
Choose a style from over 10,000 ringtones optimised for mobile phones, add a voice message if required, listen to a preview, then download the file, ready to integrate into your switchboard. All in under 2 minutes at https://voconix.fr/.
