Deacon Blue star in row with firm using song as hold music

Deacon Blue star Ricky Ross has blasted Scottish Power for using one of the band’s songs as its hold music.

The singer asked the energy supplier to stop playing Dignity to callers waiting to speak to customer service advisers.

The row came after a customer complained that hearing the song on a loop while she was on hold was driving her around the bend.

Ross, 62, said the Glasgow-based firm did not have permission to play the track.

The Dundee-born frontman and radio broadcaster was alerted by Scottish folk singer Iona Fyfe.

She wrote on Twitter: “I’ve been onto @Scottishpower literally since 11am this morning and I swear if I hear Ship Called Dignity ONCE more, I shall flip my lid.”

Ross replied: “They don’t have permission. So @Scottishpower gonna no dae that!”

He added: “No one wants their music used as ‘hold’ music. It’s not about money.”

However, Scottish Power insisted they did have permission to play the song as they held public music licences which cover the use of hold music.

In a response to Ross littered with Deacon Blue song puns, they said: “Hi Ricky, we almost lost our ‘dignity’ there but we have ‘the very thing’ we need… our PPL and PRS licences to cover the use of the music on hold!

“Our customers tell us regularly that they love hearing your song but if it’s ‘closing time’ we’ll make sure it’s ‘real gone kid’!”

An unamused Ross replied: “I’d be very pleased if you used none and just answered your customers.”

Other customers of the company have complained on Twitter that constantly hearing the song when they phone for help has ruined their love for it.

Dignity was first released by Deacon Blue in 1987 and is one of the band’s most popular songs.

PPL and PRS for Music both license the use of music and collect royalties on behalf of songwriters, performers and record companies.