Getting staff to pull the plug on canned music

sir – Francis Bown’s dislike of canned music in hotels, or restaurants (Letters, May 27) is shared by many of us. Like him, I have experienced the passiveaggressive reluctance of staff to turn it off when requested to do so.

Withdrawing patronage from such establishments is one tactic, but withdrawal rarely wins battles. My view is that we should keep asking for music to be turned off in the hope that the better hoteliers and restaurateurs will begin to realise that dislike of canned music is widespread.

I sometimes also suggest how much better live music would be. Not only would this give employment to those legions of excellent impoverished musicians who are looking for work, but it would return many hotels and restaurants to levels of taste and grandeur that they seem keen to abandon.

David Harris

Poole, Dorset

sir – I heartily agree with Mr Bown about the nuisance of canned music in public areas.

Generations of people now seem unable to function without background noise, even when studying. The prevalence of “air buds” and similar gadgets signals the demise of any appreciation of peace and quiet. No wonder everyone is so stressed.

Sylvia Knowles

Burgess Hill, West Sussex

sir – Some time ago, canned music was introduced in the lounge bar of our local pub in Totnes.

Three elderly gentlemen, who held “parliament” there in the early evening, simply pulled the wires out of the speakers when the landlord refused to turn it off.

There was no more canned music in that bar for several years.

Ian Franklin

Totnes, Devon