UK retail giant Marks and Spencer switches off music in 300 shops

MUSIC lovers look away. A major department store has sparked controversy by switching off music in shops, and some want restaurants and pubs to follow suit.

UK retail giant Marks & Spencer has switched off music in shops, but should others follow suit? Picture: CARL COURT

MUSIC-LOVERS, look away.

UK retail-giant Marks and Spencer has delivered a death knell for fans of Jack Johnson and ageing boy bands by announcing they will switch off their in-store music to allow people to shop in peace.

Silence has already descended across 300 of the brand’s clothing and homeware stores across the UK.

A spokesman for the company said it's in response to customer feedback that showed an aversion to the pre-recorded or “piped music” dominating the in-store environment.

“We’re focused on putting the customer at the heart of everything we do, this decision is the result of extensive research and feedback from our customers and colleagues,” he said.

It comes after a disappointing 2015/16 for the iconic company where sales in the homeware and clothing department was deemed “unsatisfactory.”

Lobby group Pipedown, which wants prerecorded music banned across restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals qand pubs has welcomed the move.

“Millions of customers will be delighted by this news. So will thousands, probably tens of thousands, of people working in M&S who have had to tolerate non-stop music not of their choice all day for years,” a statement on their website said.

The group has persuaded Gatwick Airport to switch off music from public places and is currently calling for an end to it in doctor’s waiting rooms and hospitals.

“In waiting rooms, such noise often causes stress and anxiety to people who are already at their most anxious. Forcing people to suffer in this way as a condition of receiving medical help is unethical,” reads a petition online.

The group is set to team up with charity Action on Hearing Loss to eliminate music from restaurants, cafes and pubs, which they say makes conversations difficult and leads to confusion.

Some customers have welcomed the news online, saying they were “delighted” at not having elevator tunes forced upon them.

@BandQ Have you noticed that M&S are switching off their piped music ? I avoid you now ( easy ) because of the dreadful racket forced on me.

— Paul Sherratt (@globaljukeboxer) June 2, 2016

Excellent move by M&S to turn off the bland. generic pop music in its stores! This will put sales up IMO. https://t.co/hfuR41oB3q

— Julian Treasure (@juliantreasure) June 1, 2016

M&S to stop playing music in major stores https://t.co/l5ePFtjU9s how wonderful. A small step for mankind @marksandspencer

— lucie skeaping (@lucieskeaping) June 1, 2016

Peace at last... M&S vows to cut out in-store piped music https://t.co/eYcIs1kWeV via @MailOnlineThank God about time too.

— Michael Reeves (@MickreReal) June 1, 2016

Delighted with M&S for becoming muzac-free. Few people love background music, many hate it.

— Ralph Allwood (@ralphallwood) June 1, 2016

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