On Hold Music Formats

On Hold Music comes in a dizzying array of formats. Digital music on hold can be provided as wav or mp3 files, audio cds, or even tapes. Most digital music on hold formats such as wav are provided as music on hold downloads. If you are not implementing music and messages on hold (with custom voiceovers), there are other telephone music on hold options such as the radio, royalty free music on hold and other supposedly free music on hold options.

What on hold music format you ultimately choose is often dictated by your particular on hold system and whatever music on hold equipment you are using for your music and messages on hold. Going with just music on hold (without messages) works for some companies, although you lose many of the benefits you get from having custom voiceover on your on hold system. Radio music on hold is used by many. . . usually illegally. We’ll dive into some of the music licensing issues in the page on radio on hold, and royalty free music on hold.

Since the many on hold music formats can be very confusing, we will detail each with some plain English details on when and how they are used. Still have more music on hold questions not covered on our site? Visit our “Ask The Music On Hold Expert” page and post your question online!