Robert Key sponsors Ten Minute Rule Bill.
The broadcasting of recorded music in public places

Robert Key MP (Salisbury) is sponsoring a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the House of Commons at 3.30 pm on Wednesday 15th March which will aim to restrict the indiscriminate broadcasting of music in public places.

Robert Key said, "Do you dislike piped music (otherwise known as 'Muzac', canned music etc)? Do you mind the way you are trapped with no chance of escape from someone else's choice of music on a 'plane, in a bus, on a train, in a restaurant or pub, during decent television programmes, in hospital or doctors' surgeries? If so, you will like this Bill."

"Piped music has an adverse effect on human health (it puts up blood pressure and depresses the immune system). More people (34%) dislike piped music than like it (30%) according to an NOP Poll in November 1998. Among people over 45, a clear majority dislike piped music. Among the 18% of people with hearing problems, 86% dislike it. Despite all the hype to the contrary, there is no impartial evidence to show that piped music increases sales by one penny (Tescos and John Lewis/Waitrose, as well as the Wetherspoon Pub Chain thrive without forcing unwanted music on their customers).

"All music is devalued if it is treated as acoustic wallpaper."

Robert Key's Bill will seek to exclude the playing of piped music in a very limited number of public places including NHS hospitals and doctors' surgeries, public swimming pools, bus and railway stations, airports and public highways. Places such as pubs, shops, restaurants and hotels are quite a different matter - because there is a choice.

Robert Key is introducing the Bill with the support of the Campaign for Freedom from Piped Music ("Pipedown") whose patrons include Alfred Brendel, Tom Konti, Antonia Fraser, Stephen Fry, Lesley Garrett, John Humphreys, Julian Lloyd Webber, Joanna Lumley, Peter Maxwell Davies, George Melly, Spike Milligan, Simon Rattle, Prunella Scales and others.

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