Retailers wake up

Britney 'drives shop staff crazy'

Almost half of those quizzed added that customers had also complained about loud in-store music driving them mad.

Almost half - it is impossible to guess what proportion of the rest have suffered uncomplainingly or have simply walked out to take their custom elsewhere.

The chances of any business, be it a shop, a hotel, an airline, whatever finding music that is going to appeal to a majority of their customers is so remote that it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to play it at headhurting volume.