On Hold Messaging: Recorded audio messages that play over the telephone as people wait on hold when calling a business. On hold messages may be informational, educational, or purely for entertainment purposes, but in all cases they are meant to make the callers’ on-hold experience more pleasant. Many businesses record their on hold messages in house, without the benefit of professional production elements like music and professional voice-over talent. Businesses that want a more polished presentation, however—one that reflects their brand identity and is aligned with their broader branding efforts—will typically outsource their on hold messaging production to their audio branding agency.