In a previous discussion, another Reddit user said: “It’s s— music because they won’t pay the fee to play decent music.”
To play commercially released music in stores, companies have to pay for a licence to cover the royalties, which are distributed to copyright holders by the Performing Right Society (PRS).
For those that do not want to pay for a music licence, there are services that offer royalty-free music. Asda declined to comment on whether it was using royalty-free music but said: “Any royalties paid to artists would come from the service providers, not Asda.”
In July, an online petition was launched calling on the supermarket to restore its former in-store music service.
The petition, which has garnered more than 600 signatures, said: “It is hindering concentration and causing immense stress for our Asda retail workers.
“For example, our Asda plays the same 20 songs throughout the day and I know this from working just 12 hours a week. I can’t imagine how irritating it must be for those working full-time. We are hard workers that deserve a welcoming and happy environment. Music means the world to people.
“I remember at the end of my longer shift when Born This Way by Lady Gaga would play and it uplifted my spirits and gave me a pep in my step.
“Now I leave Asda feeling worked up because I’m exhausted not only from physical work but also mentally drained from listening to whatever they’re playing now.”
The switch to royalty-free music comes as Asda’s owners seek to turn around performance while managing a large debt pile.
Asda was bought by the billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa and private equity firm TDR Capital in a £6.8bn deal in 2021 that loaded the supermarket with debt.
Performance has deteriorated since then. Asda has lost market share and sales tumbled 6pc in the 12 weeks to Aug 4, according to Kantar. Stuart Rose, Asda’s chairman, told The Telegraph last month that the supermarket’s decline had been “embarrassing”.