You’ve probably sat on hold with the New York Times, Delta Airlines, or even Nasdaq and felt a weird sense of calm. Instead of the usual distorted elevator music that sounds like it’s being played through a tin can, there’s this sophisticated, jazzy saxophone melody that actually feels like real music.
That song is Harriet Goldberg My Time to Fly, and honestly, the story of how it ended up in your ear while you wait for a customer service rep is way more interesting than the song's "corporate" status suggests.
It wasn't some AI-generated stock track. It’s a piece of contemporary jazz written by a Boston-area songwriter who didn’t even start her composing career until she was in her 40s. Harriet Goldberg is basically the "queen of hold music," though she’s also a heavy hitter in the New York and Boston cabaret scenes.
What Really Happened With Harriet Goldberg My Time to Fly
Most people assume that "hold music" is just background noise purchased for five bucks from a royalty-free library. With Harriet Goldberg My Time to Fly, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The track is the title song of Goldberg’s 2011 album, which was nominated for a MAC Award (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) for Best Recording.
Harriet Goldberg didn't set out to write a song for telephone queues. She's a songwriter who channels a very specific, sophisticated 1940s "Great American Songbook" vibe. Think Sarah Vaughan or Nancy Wilson.
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The version you most likely know is the instrumental one featuring Billy Novick on the saxophone. It’s smooth, but it’s got teeth. It doesn’t just loop; it breathes.
Why corporations obsessed over this track
Why did big brands like Capital One and the New York Times latch onto this specific song?
- Psychological Pacing: The tempo of My Time to Fly is slow enough to reduce anxiety but upbeat enough to keep you from hanging up.
- High Production Value: Unlike 8-bit MIDI loops, this was recorded with world-class session musicians.
- Universality: It feels "urbane." It fits a high-end newspaper or a global stock exchange perfectly.
It’s actually become a bit of a cultural meme. There’s even a Japanese comedy show called The Tamori Club that did a whole skit about it. Imagine a bunch of comedians in Tokyo geeking out over a jazz track from a songwriter in Massachusetts because they recognized it from being on hold. Kinda wild, right?
The Secret Success of a Late-Blooming Composer
Harriet Goldberg's story is a massive win for anyone who thinks it’s too late to start something new. She didn't start composing until she was well into adulthood.
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She teamed up with Billy Novick, a legendary saxophonist and woodwind expert, to bring her melodies to life. Together, they created a sound that felt timeless. Her lyrics—performed on the vocal version of the album by artists like Dane Vannatter and Krisanthi Pappas—are romantic and witty.
But the instrumentals are where the money (and the fame) ended up.
Beyond the phone lines
The album My Time to Fly isn't the only thing she’s done, though it’s the most famous. Her songs have popped up in some pretty unexpected places:
- TV Land’s "Younger": Featured her track "We Don't Know Where We're Going."
- The CW’s "Containment": Used her song "Forget About the Moon."
- The show "Graves": Starring Nick Nolte, featured "Once Upon a Dream."
Why Harriet Goldberg My Time to Fly Still Matters
In an era where music is often treated as a disposable commodity—something an algorithm spits out to fill silence—Harriet Goldberg’s work stands out because it has a human soul.
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When you hear that saxophone line in Harriet Goldberg My Time to Fly, you're hearing decades of jazz tradition filtered through a woman who decided to pursue her passion later in life. It’s "urbane" in the best way possible. It sounds like a rainy night in a New York jazz club, even if you’re actually just trying to fix a billing error on your credit card.
Critics have often wondered why Goldberg isn't a household name alongside people like Diana Krall. Her melodies are that good. They have that "standard" feel, like they’ve existed for 80 years even though they were written in the 2000s.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers and Creators
If you’re a fan of the song or a creator looking for inspiration, here’s how to actually engage with this legacy:
- Listen to the Vocal Version: If you've only heard the hold music, go find the version with Dane Vannatter. The lyrics give the melody a completely different emotional weight.
- Study the "Hold Music" Phenomenon: If you're a musician, look at how Goldberg licensed her work. It’s a masterclass in how "functional music" can provide a steady stream of royalties while still maintaining artistic integrity.
- Support Local Cabaret: Goldberg is a staple of the Boston and New York cabaret scenes. These venues are where this kind of sophisticated songwriting lives and breathes.
- Don't Wait: Use Harriet's career as a blueprint. If you have a melody in your head at 45 or 55, write it down. The world might end up listening to it while they wait for their flight to be rebooked.
The next time you’re stuck on a call for 20 minutes, don't put the phone on speaker and walk away. Listen to the phrasing of the sax. Listen to the way the harmony shifts. You’re listening to a MAC Award-nominated piece of art that just happened to become the soundtrack of modern patience.
To truly appreciate the depth of her work, seek out the full My Time to Fly album rather than just the single. It provides a much broader context for her songwriting style, ranging from bossa nova to swing, proving that "hold music" is just one small, accidental part of a much larger creative journey.