An internationally-renowned personal trainer sued the luxury health club where he worked for age discrimination - because they refused to play music that was recorded more than 18 months ago.
Fitzroy Gaynes, 64, started working part-time as a personal trainer at London health club chain Third Space in April 2001 having enjoyed a 'long and successful' career with an 'international reputation' in fitness, an employment tribunal heard.
His employers were described as a 'cutting edge' and 'modern' organisation for whom image and presentation had become an 'increasing priority'.
The central London hearing was told this was emphasised by its Music Brand Standards Policy which stipulated that any music played in the club must have been produced and released in the last 18 months.
There was no bar on playing 'old' music, as long as it was a recent recording or a recent remix, the hearing was told.
Mr Gaynes, who said he does not listen to Radio One or go clubbing, complained that the gym's policy put him at a disadvantage, claiming that he and was being discriminated against by his employers' refusal to play older music.
But his claim was thrown out by an employment tribunal on December 20 last year after the club - where membership costs more than £200 a month - argued that tracks recorded 'years ago' just don't sound as good when played through their sound systems.
Fitzroy Gaynes, 64, started working part-time as personal trainer at London health club chain Third Space in April 2001 and has developed an 'international reputation in his field', an employment tribunal heard
Mr Gaynes, who said he does not listen to Radio One or go clubbing, complained that the gym's policy put him at a disadvantage, claiming that he and was being discriminated against by his employers' refusal to play older music
Antony Stewart, Head of Group Exercise, who has a background in the music industry, told the tribunal that modern music simply sounded better than tracks recorded in the past.
'Music production has advanced significantly and with time this has meant that songs that were produced years ago do not sound as good when played on new sound systems in comparison to new music which has been produced and designed to be played with the current technology,' he said.
'This is one of the reasons why we request that songs that are used are no older than
