Abstract: Message management methods and apparatus for managing messages in a multi-message audio recording and playback system with a memory device having first and second storage ends comprising storing successive messages sequentially in the memory device, allowing the controllable erasing of only the oldest message or the newest message still stored in the memory device, the erasing of messages freeing respective parts of the memory device for the recording of further messages, and when reaching the first end of the memory device while recording a message, continuing to record the message starting at the first end of the memory device.