Tune, if popular, good thing to improve the atmosphere (3,12)

I believe the answer is:

air conditioning

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'thing to improve the atmosphere' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'tune if popular good' is the wordplay.
'tune' becomes 'air' (air can mean a piece of music).
'if' becomes 'condition' (eg a 'big if' is a condition).
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'good' becomes 'g' (abbreviation).
'air'+'condition'+'in'+'g'='AIR-CONDITIONING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for air conditioning that I've seen before include "Publicity about health" , "regulation of atmosphere" , "Restaurant may have it" , "Environmental control system" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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