Sound Branding
Strategy Development
How Brands Optimize Their Communication Through Consistent Sound Worlds
Using Music – But Doing It Right
Every brand uses music. The question is: how? Many companies rely on popular songs for their campaigns or license individual tracks. Sounds like a simple solution, but it comes with a problem: The music remains interchangeable, and rarely does a consistent, cross-brand sound identity emerge.
The alternative? A Brand Sound Pool – a curated collection of brand-specific sounds that can be flexibly used across all channels. Sounds smart? It is.
Why Your Own Sound World Is Essential
Brand management means consistency. But while colors, logos, and visual worlds follow strict design guidelines, music is often chosen based on feeling or trend. The result? An acoustic patchwork that contributes little to recognition.
A Brand Sound Pool provides the solution:
- Recognition: A uniform sound promotes brand building and strengthens customer loyalty.
- Efficiency: No searching for new music, no expensive licensing for each commercial.
- Flexibility: Scalable sound worlds that adapt to different formats and channels.
- Brand Protection: Your own sound branding cannot be used by competitors – unlike popular chart hits.
Campaign Music vs. Brand Sound Pool – A Clear Duel
Using popular songs in campaigns is tempting. But with what consequences?
- No Exclusivity: A hit song belongs to no one – it can be used by another brand at any time.
- Short-lived: What's trending today might sound outdated in a year.
- High Costs, Little Control: Music rights are expensive – and often only usable for a limited time.
A Brand Sound Pool, on the other hand, remains. It grows with the brand, evolves without losing its recognition value.
How to Build a Scalable Sound Identity
- Define Sound DNA: What emotions and values should the brand convey acoustically?
- Develop Sound World: A collection of music, sound effects, and melodies that can be used for various applications.
- Integration into All Touchpoints: From social media clips to events to apps – the brand sounds the same everywhere.
- Long-term Strategy Instead of Disposable Music: The Sound Pool grows with the brand and can be adapted to new trends.
Conclusion: Understanding Sound as a Brand Building Block
Brand communication no longer works without sound. But it's not enough to simply use any music. Those who build a lasting sound identity are not only investing in better recognition value but creating real differentiation.
In short: Those who sound good, stick in memory.
Author
Christoph Groß-Fengels
Founder 42 Sounds