Soundbranding blog 2010 in review by wordpress

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

Healthy blog!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

Featured image

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 7,600 times in 2010. That’s about 18 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 38 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 18 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 3mb. That’s about 2 pictures per month.

The busiest day of the year was … Continue reading

Thank you!

Wuerzburg Christmas MarketNearly a year ago I started this blog with the big help of Christoph Hoffmann – thank you Christoph!

We did not know what would happen we just wanted to create a platform to discuss Sound Branding issues and to help to promote this fascinating area of branding.

Now we know it has been a great year. All your comments and feedback give us the motivation to keep posting. Thank you for your input and ideas!

Just one wish: if you like this blog, please take a moment to click the like button, the sharing buttons and/or rank the post you have just read. Your feedback is my motivation to invest time in this blog.

Have a merry christmas and enjoy your holidays!                                               Karlheinz Illner

Term 7: Sound Identity

Sound Identity (Sound ID) is the consistent development of a unique acoustic identity for a brand. Along the lines of the visual identity the acoustic elements are derived from the brand values and the brand positioning. The objective is to create a consistent identity with a strong recognition value. Key areas of design are: sound branding elements, soundscapes, soundmarks and brand voice.

Do you agree or disagree with this definition? Is anything missing in the definition we use? Please post your ideas in the comments section.

Give it some heat!

I just came across this TV commercial which I would like to share with you. It’s from the BC Lions football team and it’s already from the year 2004 but it’s a great example how you can make a great spot without music, however; with a great voice character and a sound at the end which could be part of a unique Sound Branding (Do you feel the impact when suddenly the cheering kicks in?). Enjoy it!

Sound Art: NYC’s High Line or the subtle way of Sound Branding

Ryan Francis, a Juilliard School of Music graduate, has composed  an ode to the city’s elevated train track, the High Line, which opened to great acclaim last year. The High Line, his winning composition in a prize sponsored by LVMH and the American Composer’s Orchestra to create a Greener New York City-inspired sonic branding for the park.

How did Francis create the aural experience and evoke the audio essence of the High Line experience? According to the brandchannel Ryan Francis comments about his composition: ”I did … Continue reading

Audio Branding Congress 2010: Audi Sound Branding Case

Initiators of the ABB: C. Ringe, K. Bronner and Rainer HirtFirst of all thanks to the organizing team & the initiators of the Audio Branding Congress (in the front row): Cornelius Ringe, Kai Bronner and Rainer Hirt!

Again it was another fascinating get together of Audio & Sound Branding Experts, Scientists and Brand Marketeers. The second international Audio Branding Congress took place in Hamburg, Germany, last Friday the 8th of November 2010.

One of the highlights was the presentation of the Audi Sound Branding case. However, and for me surprisingly, this case was discussed quite controversial after the presentation and especially at the get together party in the evening. Critics argue that the new Audi sound branding is missing a clear and memorable theme which is implemented in all commercials. At the moment the core elements of the Audi Sound Branding are: 10 instruments with a “unique” sound character, a motif and elements of the Sound Logo. These elements can be “re-arranged” by the individual musicians. They call it “Audi sound studio”.

Ms Margarita Bochmann, from Audi AG, agreed … Continue reading

Is music the international language?

When working on international Sound Branding projects clients often ask me whether music is international and can be used all over the world. So far to me classical, pop and Hollywood film music can be titled as international music which will be understood nearly all over the world. Nevertheless to be on the safe side on a Sound Branding project which is to be implemented worldwide local market research is the only safe way to go. You can imagine that the budget for such a research project is sky high.

So I am happy for every little piece of information about the recognition of music in an international setting, as academic research is limited. Now we have some more insights regarding this issue. It has long been debated which aspects of music perception are universal and which are developed only after exposure to a specific musical culture.

In a crosscultural study with participants from a native African population (Mafa) and Western participants results show that basic emotions in Western music can be recognized universally (Academic article: ”Universal recognition of three basic emotions in music” Current BiologyVolume 19, Issue 7, 573-576, 19 March 2009).

In a first step the international researcher team … Continue reading