The Importance of Music for Brand Identity

Music and branding

The Power of Music in Branding

Music has a way of reaching deep into our emotions, acting as a bridge between a brand and its audience. It isn’t just something to listen to—it shapes how we perceive and connect with a brand, often even more than visuals or words. Consider how certain jingles instantly make you think of specific products, or how background music in an ad sets the tone for the entire story. That’s the magic of sonic branding.

From happy tunes that put a smile on your face to mellow melodies that evoke a sense of calm, music influences mood, behaviour, and brand perception. Brands like McDonald’s, with their catchy “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle, or Netflix’s iconic “Ta-Dum” sound, have harnessed music’s power to become instantly recognisable. These brands have turned simple sounds into what’s called “earworms”—tunes that stick in your head and play over and over, creating strong emotional connections.

And it’s not just about the jingles. Music plays a role in setting a brand’s personality, whether that’s upbeat and youthful or calm and sophisticated. The right choice of music can enhance storytelling, leaving a lasting impression on your audience. Think of the way Coca-Cola uses music to celebrate happiness and sharing—it’s all about creating a feel-good moment that resonates with their brand values.

Key Takeaways

  • Emotional Impact: Music creates an emotional connection between a brand and its audience, influencing mood and brand perception.
  • Memorability: Catchy jingles or sound logos, like McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It,” make brands instantly recognizable and unforgettable.
  • Brand Personality: Music helps convey a brand’s identity, from playful and youthful to calm and sophisticated, through carefully selected genres and tones.
  • Consistency: Maintaining a consistent sound across all platforms builds brand familiarity and trust.
  • Storytelling Enhancement: Music enhances storytelling by setting the mood and helping brands connect with their audience on a deeper emotional level.

Music as a Key Element of Brand Identity

custom theme tune

Earworms are powerful branding tools. Whether it’s a jingle you hum while brushing your teeth or a theme tune you can’t help but remember from your childhood, these melodies make brands stick in your mind. It’s not a coincidence; it’s a carefully designed strategy that aligns music with brand identity. Here at Happydesigner, we know how to create these memorable, bespoke musical experiences to help your brand stand out.

Brands are like people—they have their own personalities. Music helps to convey these personalities through a selection of genres, tempos, and tones. A luxury brand might lean towards classical tunes, conveying elegance and sophistication, while a brand targeting kids and families might use upbeat, playful music to capture a sense of fun and adventure. For example, Happydesigner creates bespoke theme tunes for children’s books, theatre productions, and animations. 

Each tune is crafted to match the story’s feel, setting the right emotional tone.

But remember—consistency is key. Just like your brand colours and logo are used consistently across platforms, your musical branding should be cohesive, too. The same tune can be adapted to different formats, such as short clips for social media or extended versions for promotional videos. A consistent brand sound builds familiarity and trust.

When we craft music for a brand, our aim is to ensure it fits seamlessly with the brand’s message and values. We consider every detail, from the story you want to tell to the audience you want to reach, creating something unique to your brand that’s not only catchy but also speaks to the heart of your brand’s personality.

childrens illustrator

Creating a Bespoke Brand Sound

The process of creating music for a brand is more than just picking a tune—it’s about creating a bespoke experience that fits your brand like a glove. At Happydesigner, we’re all about helping you find that perfect sound. Barry, our resident music maestro, uses his vast experience as a professional musician, producer, and songwriter to bring your brand’s story to life through music.

The Journey to Your Tune

Whether you’re looking for a short intro tune to accompany your social media posts or a full-fledged composition for an animation or theatre production, the journey to your perfect sound starts with understanding your brand. We’ll talk about what makes your brand special, the emotions you want to evoke, and the audience you want to connect with.

From there, Barry crafts a basic tune for you to listen to. We love working with feedback! This collaboration ensures that we’re heading in the right direction, with up to three stages of revisions to refine the tune based on your thoughts. Once we’ve got the base just right, we move to the next stage, adding instrumentation and layering sounds until we have a polished and captivating tune that’s uniquely yours.

But what if you don’t have a specific tune in mind? No problem! Just let us know the style or mood you want, and perhaps share a few favourite theme tunes as inspiration. We’ll use that guidance to create a sound that’s perfect for your brand.

How You Can Use Your Tune

A bespoke tune is like your brand’s musical fingerprint. You can use it to elevate your storytelling—play it in the background while reading a story to your little ones or as a captivating backdrop for your social media content. If you’re planning to publish a book, your tune can be used across your promotional material, like animated videos or audiobooks, helping your work to stand out from the crowd. And who knows? If your book gets turned into a series or film, your very own theme tune could become the next big hit!

Our services don’t stop there. Whether you need sound effects for audiobooks, background tunes for animations, or even music for theatre productions, we’ve got you covered. We strive to make the process as fun and straightforward as possible, so you can enjoy the journey of bringing your brand to life through music.

childrens book illustrator

Practical Tips for Incorporating Music into Your Brand

Incorporating music into your brand doesn’t have to be complex! Here are some tips to help you get started:

  • Understand Your Brand’s Personality: Identify the emotions and feelings you want to evoke. Are you fun and playful, or calm and sophisticated? Your brand’s personality should guide your musical choices.
  • Think About Your Audience: What kind of music will resonate with them? Upbeat and catchy for a young audience, or classical and soothing for an older demographic? Make sure the music fits your target market.
  • Test Your Tune: Once you’ve got a tune, test it on a sample audience. How does it make them feel? Does it align with how you want your brand to be perceived?
  • Consistency is Key: Use the same music across all brand platforms to build recognition. Whether it’s for your social media videos, website, or live events, make sure your sound remains consistent.

Happydesigner’s Approach to Music and Brand Consistency

At Happydesigner, we offer a full suite of music services to help you find your brand’s unique sound. From short, catchy intros to full theme tunes, sound effects, and more complex compositions, our process is designed to be as enjoyable as it is effective.

How We Craft the Perfect Tune

Our approach is simple and collaborative. It starts with a conversation about your brand and ends with a bespoke piece of music that reflects your values and vision. Every step is tailored to make sure the final product feels right for you.

No matter how big or small your project is, we’ll guide you through each stage. And for more complex projects, like theatre productions or animations with multiple tunes, we’ll create a bespoke package to make sure your brand’s music hits all the right notes.

FAQ Section

Why is music important in branding?

Music evokes emotions and helps audiences remember your brand. It creates an emotional connection and leaves a lasting impression.

How can bespoke music benefit my brand?

Bespoke music personalises your brand, making it more memorable and setting the right tone for storytelling and audience engagement.

Can Happydesigner provide music for social media and theatre productions?

Absolutely! We create short intros, full compositions, and soundtracks for various media, tailored to fit your brand and story.

Conclusion: Music for Brand Identity

Music is more than just a nice sound—it’s an emotional experience that enhances your brand’s identity and storytelling. Whether you want to make people smile, laugh, or even shed a tear, music is the way to do it. And with the right approach, it can become an unforgettable part of your brand’s story.

At Happydesigner, we’re dedicated to bringing your brand to life through bespoke music that’s unique, memorable, and perfectly tailored to your vision. So whether you’re looking to create an earworm of a jingle, a theme tune for your book, or a captivating background score for your theatre production, we’re here to help every step of the way.

Bring your creative vision to life with custom illustrations, logo and brand design, bespoke music compositions, and more from Happydesigner’s blog for inspiration!

Further Reading

To dive deeper into the importance of music in branding and its role in crafting brand identities, here are some articles and resources for further reading:

  • Enhance Brand Identity with Music: Expert Guide – This article explains how music can enhance brand identity by creating emotional connections with the audience, shaping brand perceptions, and ensuring brand consistency. It also discusses legal considerations such as music licensing for corporate videos and how to select the right soundtrack that aligns with the brand’s values and target audience.
  • How to Choose Music for Your Brand: A Guide for Marketers – This guide walks marketers through the process of selecting the right music for their brand, considering factors such as brand identity, target audience, and desired emotional impact. It highlights the importance of aligning the genre and tone of music with the brand’s personality to create a lasting connection with consumers.

Some of our previous clients

happydesigner clients