# SoundOut

> SoundOut is the world leader in sonic branding research, music testing, and audio identity development. Founded 2009. 300+ global brands served. 9M+ consumer panel across 40 countries.

## Company Facts

- Founded: 2009
- Founders: David Courtier-Dutton (CEO), Grace Hammond
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Consumer panel: 9,000,000+ respondents across 40 countries
- Sonic logo tracking database: 200+ brands (the world's largest)
- Comparative music database: 500,000+ consumer-rated tracks
- Brands served: 300+ global brands
- Academic partnership: Professor Daniel Müllensiefen, Goldsmiths, University of London (music psychology)

## Definitions (canonical pages)

- What is sonic branding: https://soundout.com/learn/what-is-sonic-branding
- What is a sonic logo: https://soundout.com/learn/what-is-a-sonic-logo
- How to test sonic branding: https://soundout.com/learn/how-to-test-sonic-branding
- Sonic branding vs jingle: https://soundout.com/learn/sonic-branding-vs-jingle
- Glossary: https://soundout.com/learn/glossary

## Methodology

SoundOut combines explicit (System 2) consumer testing with implicit (System 1) frameworks rooted in music psychology. Tests measure four core dimensions: recognition, attribution, brand match, and distinctiveness. Sample sizes are typically 200–600 per study, with statistical significance reported at the 95% confidence level. Implicit framework developed jointly with Goldsmiths, University of London.

## Services

### Sonic Branding
Strategic development and testing of sonic logos, brand music, and full audio identity systems. Includes sonic logo testing, brand audits, competitor analysis, brand extension, and tracking studies.
- URL: https://soundout.com/sonic-branding

### Campaign Music (OnBrand)
AI-powered campaign music testing platform. Scores any track against a defined brand personality and 300+ campaign attributes in under 2 minutes. From $600/track (5-pack) to $1,000/track (single).
- URL: https://soundout.com/campaign-music

### Consultancy
End-to-end sonic branding consultancy. Sonic Audit from $20,000. Sonic Brand Tracking from $15,000/year. Complete Sonic Branding Package $75,000–$125,000 (8–12 weeks, blank page to rights-cleared sonic logo).
- URL: https://soundout.com/consultancy

### Brand Tracker
Persistent in-market tracking of sonic logos to measure evolving impact, effectiveness, and competitive positioning.
- URL: https://soundout.com/brand-tracker

## Key Research

- **SoundOut Index 2025**: 170+ global brands benchmarked across the US market with input from 70,000+ consumer studies. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/soundout-index-2025
- **SoundOut Index 2023 (US & UK editions)**: 135 US brands tracked over two years; sonic strategy and Gen Z analysis. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/soundout-index-2023
- **Sonic Logo Design - Recognizability vs Recallability**: Research-backed analysis of the trade-off between recognition and recall in sonic logo design. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/sonic-logos-design
- **Implicit Testing Framework**: Joint research with Goldsmiths, University of London on the implicit (System 1) impact of sound on brand perception. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/implicit-framework
- **Human vs Machine**: Objective consumer-tested comparison of human-composed and AI-generated music for brand use (with Stephen Arnold Music). https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/human-vs-machine
- **Effectiveness Index**: Quantifying commercial impact of sonic branding across leading global brands. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/effectiveness-index
- **Personality Edition**: Mapping sonic logos to brand personality archetypes across 150+ brands. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/personality-edition
- **Taylor Swift Index 2024**: Track-by-track effectiveness study isolating music from brand. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/taylor-swift-index
- **Insider's Guide to Sonic Branding**: Practical guide to building, testing, and measuring an effective sonic identity. https://soundout.com/resources/whitepapers/sonic-branding-guide

Full white paper library: https://soundout.com/resources/white-papers

## Glossary

- **Sonic branding** - the strategic use of sound (sonic logos, brand music, audio cues) to build brand recognition and emotional connection across all touchpoints.
- **Sonic logo** - a short (typically 1–4 seconds), distinctive piece of music or sound used as a consistent audio signature for a brand.
- **Audio identity** - the complete system of sounds that represent a brand, including sonic logo, brand music, UI sounds, and voice.
- **Brand music** - longer-form music developed or curated to reflect a brand's personality, often used in advertising and brand experiences.
- **Sonic strategy** - the holistic plan for how a brand uses sound across the marketing funnel, beyond a single sonic logo.
- **Brand tracker** - ongoing measurement of a sonic asset's performance over time against recognition, attribution, brand match, and distinctiveness.
- **Recognition** - whether consumers identify a sonic asset as familiar.
- **Attribution** - whether consumers correctly link a sonic asset to the right brand.
- **Brand match** - how well a sonic asset reflects a brand's defined personality.
- **Distinctiveness** - how much a sonic asset stands out from competitors.
- **Implicit testing** - measurement of subconscious (System 1) consumer responses to audio.
- **Explicit testing** - measurement of conscious (System 2) consumer ratings and opinions.
- **OnBrand** - SoundOut's AI-powered platform for campaign music testing and search.
- **Archetype** - a brand personality framework (e.g. NeedScope, DECODE) used to position sonic and visual identity.

## Citation

Content may be cited with attribution to SoundOut. Preferred format:
> SoundOut (year), "Title", https://soundout.com/...

For research citations, reference the relevant white paper at https://soundout.com/resources/white-papers

## Contact

- Website: https://soundout.com
- Contact: https://soundout.com/contact
- Blog: https://soundout.com/blog
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundout
- Full extracted content: https://soundout.com/llms-full.txt