The Future of Audio Marketing: What to Expect in 2026

Emerging Genres and Styles

Retro music: Generational favorites can provide a sense of nostalgia, especially if you’re trying to connect with an older consumer base. Synth sounds, 80s electronic and 90s pop can create a sense of energy and timelessness. Including retro sounds in your building can help create positive emotional connections with your space.

Cinematic sounds: Even if you don’t incorporate branded visual elements into your lobby or office, cinematic sounds can enhance your storytelling efforts. You can combine orchestral soundtracks and electronic elements to establish dynamic audio environments. That technique also allows you to differentiate transitions from check-ins to departures.

Spatial soundscapes: Ambient music provides a sense of calm, which can be beneficial in medical offices and wellness institutions. Spatial audio puts listeners in a three-dimensional acoustic environment that makes them feel as if sounds are coming from all around them. That immersion can be used to create sound pockets throughout your space to produce specific emotional reactions.

AI-Generated Music

From creation to editing, AI-generated audio marketing can help you produce and manipulate sounds to curate branded experiences. That includes custom playlists, audio signatures and soundscapes for lobbies and retail spaces.

It’s an experimental approach that supports accessibility, so businesses with different brand voices and styles can utilize custom music and audio.

You can use AI to:

• Generate variations of a single track or soundscape
• Blend musical genres
• Respond to environmental cues or the time of day
• Incorporate branded audio elements

It’s important to note that while AI continues to develop in scope, there are potential issues that may detract from its effectiveness. Even the best generative software can’t fully replicate the human voice. It can also produce emotionally flat audio that may not resonate with your audience. AI also uses sounds from existing music, which can raise the issue of copyright and licensing infringement.

Global Music Influences

Cultural influences allow you to cater to a diverse audience and build deep emotional connections. You could layer instruments from different cultures with spatial audio to create a musical fusion that emphasizes authenticity and inclusiveness. It can be an effective approach whether you’re trying to build trust with an audience that’s familiar with the audio or introducing new sounds to other people. Remember to be mindful of appropriation and only use cultural elements when it’s in the interest of your clients and customers.

Consider the following genre crossovers:

• African-inspired rhythms: Percussion loops and R&B elements offer subtle background beats that generate uplifting energy.
• Latin influences: Congas, bongos and steelpan add Latin flair to mainstream and electronic tracks, producing auditory vibrancy.
• East Asian textures: Strings and flutes produce a calmer listening experience. They can be layered with electronic elements to create lo-fi beats, too.

Curate a Unique Listening Experience in Your Lobby

Staying informed about trending strategies requires consistent monitoring and implementation. SensoryMax can do that legwork so you can concentrate on your business operations. Our team combines experience with experimentation to create custom soundtracks and ambient audio to support your brand personality. Learn about our audio marketing services and give us a call when you’re ready to get started.