Adweek — October 08, 2017

AGENCY

The new era of voice assistants and streaming services has many brands beginning to consider

not just how they’re seen, but also how they’re heard. That’s why companies like Skype, Audi

and Jim Beam have all turned to Listen, a New York-based digital agency that helps brands

think more strategically about sound. Founded in 2012, Listen is rooted in the music business,

according to founding partners Steve Milton and Brett Volker. (Milton was a musician and

composer, and Volker worked at a record label.) The team has worked with Microsoft to develop

a music and technology program, collaborating with artists including Childish Gambino on both

live and VR experiences, and is currently consulting with Virgin on how to engage with the music

industry. On the app front, Listen is helping Tinder to craft custom sounds for a user’s timeline

and notifications. “We believe in this idea of acoustic ecology,” said Milton. “We don’t want to

pollute the world with more sound. We want to design sound to be thoughtful and beautiful.”

Listen

THIS MUSIC-DRIVEN AGENCY HELPS BRANDS LIKE

MICROSOFT AND TINDER STAY IN TUNE. BY MARTY SWANT

Specs

Who

Founding partners

Brett Volker (l.)

and Steve Milton

What

Marketing agency

Where

New York

PHOTO: DREW REYNOLDS

ADWEEK | OCTOBER 9, 2017 33

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