Apple Music has introduced a redesigned brand identity built around the idea of turning sound into a visual experience. Announced on October 21, 2026, the refresh includes a new visual style, an updated wordmark, a redesigned musical-note symbol and an original audio signature created in collaboration with British music producer Fred again.. and his creative partner, NEST Acoustics.
The new identity moves away from the streaming service's familiar red-dominated branding towards a black-and-white visual approach, complemented by fluid shapes, light reflections and glass-like effects. The design draws inspiration from Apple's Liquid Glass design language, bringing a more dynamic appearance to the service's wider brand presentation.
Rather than relying entirely on computer-generated graphics, the creative team used physical experiments with sound and liquid to develop the visual elements. The result connects the platform's identity directly to the movement and vibrations produced by music.
How Apple Music Turned Sound Into a Visual Design
The central idea behind the redesign was to make music visible through physical movement. The creative team developed an original musical composition and used equipment capable of translating audio frequencies into vibrations.
These vibrations were transmitted into a shallow container filled with mineral oil. As different notes played, the liquid responded with ripples and shifting patterns that altered the appearance of objects beneath its surface.
The resulting movements and light refractions were recorded on camera and used to shape the new visual identity. This process allowed the designers to capture patterns created by actual sound waves rather than simply simulating the effect through animation.
The project required months of experimentation, with the team testing different frequencies, materials and visual arrangements before settling on the final design.
The approach gives the new identity a direct connection to music itself: the shapes and distortions seen in the branding originate from the physical effects of sound.
Fred Again.. and NEST Acoustics Help Create the Audio Signature
Apple Music collaborated with Fred again.. and NEST Acoustics to develop the musical composition behind the refreshed identity.
The collaborators worked with individual notes to create a short, distinctive audio sequence that could serve as the service's sonic signature. The composition was then used to generate the physical vibrations that produced the visual effects.
This audio signature is designed to complement the updated logo and establish a recognisable sound associated with Apple Music's content and experiences.
The collaboration also reflects the importance of music production in the redesign. Instead of treating audio as an addition to a finished visual logo, the team used the composition as the starting point for creating the imagery.
A behind-the-scenes film documents the process, showing how the musical sequence, physical setup and recorded footage came together to form the final identity.
New Wordmark and Musical-Note Symbol
The redesign includes changes to the Apple Music wordmark, which combines the Apple symbol with a customised version of the company's SF Pro typeface.
The lettering uses bold, lowercase forms, giving the wordmark a distinct appearance while maintaining a visual connection with Apple's broader design system.
The musical-note symbol has also been reworked using shapes inspired by the movement and refraction captured during the liquid experiments. The resulting imagery incorporates flowing contours and glass-like visual effects.
The refreshed elements are intended to work together across different formats, including promotional material, original programming and music-related events.
Liquid Glass Influence Extends Apple's Design Approach
Apple's Liquid Glass design language provides an important reference point for the new identity. Its emphasis on transparency, reflections and layered visual effects complements the rippling patterns developed for Apple Music.
The redesign gives the music service a more expressive visual character while retaining elements associated with Apple's wider branding.
The updated identity had been previewed earlier in connection with Apple Music Hall, the company's live music venue in London. The official announcement now establishes the broader direction for the service's branding.
Rollout Across Apple Music Experiences
The refreshed identity is beginning to appear across Apple Music's original content and event programming, with wider use planned across its marketing, products and experiences.
The changes extend beyond a new app icon or logo, introducing a coordinated visual and audio system intended to make the service more recognisable wherever its content appears.
By building the design around physical sound waves, Apple Music has linked its branding to the medium at the centre of its business. The rollout will show how consistently the new identity is adopted across the platform's different experiences.
