Christmas seems to come earlier every year – or at least the marketing and advertising frenzy that precedes it. Festive madness is becoming even more all-conquering since the arrival of Black Friday in the UK, but how has the way Brits shop and think about Christmas changed?

Great audio logos can work as branded signifiers - and the subtleties of sound are increasingly being incorporated into products, too. But how much noise is too much? Are there really any benefits to owning a microwave with its own soundtrack?

Hearing different genres of background music can affect purchasing in various ways, but British retailer Marks & Spencer has opted to remove it from its shop floors altogether. Can the decision really influence sales? And if so, will it be for the better?

New research shows that multisensory information like sound, shape and colour can influence how much someone enjoys their drink. As brands look for new ways to appeal to today’s experience-hunting consumer, they may want to consider how their next beverage sounds.