News & Press

SAM World Leader Winter 2026 featured projects

What’s new from The World Leader in Sonic Branding – Winter 2026

Our team at SAM has been busy with a wide range of exciting projects — creating custom music and sound for advertising, sports, news, experiences, and lots more, as well as syncing fresh tracks from The Vault, our premium production music library. Here’s a rundown of what we’ve been up to lately. TGL Golf Season 2 – Sonic Identity Founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports in partnership […]

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SAM’s New Studio Mural by Andrea Holmes

To commemorate our new studios, SAM commissioned local McKinney artist and fellow Cotton Mill tenant, Andrea Holmes, to paint an original mural depicting inspiration from our 30+ years of experience creating world-leading sonic brands. Andrea is the preeminent mural artist in North Texas having painted countless pieces across the region. From concept to creation, it was exciting to watch the artwork come to life across the month-long process. Every aspect […]

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AINSOF’s Realm-Defining Music Catalog Joins The Vault

Step into a new realm of emotional storytelling with AINSOF, the groundbreaking music catalog from Stephen Arnold Music and The Vault. Featuring more than 30 albums and 1,500 tracks, AINSOF delivers a vast spectrum of cinematic sound perfectly crafted for trailers, television, promos, advertising, digital content, gaming, and beyond. This collection has been meticulously built for today’s creators – and is now available in the US for the very first […]

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The State of Sonic 2026: Trends in Sonic Branding

Sound is finding its way into every facet of the brand experience, giving sonic branding plenty of runway as we launch into 2026. Last year, we identified personalization and authenticity as top trends to keep an ear on – and they’re still very much in play. But in 2026, it’s about crafting sonic brands that scale and feel unmistakably human. Here are our top 5 trends shaping how brands will […]

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digital glitch girl wearing headphones, happy sad smiley face wallpaper in the background

Good Commercial Music Targets Emotions – AI Music Is Bad at That

In her article ChatGPT Needs More Cowbell (Source: The Atlantic) – Nancy Walecki describes the history of jingles and the influence that human creativity has on emotional response. The piece centers on the idea that great commercial music – the kind that gets stuck in our heads – is built on crafting catchy, pop-like mnemonics, but also a willingness to take musical risks, which humans are more prone to do […]

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a snowman wearing headphones

How Sound Shapes Holiday Storytelling for Brands

The holidays are one of the most inspirational times of the year – and if you’re a marketer, also one of the most stressful. Whether you’re creating ads, social content, immersive experiences, entertainment or broadcast themes, it’s a tough time to get the attention of your audience. As always, audio is a big part of the decision, but in a world where everything has been done, how do brands make […]

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AI robot playing keyboards

The One Thing AI Music Can’t Do

AI is helping us reconnect with music, though not in the way you might think. It’s not the speed or pristine songwriting, composition, and production that’s redefining our relationship with it. It’s what AI can’t offer that’s reminding listeners of what they truly love about music – and perhaps what will ultimately keep the technology from replacing musicians altogether. AI & Artistry For the past few years, SAM has been […]

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Stephen Arnold Music (SAM) Creates New Orleans Style Sonic Branding for Gray Media’s Pelicans Broadcasts

DALLAS—October 29, 2025— Stephen Arnold Music (SAM) has created sonic branding and custom music for Gray Media’s slate of New Orleans Pelicans NBA basketball broadcasts. The music package builds upon SAM’s previous collaboration with Gray Media for its sports programming, including Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball coverage, extending Gray Media’s cohesive sports identity while capturing the unmistakable spirit and sound of New Orleans. The three-minute theme was recorded live in […]

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International Sonic Branding: Custom Music for Global Brands

For over three decades, we’ve had the pleasure of crafting unforgettable sonic identities and custom music for many of the world’s top international brands, and we’re continuing to amp things up! From distinctive sonic identities for major news and television networks, to sonic logos for worldwide corporations and entertainment groups, to brand themes for global festivals, our creative team strives to emotionally connect audiences with brands across every platform. Take […]

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motion blurred image of a man covering his ears in a busy noisy city

Shhh: How Noise Pollution Affects Sonic Brand

From city traffic to airplanes to handheld devices, the world today makes a lot of noise, and it’s not all good. In urban environments, people often experience extended periods of excessive noise levels – above 90 dB – which can lead to serious health risks. Noise reduction efforts are underway in many of the world’s most populated cities, and as a sound creation agency, we at SAM felt it important […]

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