16 October 2022, 11:00 (PDT) Driving sound forward: Mercedes-Benz partners with Apple Music and Universal Music Group to deliver the ultimate in-car sound experience with Dolby Atmos Mercedes-Benz cars become first non-Apple devices to offer Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos from Apple Music natively in a vehicle
Gold standard of sound: World's largest music label Universal Music Group officially bases song approval process on sound quality in Mercedes Benz vehicles: approved in a Mercedes Benz
New partnership, unparalleled in the automotive industry, creates perfect harmony between hardware, sound experience, music content and streaming platform for a seamless, immersive in-car audio experience
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Mercedes Dashboard
Paris/Stuttgart. Mercedes-Benz has launched a new collaboration with Apple Music and Universal Music Group (UMG) that aims to revolutionise not only how music is created, but also how it's played back and enjoyed in the car - and beyond. Understanding that many musicians and recording artists already base their approval of a new mix of a track on how it sounds when played in a car, Mercedes Benz, Apple Music and UMG have entered a new era of in-car entertainment by establishing the in-car audio experience as the benchmark for music production and playback quality.
The new collaboration builds upon the integration of Dolby Atmos immersive audio in the optional Burmester high-end 4D and 3D sound system offered in Mercedes Benz vehicles with the latest MBUX generation. According to a recent survey, a more than 76% of car drivers say that having a realistic spatial sound is either important or rather important to them.[1]
With this new audio standard, UMG are enabling their recording artists to base their song approval process on how the final mix sounds in a Mercedes Benz and introduce the seal Approved in a Mercedes Benz as a gold standard of sound. UMG additionally plans to set up a studio environment in Sindelfingen, Germany, based on its Capitol Studios' Studio C, a major global reference music studio for Dolby Atmos mixing.
For the first time available natively in a non-Apple device, the native integration of Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos from Apple Music makes music available in Dolby Atmos easily accessible for customers of Mercedes Benz and Apple Music alike. This ensures that the tracks Approved in a Mercedes Benz can be enjoyed as they are meant to be.
Cars have become one of the most frequently used music devices nowadays. While 90% of the world's population listens to music, an average person does so for 961 hours per year. Over 70% of music consumers state they listen to music mostly in a car.[2] Next to this, almost 72% of car drivers state that they cannot imagine a car ride without music, while for two out of three of the respondents, in-car sound quality is important or very important.[3]
Our collaborations with Apple Music and Universal Music Group are truly unparalleled and set a new benchmark by adding music content and platform expertise to our Dolby Atmos-capable Burmester sound system. Through this exceptional partnership, we are giving our customers the extraordinary in-car audio experience they expect from Mercedes-Benz. Both Apple and UMG share our vision and values and, together with Dolby, we will create a seamless and unique experience for our customers. , says Ola K llenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes Benz Group AG.
While the Burmester Premium 3D sound system already offers a supreme listening experience, the unique Burmester High-End 4D sound system uses speaker-like resonators featuring sound massage with surround speakers integrated into the seats.
The Burmester high-end 4D sound system includes:
31 speakers, including six 3D speakers that emit their sound from above, 4 near-ear speakers in the front seats, an 18.5-liter subwoofer
8 sound transducers (two per seat)
2 amplifiers
1750 watts power
Apple Music's Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos now available natively in vehicle for the first time Mercedes Benz drivers who are already subscribed to Apple Music will gain immediate access to an ever-growing selection of songs and albums available in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos[4]. The sound quality provided in Mercedes Benz vehicles makes them a natural choice as the first car manufacturer to offer Apple Music's Spatial Audio. This is corroborated by the popularity of in-car sound systems - which ranks even higher than those for stationary use: Only 12% of car drivers mentioned that the quality of a sound system at home is more important while 45% state that in the car, the quality of the sound system is more important. For 43%, both are equally important.4
Sound quality is incredibly important to Apple Music which is why we are so excited to be working with Mercedes to make Spatial Audio on Apple Music available natively in the car for the first time, said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats. Spatial Audio is revolutionizing the way artists create and fans listen to music and it's an experience that is impossible to explain in words; you have to hear it for yourself to appreciate it. Together with Mercedes, we now have even more opportunities to bring wholly immersive music to our subscribers all over the world.
Gold standard of sound - UMG artists able to approve Dolby Atmos music mixes in Mercedes Benz vehicles
As the world leader in music-based entertainment, UMG is the music company actively encouraging its artists and record labels to produce music mixed in Dolby Atmos immersive audio. As part of the agreement, Mercedes Benz will provide UMG with vehicles equipped with the Burmester high-end sound system for creative and technical assurances, with the aim for UMG to ensure
