The impact of the sonic logo’s acoustic features on orienting responses, emotions and brand personality transmission

Lluis Mas*, Paul Bolls, Emma Rodero, Miguel Barreda Angeles, Ashley Churchill

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine how sonic logo’s acoustic features (intensity, pitch and pace) based on melodic tunes with no voice orient the response of consumers, attract attention, elicit levels of pleasantness and calmness and transmit brand personality traits. Design/methodology/approach: A within-subject experimental factorial design is applied to measure emotional arousal (indexed as electrodermal activity) and enhancement on perceptual processing (indexed as heart rate), as well as self-reported factors, namely, calmness/excitement, pleasantness and brand personality scales. Findings: Results show a significant increase on electrodermal activity associated with fast-paced sonic logos and a decrease in heart rate in slow-paced long sonic logos. Also, fade-up, pitch-ascending fast sonic logos are defined as more exciting and descending-pitch sonic logos as more pleasant. Research limitations/implications: The use of sonic logos with no voice does limit its implications. Besides, the use of three variables simultaneously with 18 versions of sonic logos in a laboratory setting may have driven participants to fatigue; hence, findings should be cautiously applied. Practical implications: First, sonic logos are best processed in a fade-up form. Second, fast pace is recommended to orient response, whereas slow pace is recommended to transmit calmness. Practitioners may opt for fast-paced sonic logos if the design is new or played in a noisy environment and opt for slow-paced sonic logos in already highly recognized sound designs. Originality/value: To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to combine psychophysiological measures and self-reported scales in a laboratory experiment on how sonic logo’s acoustic features orient response, transmit emotions and personality traits.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)740-753
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Product & Brand Management
Volume30
Issue number5
Early online date4 Sept 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 May 2021

Funding

This research was supported by the Spanish Government (Jose Castillejo program, Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte). This institution funded a research stay in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. The authors thank both the Spanish Government and Texas Tech University as a host institution.Declarations of interest: none. This research was supported by the Spanish Government (Jose Castillejo program, Ministerio de Educaci?n, Cultura y Deporte). This institution funded a research stay in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. The authors thank both the Spanish Government and Texas Tech University as a host institution.Declarations of interest : none.

FundersFunder number
College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University
Spanish Government
Texas Tech University
Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte

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