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.