Mercedes-Benz teams up with Apple Music, Universal Music Group to offer most immersive in-car audio experience

MANILA: Mercedes-Benz has collaborated with Apple Music and Universal Music Group (UMG) to usher in a new era of in-car audio experience. They aim to establish the in-car audio experience as the standard for music production and playback quality.

Dolby Atmos immersive audio will be integrated in the available Burmester High-End 4D and 3D sound system for Mercedes-Benz models with the latest MBUX version.

A recent survey shows that more than 76% of drivers consider a realistic spatial sound “important” or “rather important.”

With this new audio standard, UMG requires their recording artists to base their song approval process on how the final mix sounds in a Mercedes-Benz and establish the “Approved in a Mercedes-Benz” seal as a gold standard of sound.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles become the first non-Apple devices to be natively integrated with Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos from Apple Music. This guarantees that the tracks “Approved in a Mercedes-Benz” can be enjoyed in the best way.

90% of the world’s population listens to music and over 70% of music listeners said that they stream songs in a car. 72% of drivers said that they could not imagine a car ride without music, while two out of three of the respondents consider in-car sound quality important.

“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,” Mercedes-Benz Group AG Board of Management Chairman Ola Kallenius stated.

While the Burmester Premium 3D sound system already provides an excellent music streaming experience, the Burmester High-End 4D sound system comes with speaker-like resonators featuring sound massage with surround speakers integrated into the seats. It also includes 31 speakers (six 3D speakers that produce sound from above, four near-ear speakers inthe front seats, and an 18.5-liter subwoofer), eight sound transducers, and two amplifiers.

Those who are subscribed to Apple Music will get immediate access to a wide selection of albums and tracks available in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. The sound quality in Mercedes-Benz vehicles makes them the perfect choice as the first cars to come with Spatial Audio.

“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. 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,” Apple Vice President for Apple Music and Beats Oliver Schusser said.

As part of the agreement, Mercedes-Benz will provide UMG with vehicles equipped with the Burmester high-end sound system for technical evaluation so UMG can assure that its musi gets the “Approved in a Mercedes-Benz” seal.

“This important step in the history of recorded music is the culmination of years of working together with our partners at Dolby to develop the Dolby Atmos Music format so we can provide our artists with an even wider palette for their creative expression. With Mercedes, a company that shares our passion for quality and innovation, fans can now enjoy our artists' music in Mercedes cars in a way that virtually transports them to the recording studio or live stage,” UMG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sir Lucian Grainge stated.

Dolby Atmos will be initially available in Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz EQE, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Mercedes-Benz EQS, and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

“In 2021, we launched partnerships with both Mercedes-Benz and Apple Music to bring music in Dolby Atmos to more people around the world. Today, backed by a robust and growing catalogue of music available in Dolby Atmos from our partners at Universal Music Group, these efforts come together to give Mercedes customers a one-of-a-kind immersive music experience in Dolby Atmos, setting a new bar for how music should be heard in the car,” Dolby Laboratories President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Yeaman said.

This revolutionary approach by Mercedes-Benz, Apple Music, and UMG fulfills the promise of a more immersive sound experience that customers expect.

Photo from Mercedes-Benz

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