Apple Music Unveils New Black-and-White Brand Identity
Apple Music has unveiled a new brand identity, replacing its familiar red styling with a black-and-white design inspired by sound waves and liquid motion. Announced on October 21, 2026, the redesign introduces a refreshed logo, updated typography, and a new audio signature.
The redesign marks Apple Music’s first major branding change since its 2015 launch. It also ties the streaming service’s visual identity to Apple’s Liquid Glass design language, which uses translucent effects, reflections, and fluid movement.
How Sound Shaped Apple Music’s New Logo
Apple worked with British music producer Fred again.., his collaborator NEST Acoustics, and creative agency TBWA\Media Arts Lab to develop the new identity. Instead of creating the visuals digitally from the start, the team used physical vibrations to shape the final design.
The process began with an original musical composition. The team then played individual notes through a transducer, a device that converts audio signals into physical vibrations. Those vibrations created ripples in a shallow bath of mineral oil, producing shifting patterns and light refractions.
The designers filmed these physical effects and used the footage to develop the new musical-note logo and animated branding. As a result, the finished visuals reflect the movement created by sound itself. Apple says the team spent months experimenting with frequencies, materials, and camera techniques to achieve the desired effect.
Liquid Glass Design and Updated Typography
The new identity retains Apple’s broader design approach while giving Apple Music a more distinct visual character. In particular, the musical-note symbol uses rippling forms that resemble light passing through liquid glass. The black-and-white palette also marks a departure from the service’s red and pink colours.
Apple has also updated the wordmark with bold, lowercase lettering based on a customised version of its SF Pro typeface. Meanwhile, the new audio signature gives the service a recognisable sound to accompany its visual branding. Together, these changes create a consistent identity across audio and visual experiences.
The refreshed branding will appear across Apple Music’s original content and event programming, followed by wider marketing and product experiences. Apple also plans to bring the updated design to its software platforms, including the Music app in iOS 27.2.
The redesign reflects Apple’s effort to connect its products through a shared design language while preserving each service’s identity. Ultimately, Apple Music’s new look places sound at the centre of its branding, turning musical vibrations into a visual signature that users can recognise across platforms.
