EightSix
EightSix is a Berlin-based sonic branding and music intelligence company serving global enterprise brands. Its proprietary mDNA framework and Brand Studio platform combine AI-driven music analysis with creative services to help brands deploy consistent, measurable audio identities across markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBerlin-müggelheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EightSix does
EightSix is a Berlin-based sonic branding and music intelligence company that helps global brands use music and sound as strategic assets rather than decorative afterthoughts. Founded in 2021 (originally as 86Tales) and rebranded in February 2026, the company operates with 15 specialists across offices in Berlin, Mallorca, Paris, London, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Cape Town, and New York. It serves enterprise clients including Siemens Home Appliances, OTTO, Deichmann, Ferrero, McDonald's, Hyundai, Adidas, Google, Spotify, Netflix, Apple, BMW, Samsung, Nike, and others.
The core offering is the Brand Studio platform, launched in March 2026 and described as the first brand music intelligence system. It is built on two proprietary technologies: the mDNA framework, which scores every track against a brand's sonic profile across genre, emotion, tempo, energy, and cultural positioning; and NDAM (Narrative-Driven Audio Mapping), which analyzes video content frame by frame to recommend music that fits the narrative arc. Supporting modules include SceneMatch (sub-second AI music matching), ArtistMatch (AI artist discovery), SmartTest (audience-validated pre-launch testing via SoundOut integration), and SmartLicense (automated rights checking). The platform was developed in collaboration with Cyanite for music metadata and SoundOut for audience testing, with academic input from Goldsmiths University on machine learning frameworks.
EightSix operates a hybrid revenue model combining Brand Studio SaaS subscriptions (annual billing), professional services (sonic branding, campaign development, music strategy and consulting, sync and licensing, activations, sound testing), and music licensing facilitation between brands and rights holders. Distribution spans direct enterprise field sales targeting CMOs and brand teams, self-serve platform access via studio.eightsix.com, white-label partnerships with agencies, and API access (Brand Studio API and SceneMatch API) for technology partners. The company claims its platform reduces music decision time by 80%, with the SIEMENS Sonic System deployed across 175 markets and OTTO's sonic identity delivering 28% brand image uplift among Gen Z.
EightSix firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EightSix
- Legal name
- EightSix GmbH
- Website
- https://eightsix.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- EightSix is a Berlin-based sonic branding and music intelligence company serving global enterprise brands. Its proprietary mDNA framework and Brand Studio platform combine AI-driven music analysis with creative services to help brands deploy consistent, measurable audio identities across markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EightSix industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sonic Branding Services
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Industries (5122), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Discovery & Curation Platforms (Recommendations, Playlists) (MPAIACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- AI Music Creation & Assistive Tools (Generation, Separation, Mastering) (MPAIAIAG), Creator Music/SFX Asset Libraries & Licensing Platforms (MPACABAM)
Keywords
Where EightSix is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin-müggelheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
EightSix business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Brand Studio Platform Subscription: Enterprise SaaS platform access with subscription plans for brand music management, AI-powered curation, and brand consistency tools. Access to certain features requires a paid subscription with automatic renewal.
- Professional Services (Sonic Branding, Strategy, Consulting): Sonic branding and design, campaign development, music strategy and consulting, sync and licensing, activations and experiential, and sound testing and research services delivered as professional services engagements.
- Music Licensing Facilitation: Facilitates connections between brands and music rights holders for sync licensing. EightSix does not guarantee availability of specific music or licensing terms; separate license agreements are made between brands and rights holders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Platform subscription tiers (specific tiers not publicly disclosed) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | mDNA Audit |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
EightSix product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EightSix helps global brands use music and sound through strategic sonic branding, music supervision, campaign development, sync licensing, experiential work, and its Brand Studio music intelligence platform powered by the proprietary mDNA framework and NDAM (Narrative-Driven Audio Mapping) AI technology. The company combines creative agency services with a SaaS platform that enables brands to define, discover, test, and deploy music across markets, and it operates as a strategic Music Agency of Record for enterprises such as Siemens, OTTO, Deichmann, McDonald's, and Ferrero.
Product overview
EightSix is a strategic sonic branding company that evolved from a music production house (86Tales) into a brand music intelligence platform provider. The core offering is the Brand Studio platform, an AI-powered music intelligence system that helps global brands define, discover, test, and deploy music across customer touchpoints. The platform is powered by proprietary mDNA technology and NDAM (Narrative-Driven Audio Mapping), combined with modules including SceneMatch, ArtistMatch, SmartTest, and SmartLicense. EightSix complements its technology with a full range of professional services including Sonic Branding & Design, Campaign Development, Music Strategy & Consulting, Sync & Licensing, and Activations & Experiential. The company also offers developer APIs (Brand Studio API and SceneMatch API) for enterprise clients and technology partners seeking programmatic access to music intelligence capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Brand Studio: Music intelligence platform for brands to discover, evaluate, license, and deploy music using proprietary mDNA framework
- SceneMatch
- mDNA
- ArtistMatch
- SmartTest
- SmartLicense
Products and services
- Brand Studio Platform Enterprise music intelligence platform enabling brands to define, discover, test, and deploy music across touchpoints, featuring mDNA profiling, AI-powered curation, and brand consistency tools that reduce music decision time by 80%.
- Sonic Branding & Design Full-service sonic identity creation including mDNA profiling, sonic logo composition, brand sound guidelines, and adaptive soundscapes designed to increase brand recognition.
- Campaign Development End-to-end music-led campaign creation including artist partnerships, music supervision, content production, and multi-channel activation with earned media strategy.
- Music Strategy & Consulting Strategic music frameworks including mDNA audits, sonic roadmaps, competitive sound audits, and ongoing Music Agency of Record services with quarterly reviews.
- Sync & Licensing Music supervision and licensing for ads, film, and TV including SmartLicense automated rights checking, ArtistMatch AI discovery, and end-to-end rights management.
- Activations & Experiential Music-driven live experiences, cultural activations, sonic environments, and interactive installations that build brand communities and generate earned media.
- SceneMatch AI-powered music matching service for video content using NDAM (Narrative-Driven Audio Mapping) technology that analyzes video emotion, pacing, and narrative arc to recommend fitting music in seconds.
- Sound Testing & Research Data-driven sonic validation including SmartTest pre-launch audience testing, brand music perception studies, competitive sonic audits, and post-campaign effectiveness reports.
- mDNA Audit No-commitment sonic health check offering a tailored scope delivered within 48 hours of inquiry, providing an mDNA profile-driven assessment of a brand's current audio positioning.
- Brand Studio API Programmatic API access to brand sonic identity, music libraries, brand guidelines, mDNA scoring, and playlist curation for enterprise integration, with Python SDK and sandbox credentials available on request.
- SceneMatch API API for embedding NDAM-powered music matching into any video workflow with sub-second response times at scale, providing AI-ranked music recommendations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces music decision time by 80%
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use EightSix
Customer profileNamed customers32 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
EightSix technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
EightSix partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SoundOutcoreSoundOut is a global leader in music testing. EightSix partnered with SoundOut to develop Brand Studio, specifically using SmartTest for evidence-based music validation. SoundOut's testing capabilities are integrated into Brand Studio's pre-launch sonic testing workflow, measuring emotional response, brand association, recall, and preference with real audience data.
- CyanitecoreCyanite is a Berlin-based music metadata company. EightSix developed the Brand Studio platform in collaboration with Cyanite, leveraging Cyanite's music metadata capabilities to enable brands to analyze musical attributes, test emotional impact, and evaluate music and sound choices across touchpoints with greater confidence.
- Goldsmiths UniversityminorAcademic collaboration with Goldsmiths University as part of the development of machine learning frameworks that analyze audience depth, cultural signals, behavioral data, and contextual usage patterns for brand-music matching infrastructure.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EightSix competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Songtradr: Music licensing platform with AI-powered search, sync rights management, and brand music tools (via Brandtrack acquisition). Comparable in combining licensing infrastructure with AI tools for brand music decisions.
- MassiveMusic: One of the largest independent sonic branding agencies globally, offering music strategy, sonic identity, and music supervision to brands. Direct competitor in sonic branding services with similar client roster (global brands, FMCG, automotive) and overlapping methodology.
- Music & Brands: Berlin-based sonic branding agency offering music strategy, brand sound, and music supervision. Highly comparable given shared DACH market presence and similar service mix targeting global brands.
- amp (sonic branding): Specialist sonic branding agency providing sound logos, brand music systems, and audio identity. Compares as a direct peer in sonic branding services and brand music strategy for enterprise clients.
- Epidemic Sound: Subscription music licensing platform providing cleared music for content creators, brands, and agencies. Comparable on the AI-driven catalog and sync licensing side, though oriented to creators/youtube rather than brand music intelligence.
Emerging players
- Cyanite: Berlin-based AI music metadata company providing tagging, similarity search, and music analysis. Partner to EightSix for Brand Studio; competitive at the AI music analysis layer.
- Marmoset: Music licensing platform and creative agency offering curated sync music for brands, film, and ads. Comparable on the sync licensing and curated brand music angle, though smaller scale.
- SoundOut: Global music testing company measuring emotional response, brand association, recall, and preference for music used in advertising. Comparable through the SmartTest integration; operates as both partner and adjacent capability.
- Artlist: Subscription-based music and SFX licensing platform for video creators, brands, and agencies. Comparable as a SaaS licensing platform serving brand video workflows with curated catalogs.
Broad incumbents
- Landor & Fitch: Global brand consulting firm (WPP) offering brand identity and strategy that increasingly includes sonic identity as part of broader brand systems. Comparable as a broader incumbent covering brand sound within a wider identity portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EightSix social profiles
Digital presenceEightSix financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EightSix leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
EightSix subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
EightSix funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EightSix M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EightSix
What does EightSix do?
EightSix helps global brands use music and sound through strategic sonic branding, music supervision, campaign development, sync licensing, experiential work, and its Brand Studio music intelligence platform powered by the proprietary mDNA framework and NDAM (Narrative-Driven Audio Mapping) AI technology. The company combines creative agency services with a SaaS platform that enables brands to define, discover, test, and deploy music across markets, and it operates as a strategic Music Agency of Record for enterprises such as Siemens, OTTO, Deichmann, McDonald's, and Ferrero.
Is EightSix a public or private company?
EightSix is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was EightSix founded?
EightSix was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EightSix based?
EightSix is headquartered in Berlin-müggelheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does EightSix make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Brand Studio Platform Subscription is the primary driver. The others are professional Services (Sonic Branding, Strategy, Consulting) and music Licensing Facilitation.
Who are EightSix's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Songtradr, MassiveMusic, Music & Brands, amp (sonic branding) and Epidemic Sound. Emerging players are Cyanite, Marmoset, SoundOut and Artlist. Landor & Fitch is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does EightSix have an API?
Yes. EightSix offers two APIs for enterprise clients and technology partners: the Brand Studio API provides programmatic access to mDNA scoring, library management, brand guardrails, and playlist curation; the SceneMatch API enables video analysis and NDAM (Neural Digital Audio Matching) technology for AI-ranked music recommendations with sub-second response times at scale. API access is available for enterprise clients and technology partners with sandbox credentials available on request. Developer documentation is at studio.eightsix.com.
What industry is EightSix in?
EightSix's product category is Sonic Branding Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIACAH, Music Discovery & Curation Platforms (Recommendations, Playlists), with a secondary code of MPAIAIAG, AI Music Creation & Assistive Tools (Generation, Separation, Mastering). Its NAICS code is 5122 and its SIC code is 7311.