On September 28th, our Founder and CEO, Brian, will be discussing how to make money as a music curator at the first ever Courier Live event.

Ahead of the event, Courier asked Open Ear MD Brian d'Souza for his insights into the importance of music to businesses.

Read the feature below:

Lighting, colours and carpet choices are important aspects of interior design. But what about music?

Brian d'Souza's company, Open Ear, specialises in creating auditory experiences across a range of settings, from retail to co-working spaces. He'll be discussing how to make money from music at Courier Live on 28 September (as well spinning tunes at our afterparty). In the meantime, here's his advice on how to match music and spaces.

Retail: Music is part of a comprehensive experience for shoppers, d'Souza says, pointing to Dr. Martens as an example. In the footwear brand's Camden store, live gigs make up part of the roster of events.

Food and drink: People tend to chew in time to music, so keep in mind how quickly people need to move in and out of a space. Tracks with a higher BPM can help turntables. Conversely, in a coffee shop setting, more relaxed music will encourage people to linger.

Office: Particularly in open-plan offices, music can provide privacy. "It makes you feel like you can have a private conversation with a colleague without broadcasting it to the room." Obviously, musical tastes can cause clashes among staff, so a mediator should get everyone involved in suggesting tracks (although they should make the final decision).

More on the event

Meet the movers and shakers of Modern Business and Startup Culture on Friday 28 September 2018 in East India Dock, London

Tickets are strictly limited! Book now to reserve your space.

For the first time ever, Courier leaps off the page and into real life. Spend a day at Courier Live learning, meeting, tasting, discussing, trying and making with 100+ of the most exciting people and brands from the world of Modern Business.

Featuring multiple streams of talks, panels, workshops and interviews with experts and founders, including: Pip Jamieson (The Dots), Ali Parsa (Babylon), Emma Gannon (author), Asad Hamir (Kite Eyewear), Maria Raga (Depop), David Hieatt (Hiut Denim), Anisah Osman Britton (23 Code Street), Pippa Murray (Pip & Nut), Hayden Wood (Bulb), Paul Noble (Spiritland), Florence Adepoju (MDM Flow), plus many more.

Visit the Courier Live Market where startups, founders and backers – covering everything from food to fintech to fashion – will be demonstrating their wares. Chat to the teams behind the brands, learn from their stories and taste, play with and even buy directly from them.

Refuel at our food and drink avenue, featuring London's best street food vendors.

Buy your ticket here.