Steve Keller is Sonic Strategy Director for Studio Resonate, an in-house audio-first creative agency, offering support to brands that advertise on Pandora, SiriusXM, and Soundcloud. Prior to joining Studio Resonate, Steve was the founder and CEO of iV, an audio consultancy based in Nashville that specialized in the strategy, content, research and management necessary for successful audio branding initiatives.

Steve is recognized as one of the leading experts in the field of sonic strategy and identity. With a head for data and a heart for sonic expression, he works at the intersection of the sonic arts and sciences, exploring the power of sound to shape our perceptions and influence our behavior.

Steve’s research has examined the relationship between sound and taste and the creation of sonic seasonings (Oxford’s Crossmodal Research Laboratory), uncovered the existence of audio archetypes (Goldsmiths University London), demonstrated the effects of source bias on evaluations of music aesthetics and worth (Technische Universität Berlin), documented how music, soundscapes and noise in healthcare environments affect patient outcomes and satisfaction, and applied insights from the behavioral, cognitive, and experimental sciences to the art of sonic branding (both of the latter with Oxford’s Charles Spence). His current research is focused on racialized listening, the existence of a “sonic color line,” and its impact on marketing and industry practices, particularly in the context of voice casting and the rise of AI voice synthesis.

An in-demand speaker, Steve is often found sharing his insights at conferences (MIDEM, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Nudgestock, TEDx, Eurobest, Dubai Lynx, Transform Hong Kong, Transform London, Neuromarketing World Forum, Shopperbrain, Neurocamp, Forum Acusticum), professional and academic organizations (AMA, ARF, AAF, ESCOM, SMPC, ABA, ASA) and universities around the world.

In addition to a BA in Psychology with a focus on research, social psychology, and group dynamics, Steve has over 35 years of experience in the music industry as a producer, remixer, composer, independent label executive, music publisher and manager. He was a recipient of the iHeartMedia Scholarship for Leadership in Audio Innovation, and obtained his MBA from Steinbeis University’s Berlin School of Creative Leadership in 2023. Steve is also a part of the think tank serving Chef Jozef Youssef’s London based Kitchen Theory, lending his sonic expertise to the development of gastrophysics experiences for brands and consumers alike.