Apple has introduced a fresh visual identity for its music streaming service, featuring a design that resembles a musical note floating beneath gently rippling waves. The look is meant to complement the company’s “Liquid Glass” aesthetic for its software.
According to Apple, the logo was created using practical effects. The team etched the shape onto the glass floor of a small tank, filled the tank with mineral oil, and placed a clear cover over it. When a musician played a brief sequence of tones, the oil rippled in response. The entire process was filmed and turned into the final animation.
The project was a joint effort between Apple, music producer Fred Again, and the acoustic firm NEST Acoustics. An introductory video includes a narrator who says, “For the rebrand of Apple Music, we wanted sound to create the visuals. How do we take this idea of music and distill it into something visually beautiful? Essentially the idea was to create the perfect sound wave.”
The animated logo will appear at the start of Apple Music videos and concert footage. Meanwhile, the app’s icon has shifted from its traditional red hue to a black‑and‑white design, a change that has drawn mixed reactions online. A screenshot of the beta 4 icon was shared on Twitter by Andreas Storm on October 13, 2026.
All of these updates are slated to roll out alongside Apple’s upcoming software releases, including iOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2.