Music Venues Become Audio Inclusive

Music venues in Hackney, London, are leading the way in becoming audio inclusive.

Developed by Marion Marincat, founder of Sownd Affects, audio inclusivity ensures venues and experiences are accessible and welcoming for people of all hearing abilities, including those who are noise sensitive.

"Becoming profoundly deaf at 26 completely reshaped my relationship with sound,” said Marion (pictured above left with  Ben Hancock, Managing Director of Oscar Acoustics).

“Despite wearing the best hearing aids available - programmed by excellent audiologists - live music venues, busy restaurants, even work meetings became overwhelming. That experience pushed me to move from a career in finance into hearing health, founding an audiology company in 2014."

For three years, Marion spoke with countless patients, audiologists and manufacturers, and came to a crucial realisation: the industry wasn’t addressing the whole problem.

“It’s not only about what people should do when they have hearing loss - it’s that spaces aren’t designed for diverse hearing abilities. When I discovered that one in three people are noise sensitive (neurodivergent groups, those with tinnitus, misophonia, and many over 55) I knew something had to change.”

Achieving this change includes a tailored combination of acoustic improvements based on sound data from individual venues, staff training, and policies that create more inclusive environments with measurable results.

Sownd Affects follows a structured three-step process - Assess, Enhance, Train - beginning with in-depth acoustic assessments that measure how sound behaves in each space and how it’s experienced by both audiences and staff.

This data-driven approach pinpoints where clarity, balance and exposure levels can be improved.  Once the physical soundscape is optimised, bespoke training ensures venue teams understand the needs of noise-sensitive guests and can maintain consistent, inclusive practices across all events.

It’s a concept that caught the attention of Ben Hancock, Managing Director of Oscar Acoustics, a company specialising in sound treatments that absorb excessive noise and create calmer, more comfortable environments.

Enthused by Sownd Affects’ mission, the two joined forces with support from Arts Council England, bringing their shared expertise to Hackney. Three of the borough’s much-loved venues - Paper Dress Vintage, Vortex and SJQ - now boast state-of-the-art, audio-inclusive acoustics.

Find out more about Sownd Affects, the Hackney project, and the future of audio inclusivity at www.sownd.co.uk.