---
title: Why Wikipedia wants its own sound  - The Hustle
description: The Wikimedia Foundation is holding a contest for an original sound logo to identify when its info is used.
image: https://media.hubspot.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/TheHustle+HubSpot_Lockup.svg
---

# Why Wikipedia wants its own sound

![Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) [Juliet Bennett Rylah Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/JBRylah)

Published:  September 14, 2022

Updated:  October 11, 2023

The Wikimedia Foundation — the group behind Wikipedia, Wiktionary, and [other projects](https://wikimediafoundation.org/our-work/wikimedia-projects/) — is on the hunt for “the sound of all human knowledge.”

![Why Wikipedia wants its own sound](https://media.hubspot.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/TheHustle+HubSpot_Lockup.svg)

It’s [accepting submissions](https://soundlogo.wikimedia.org/) for a sound logo to identify Wikimedia properties when its [puzzle-globe logo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_logo) can’t, like when a voice assistant answers a question.

#### **What’s a sound logo?**

A sound trademark that identifies a brand. It’s very short and can be melodic or atonal. Some examples:

- Netflix’s “ta-dum”
- The “60 Minutes” stopwatch
- McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” [jingle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDX0cryX8t0)
- The Windows 95 [startup sound](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miZHa7ZC6Z0)

Sound is great for brand recognition. People can hear [20-100x](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/10/436342537/how-sound-shaped-the-evolution-of-your-brain) faster than they can see, and the right sound can trigger the right emotional response.

For example, the “Law & Order” dun-dun lets you know it’s a serious drama; THX’s “[deep note](https://www.thx.com/deepnote/),” which debuted with *The Return of the Jedi* in 1983, conveys a sense of spectacle.

#### **Why does Wikimedia want one?**

Wikimedia properties are often sourced without citation by voice assistants and in creator-made content.

You’ve probably listened to a podcaster or YouTuber read or paraphrase a Wikipedia article without saying so.

Wikimedia wants people to know where info is coming from so they can better evaluate it, and hopes to partner with resharers for increased transparency.

#### **Wanna submit?**

The [contest](https://soundlogo.wikimedia.org/) is open through Oct. 10. A panel of Wikimedia volunteers, sound logo experts, and a musicologist will identify 10 finalists for a public vote starting on Nov. 29.

The winner will be announced in early 2023, and receive $2.5k, a trip to a recording studio, and, of course, internet clout.

Topics: [Branding](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/branding)

Topics: [Branding](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/branding)

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