Olivia Rodrigo Shows Sony How to Make Gen Z Headphones

The multiplatinum artist built her violet shade and Guts EQ into LinkBuds S while taking creative control

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Olivia Rodrigo is a three-time Grammy winner, a multiplatinum artist and—for the better part of next year—a relentless touring salesperson for her latest album, Guts, released earlier this month.

To Sony Electronics, however, she’s both a creator and instructor.

Last year, Sony released its $200 LinkBuds S wireless earphones as a go-between for its $280 WF-1000XM4 professional noise-canceling earbuds and its starter $100 WF-C500S models. Designed as a noise-canceling version of Sony’s preexisting LinkBuds ($180), the LinkBuds S were built so Gen Z users would never have to turn them off—switching from music to ambient noise to calls and back based on activity.

“It’s more than a product, it’s a lifestyle,” said Maya Wasserman, Sony Electronics’ director of marketing for home and personal entertainment.

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