Diggin' for what connects us
We shape the sound of spaces people want to stay in.
Open Crates is a music direction company helping hotels, restaurants, bars, retail spaces and cultural destinations turn their story, culture and character into a distinct musical identity.
You've thought about the furniture. The lighting. The menu. The drinks. The service. The people you want in the room.
But too often, music gets left until the end.
Someone makes a playlist. A streaming service fills the silence. A DJ gets booked without a clear idea of what they should actually sound like.
The result may be good music. But it doesn't necessarily sound like you.
Great hospitality brands understand that every detail contributes to how a place feels—and music is one of the most powerful.
Featured listening
From the crates
A rotating selection from our record bags—what we're playing and what we're digging for.
Introducing Sonic ID™
The musical identity of your space.
Think about your favorite places.
You recognize them through their design, their food, their service and the people they attract.
We believe you should recognize them with your eyes closed.
Sonic ID™ is the Open Crates framework for translating the story, culture and character of a place into a distinct musical point of view.
It answers the questions that playlists can't
- Who is this place for?
- What should it feel like?
- What culture does it carry?
- What stories should the music tell?
- How should the energy move throughout the day?
- What should people remember when they leave?
A room feels different the moment the right record drops.
How we shape your sound
Define your Sonic ID
We start with the space—not the music.
We learn your story, audience, culture, design and hospitality experience, then translate them into a musical point of view.
The result is a Sonic ID that establishes the genres, eras, influences, energy, cultural references and programming principles that belong in your space.
Bring it to life
Your Sonic ID becomes the foundation for how music shows up throughout the experience.
We build playlists, programming calendars and residencies and curate the DJs, selectors, musicians and collaborators who can authentically express your sound.
Turn sound into experience
Then we go beyond programming.
Open Crates creates signature music-led concepts that combine sound with hospitality, design and storytelling—giving people a reason to discover your space, stay longer and come back.
What we do
Music Direction
Define the musical point of view that gives your space its sound.
Music Programming
Build daily listening, residencies, listening sessions, live performances and special events around that identity.
Talent Curation
Find the DJs, selectors, musicians and cultural collaborators who belong in your room.
Sonic Experiences
Create original concepts where music, hospitality, design and culture come together.
Featured listening
How a Sonic ID sounds
Another set from the bags—programmed the way we'd program a room.
About us
Diggers At Heart
What began as a vinyl meetup—diggers trading records over food and wine—grew into 7-inch releases, collaborations with DJ Center, Akoya Afrobeat, and Pat Van Dyke, plus countless gigs across NYC.
Open Crates stays true to its roots, turning community into a movement that brings soulful sonics to the most discerning hospitality spaces.
Your space already has a story
What does it sound like?
- The room.
- The food.
- The people.
- And the music.
Open Crates helps you find the sound that belongs to your space—and turns it into something people can experience.