How Employees “Make a Little Music” at Cox

It’s a typical Monday morning at Cox. You’re pulling into the office parking garage, mentally running through your to-do list as you make your way inside.  

But as soon as you walk through the main doors, a sound cuts through the noise in your head: a guitar riff, maybe a few piano chords.  

Curiosity makes you pause and step into the campus cafe and coffee shop near the lobby, where you spot a performer. Suddenly, you realize it’s not just any musician: it’s one of your coworkers.

Colleagues are hanging out, sipping their brew of choice and swapping weekend stories as the music fills the room. Next thing you know, you’re grabbing a cup of coffee and finding a seat to unwind and listen.  

This is Make a Little Music Mondays, a live music series to start the week with good vibes at Cox’s Atlanta headquarters, plus a virtual livestream. Here’s how this event got started and why it’s about so much more than live entertainment. 

Striking the first chord 

The phrase “Make a Little Music” is one of the values Cox employees live by. 

“‘Make A Little Music’ is all about bringing your unique talents, perspectives and skills to the work you do at Cox,” explained Ty Hodge, director of culture and workplace experience at Cox Enterprises.

This company motto came to life through literal music in 2019. On a whim, creative director Adam Benefield started playing some of his music mixes for his colleagues on his office floor just for fun.

“One day, our leader walks in and he’s bobbing his head, and he just says, ‘turn it up,’” Adam recalled.

That leader started encouraging people from other floors to come by to enjoy the music or add their own performances into the lineup. It was a way for employees to share their talents in a new way at work and would eventually become a full-blown live music series: “Make a Little Music Mondays.” 

From jam session to center stage 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Make a Little Music Mondays evolved to become a virtual event to keep employees connected despite the distance.  

This is when Fanye Abbey, a financial analysis manager at Cox Automotive, decided to get involved as a performer. 

“We got on a Zoom call, and I just played music for a little bit,” said Fanye, who sings and plays guitar covers of singer-songwriters. 

The event continued to gain popularity across the company throughout 2020. Then in 2021, as employees began returning to campus, Make a Little Music made its in-person comeback.  

The live sessions were moved to the lobby floor, where more people could stumble upon the music and join the fun. This set the stage for Make a Little Music Mondays to become a beloved weekly staple ever since.

Over the years, Make a Little Music has given many Cox employees a chance to showcase their talents.

Adam is a regular and performs every first Monday of the month. He plays electronic music and describes himself as a music producer.  

“I actually spend a lot more time crafting these mixes that I play,” Adam said. “My focus is really on storytelling and creating a vibe.”

To this day, Adam continues to work in creative design and production at Cox, while his music allows him to tap into his creativity in a different way outside of his day job. 

“With Make a Little Music, I have this monthly outlet to use music to tell stories that I want to tell,” Adam said.  

Fanye said he loves to take a unique spin on cover songs across genres in his Make a Little Music performances. Since he first started performing live at work, he has also teamed up with four colleagues to form Cox’s in-house band, The Mondays. The band performs at company events and even released an original album to celebrate Cox’s 125th anniversary in 2023. 

“We all have different backgrounds and musical tastes,” Fanye said. “So, us coming together to play a collection of music has been a lot of fun.” 

Amplifying community and connection 

Now, Make a Little Music Mondays is a beloved part of employees’ weekly routine at Cox’s HQ. The event is now hosted by the culture and workplace experience team. In addition to the regular employee performances, the series also features occasional special editions with employees’ kids, summer interns and more. 

“Whether performing or observing, Make a Little Music Mondays is a reminder that it’s okay for you to lean into what makes you, you — and that ultimately makes Cox a more joyous, creative and special place to work,” Ty said. 

In the future, Ty and his team want to bring Make a Little Music to more Cox locations nationwide. He’s seen how successful the event has been with employees, including new hires who get a chance to grab a coffee and enjoy the performances as part of their first day orientation. It makes a great first impression of what their experience will be like at Cox. 

“It’s a unique offering,” Ty said. “So, I think it’s been a great differentiator for us. If you’re going to be here on a Monday, it’s a great way to start your day with the team.” 

Ready to join a team that celebrates individuality? Explore careers at Cox and sign up for our Talent Community to get started today.