Over the past few decades, audio has been used mainly as a tactical tool to drive immediate sales. And for some very good reasons. Radio serves as the last mile in reaching drivers in their cars or trucks who are about to make a purchase. Meanwhile, direct-to-consumer brands have had great success with host-read ads …
Hear That? It’s the Sound of Audio Building Brands Read More »
As we look towards 2021 with a big sigh of relief, it feels like a good time to look back at 2020. As traumatic as 2020 has been, it was also a year of change for audio. Stay-at-home orders disrupted our lives and shook up the habits around the soundtrack that accompanies our lives. Commute …
8 Things We Learned from Our Audio Research in 2020 Read More »
It all started with streaming. Then podcasts. Now Spotify is setting its sights on radio. In case you missed it, on October 14 the streaming giant took another big step in their master plan to dominate all things audio. Using Anchor, the podcast-creation app they picked up in early 2019, creators can now mix talk …
It’s the curse of being a researcher. Our clients often ask us what’s going to happen in the future. But the truth is that researchers have a limited perspective: we see things through more of a rear-view mirror than a crystal ball. At best, we can look at what just happened, review findings from other …
Polishing the Crystal Ball for the Future of Audio Read More »
We’ve all been living in bubbles since March. And the podcast world has been living in something of its own bubble. With revenues cratering in most media sectors, podcasting has been floating above the fray. Even with downgraded growth projections, the IAB/PwC Podcast Advertising Revenue Study is expecting a double-digit increase in U.S. ad revenues …
Could Too Much Success Burst the Podcasting Bubble? Read More »
Apple’s role as a pioneer of digital audio has to stand as one of its greatest achievements. Think about it. What would the audio landscape look like today without Apple? They were the first to mass market digital audio with the iPod nearly 20 years ago. (Remember “1,000 songs in your pocket”?) A couple of …
Could Apple Show Broadcasters the Way for Live Radio? Read More »
As we’ve been working on brand lift studies for radio, podcasts and music streaming lately, I’ve found myself thinking about my trips to art galleries. Sometimes, a gallery visit can be like taking an art history course. You can start by seeing what was valued by an ancient culture through their sculptures or pottery. Then …
There’s a new meme for 2020: “We’re no longer working from home; we’re living at work.” It really captures the new reality, doesn’t it? A lot of us have been “living at work” since early March. And while we should be thankful that we have a job and don’t have to put ourselves in danger …
It’s one of those COVID things. Since the pandemic closed all the gyms, my wife and I have been taking morning walks around our neighborhood to stay active and get some fresh air. Most days, we walk past a transit shelter poster frozen in time since January, blaring “Auténtica Cuba.” With COVID putting the brakes …
What You Can’t See Can Help You: The Hidden Value of Brand-Building Read More »
In all the years I’ve worked in media research, I’ve noticed that most content can be split into two categories: broad and shallow, or narrow and deep. The first has greater reach, while the second has greater engagement. Think of it this way: Nearly a billion people around the world tune in to watch the …
Are you Maroon 5 or Phish? The Yin and Yang of Content Read More »