First, let’s start with the basics.
What is digital audio?
Digital audio is any kind of audio listened through an internet connection. More precisely, the main types of digital audio include:
- Downloaded audio, such as songs, albums, and podcasts.
- Live-streaming audio, such as broadcasts from radio stations.
- On-demand audio, such as live music, podcasts, talk shows, radio, audio clips, and audio articles automatically converted with Luna Speak.
Digital audio also covers devices and experiences. Thanks to smartphones, smart speakers, and wireless headphones, listeners can enjoy digital audio in almost any environment.
In addition to that reach, digital audio offers a level of personalization that radio never could. Listeners can share clips with friends and family, and curate their listening experiences for any moment—whether they’re cooking, commuting, studying, working, or taking time to relax.
Here are some key trends in 2022:
- Growing consumer demand for audio content. People are listening to all forms of audio content. 67% of the 12+ U.S. population listens to digital audio weekly.
- Rapid smart speaker adoption. 35% of those in the U.S. 12+, an estimated 100 million people, now own a smart speaker and of those, 59% owned 2 or more smart speakers.
- Brands are investing in digital audio ads. Digital audio saw the highest growth rate, by format, in 2021 with a YoY growth rate of 57.9%, substantially larger than last year’s increase of 13.1%.
- The rise of audio ad automation. It’s expected that by 2022, 21% of all radio ads in the U.S. will be automated, up from 16.5 % in 2020. Programmatic audio advertising allows you to reach your audience with strategic audience targeting capabilities such as contextual, behavioral, device-type, geographical, and even genre.
Sources:
https://www.postmediasolutions.com/blog/digital-audio-trends/
https://www.emarketer.com/content/us-digital-audio-ad-spending-2020
