Through a series of engaging panels and dynamic discussions, attendees walked away armed with fresh insights on how to supercharge campaign performance and expand their media strategies.

So, let’s break down each panel discussion and the must-know takeaways that are set to redefine the future of digital audio.

Opening Remarks to Set the Stage for Digital Audio’s Future

Speaker: Ollie Chadwick, AdsWizz, Regional Director, UK & Ireland, AdsWizz

The day began with a welcome from Ollie Chadwick, who outlined AdsWizz’s evolution and its role in shaping the digital audio landscape. He highlighted the steady rise of digital audio adoption in the UK and emphasized the growing importance of programmatic audio, noting its ability to reach audiences more effectively and cost-efficiently compared to traditional media.

Panel 1: Innovation and Testing in Audio

Moderator: Rowan Hamill, UK & Ireland, AdsWizz

• Wayne Bishop, Global Client Lead, Unilever
• Ridhi Jogia, Director AV Implementation, Essence Mediacom
• Alice Baines, Media Planning Business Director, OMD

The first panel, led by Rowan Hamill, examined how innovation is driving digital audio forward. The panelists highlighted the underutilized potential of programmatic audio, noting that despite strong engagement, it still receives limited marketing investment due to budget constraints.

• An underserved market opportunity: Even with digital audio’s rapid growth, brands continue to allocate less investment to it compared to video or social media. This session underscored the opportunity to gain market share by positioning audio as a key medium.
• Barriers to experimentation: Panelists pointed out that rigid budget structures limit opportunities for audio testing. They stressed that greater agency support and education could empower brands to invest confidently in innovative audio strategies.

Panel 2: Beyond Branding for Campaigns

Moderator: Lindsay Lynch, Director of Business Development, International, AdsWizz

• Brandon Lutz, Head of Offline & New Media, Miro 
• Andy Goldsmith, CEO, Adelicious
• Kat Bean, Head of Media, Wake the Bear
• Howard Bareham, Co-Founder, Trisonic

In the second session, moderated by Lindsay Lynch, the focus shifted to how brands can expand podcast advertising beyond traditional branding efforts to drive direct response outcomes. Panelists shared insights on how audio ads can connect with niche audiences and deliver measurable results, making audio a valuable tool for performance-based campaigns.

• Case study – Miro’s success in brand awareness: Brandon Lutz from Miro shared their recent experience using audio ads to drive an increase in brand awareness among key decision-makers in UX, marketing, and engineering roles. This case study illustrated how podcasts effectively communicate brand stories to targeted, high-intent audiences without requiring host-read formats.
• Diverse use cases for audio: Panelists discussed how brands can utilize data-driven audio ads for various objectives, from lead generation to customer acquisition. They emphasized the flexibility of programmatic audio to adapt to specific campaign goals, including B2B and B2C contexts.

Panel 3: Digital Audio in the Wider Media Mix

Moderator: Ollie Chadwick, AdsWizz, Regional Director, UK & Ireland, AdsWizz

• Thomas Balaam, Audio Trading Director, Mindshare UK
• Michael Bayston, VP Adtech Solutions, Acast
• Isobel Langley, Head of Agency, GroupM Nexus
• Patrick Dolan, Head of Audio & Display, the7stars

The final session explored how digital audio enhances multi-channel campaigns, with Ollie Chadwick leading a discussion on its role in broader media strategies.

• Audio as an amplifier: Panelists emphasized audio’s role as an amplifier, especially when paired with visual media like connected TV (CTV). The conversation touched on how combining programmatic audio with digital video can result in higher engagement and brand recall.
• Audience-driven strategy: Audio allows brands to reach audiences throughout the day across various touchpoints—whether during a morning jog, while commuting, or as they wind down in the evening. This flexibility makes audio a powerful tool for reaching consumers at different points in their journey.
• A cost-effective channel: With a lower CPM than many visual formats, audio offers a cost-effective way to increase reach and frequency within broader campaigns. This point resonated strongly with attendees, showcasing audio as a valuable channel in an increasingly budget-conscious media landscape.
• Digital audio’s versatility: Digital audio’s adaptability makes it an ideal complement to traditional media, providing unique advantages for brands aiming to diversify their media spend while engaging audiences in more immersive and meaningful ways.

Skip Ahead with AdsWizz

Audio Days London brought together digital audio’s leading voices and highlighted AdsWizz’s role in driving the digital audio industry forward and empowering brands to reach new heights.

Stay tuned for updates on our next Audio Days event, or contact us today if you wish to advance your audio strategy!

by Aimi Knowling, Senior Manager, Sales Marketing

The post Audio Days London Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

Key Takeaways

Scalability and Simplified Activation Through Programmatic Buying

Scaling direct, host-read podcast ads has traditionally been challenging, but programmatic solutions now offer audience-based buys that increase reach and efficiency while preserving the personalized touch. This technology also simplifies activation, allowing advertisers to quickly launch campaigns and integrate podcast ads into broader media strategies for maximum impact.

Ensuring Brand Safety

Brand safety concerns are being addressed through AI-powered contextual targeting and third-party verification from partners like Comscore. This technology ensures advertisers can confidently place ads without worrying about inappropriate content.

Measurable Results and Performance

Podcast ads are proven to deliver exceptional performance, with conversion rates 2x better and click-through rates 6x higher than traditional display ads. Tools like AudioPixel provide sophisticated tracking for measuring brand lift, foot traffic, and overall campaign success.

Podcasts Complement Other Media

Podcast ads complement other media channels, especially when combined with social media and Connected TV (CTV). This integrated approach drives higher recall and message association, significantly boosting campaign effectiveness.

Did You Miss Us at the MediaPost Planning and Buying Insider Summit? 

In conclusion, the MediaPost Planning & Buying Insider Summit highlighted the growing impact of podcast advertising. With high engagement, scalable programmatic solutions, and strong brand safety measures, podcasts are an effective channel for reaching audiences. AdsWizz showcased how its tools simplify ad activation and boost performance, making podcasts essential in future media planning.

• Here are the slides we presented for your reference. 
• Ready to take your advertising to the next level? Contact us to discover how AdsWizz can expand your digital audio presence!
  

by 

Robyn Meyers, Vice President, Programmatic and Marketplace Partnerships 

and

Dave Sosson, Senior Manager, Business Development, Programmatic Demand

The post MediaPost Planning and Buying Insider Summit 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

Serious About Audio Cabana

Our cabana on Cabana Row was buzzing with energy, transforming into a lively hotspot where attendees delved into our cutting-edge technology via an interactive, self-serve experience. For those craving a deeper dive, we offered private meetings with our team throughout the week, ensuring an immersive and personalized journey into our innovations.

Cannes Soundscape

During the festival, our cabana became the go-to spot for live interview recordings with trailblazers from every corner of the audio industry. These sessions delivered valuable insights into the market’s current dynamics, the transformative role of technology, and future trends. Attendees not only listened in but also had the chance to engage directly with these industry experts.

The Empower Cafe

AdsWizz proudly supported The Empower Cafe, a vibrant space at L’Avenue Cafe. This venue fostered meaningful connections and built a supportive network, allowing attendees to collaborate and empower each other.

AdsWizz After Dark

One of our most eagerly awaited events was at Le Chrystie. The party dazzled with an open bar, delectable light bites, top-notch DJs, and an electrifying atmosphere, offering an ideal mix of fun and networking for all attendees.

Thanks to Everyone who Joined Us at Cannes Lions 2024

Whether you stopped by our cabana, participated in a live recording, connected at The Empower Cafe, or danced the night away at After Dark, we appreciate your presence and look forward to continuing these conversations and connections. 

Did you miss us at the event? Contact us today to learn more about our offerings or to schedule a meeting with our team.

We’re Not Done Yet

Stay tuned for some great studio content coming soon from AdsWizz as we continue to innovate and lead in the digital audio space.

by Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

The post AdsWizz at Cannes Lions 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

SiriusXM Media, the advertising arm of SiriusXM, announced Pandora Media LLC as the first audio publisher to adopt Unified ID 2.0 (UID2), offering advertisers an identity solution with precision targeting, frequency management and measurement. An agreement between AdsWizz Inc., the technology engine powering the monetization of audio content around the world, and The Trade Desk will allow AdsWizz to enable UID2 across Pandora.

With the industry-wide decline of identifiers, the programmatic space has seen a data gap. By adopting this alternative identity solution, SiriusXM Media is committed to innovate without reliance on cookies and prepare for future industry headwinds.

With UID2, SiriusXM Media can programmatically deliver on a quality environment and highly addressable platform for the next generation of identity. UID2 can deliver accurate holistic targeting and measurement capabilities without reliance on third-party cookies to improve advertiser addressability and measurement.

The post Pandora Becomes First Audio Publisher to Adopt Unified ID 2.0 appeared first on AdsWizz.

Masterclass – SoundCloud: Play with Music, Empower Fandom, Supercharge Your Brand’s Journey

Frank Kretzschmar, Senior Business Development Director, EU Supply at AdsWizz, and Rohit Agarwal, Chief Product Officer at SoundCloud, discussed the future of audio advertising and outlined how brands can collaborate with both entities to elevate their marketing strategies. 

The Power of the SoundCloud and AdsWizz Partnership

SoundCloud’s ecosystem is vast and inclusive, boasting millions of artists and hundreds of millions of tracks where authentic connections are forged between artists and fans. Through innovative features like commenting on tracks and direct messaging, SoundCloud offers a unique interactive experience that goes beyond passive listening.

AdsWizz partnered with SoundCloud to provide brands with advanced advertising solutions. This union enables advertisers and brands to reach and engage SoundCloud listeners through robust targeting and innovative ad formats.

                                                  Frank Kretzschmar

Case Studies in Audio Advertising

QSR Case Study: ShakeMe Ads

A global fast-food brand sought to increase awareness and engagement for its mobile rewards app in Switzerland. Using AdsWizz’s ShakeMe ad format, they launched motion-activated ads across various publishers, including SoundCloud, to reach different linguistic regions. These ads leveraged users’ physical interactions with their devices, creating a more engaging and memorable experience, uniquely capturing the audience’s attention and serving as a real-time conversion metric.

The results were impressive: over 10,000 interactions and a 92% listen-through rate, with a higher interaction rate on SoundCloud than on other platforms.

Voice Ads Case Study: Lagardère Publicité News & Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Tourisme

Lagardère Publicité News and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Tourisme sought innovative ways to engage users with voice assistants and smart speakers through interactive voice ads. These ads allowed listeners to interact via voice commands, taking personalization to the next level by creating a natural and engaging dialogue between the brand and the audience.

The campaign generated 250,000 impressions in two months, achieving a 97% listener-through rate.

AI Music Beds Case Study: Dunkin’ Donuts, Tito’s Vodka, and Cox

Using AdsWizz’s Sympaphonic Ad technology, these brands created dynamic music sounds that matched the listener’s context. This technology enhances the ad experience by creating contextual music backgrounds that match the listener’s environment, ensuring a seamless transition from content to ad and maintaining a cohesive and immersive listening experience.

The outcome was significant: a 95% decrease in production time, 238% higher engagement, and 5x greater efficiency compared to standard audio tactics.

   
                                                                         Rohit Agarwal     

SoundCloud Insights

Global Reach and Diversity

SoundCloud’s global community is diverse, comprising creators and fans worldwide. This diversity enriches the platform, making it a fertile ground for emerging music trends and cultural movements.

Opportunities for Brands

Brands have a unique opportunity to connect with Gen Z and other influential groups on SoundCloud. By participating in the community, brands can engage with fans and creators, creating meaningful interactions that extend beyond traditional advertising.

Interactive Features

Features like track commenting and direct messaging allow for real-time feedback and communication between artists and fans. These interactions help artists refine their craft and build a loyal fanbase.

Artist Spotlight: Macon

The final treat of this masterclass was an interview with Macon, the most streamed electronic music artist on SoundCloud in 2023. His journey underscores the platform’s role in artist discovery and growth. Macon emphasized the importance of direct feedback from fans through comments, which helps him understand what resonates with his audience and refine his music accordingly. Additionally, insights from SoundCloud’s fan analytics revealed significant fan bases in countries like Australia and the UK, leading to successful tours and collaborations.

  Aimi Knowling (right) sat down with Bianca Stanescu (center) and Ionut Buha (left) for an interview.

Podcast Interview – Live from OMR 2024!

In between sessions and our MasterClass with SoundCloud, I also had the pleasure to sit down with Bianca Stanescu, Director, Product Marketing at AdsWizz, and Ionut Buha, Product Manager for AudioGo & AudioMatic. This session provided an inside look at AdsWizz’s latest developments, strategies, and future plans.

Day One Reflections: Embracing Audio in the Digital Era

Bianca and Ionut expressed their enthusiasm for the event, underscoring the increasing significance of audio in the marketing mix. They discussed how digital tools enhance customer experiences and emphasized audio’s increasingly strategic and measurable role. The first day at OMR showcased the vibrant energy in audio marketing, reaffirming AdsWizz’s influential presence and innovative contributions.

Key Takeaways: AI and Innovation at the Forefront

Both speakers stressed the significance of AI in transforming the industry. Bianca pointed out that AI, once a buzzword, is now a foundational element of digital tools. AdsWizz has long integrated machine learning and AI for forecasting and contextual targeting capabilities. Ionut added that the industry’s current focus on AI and contextual targeting validates AdsWizz’s efforts and motivates the team to push further.

Future Directions: Dynamic Creatives and Programmatic Audio

Ionut unveiled AdsWizz’s focus on Dynamic Creatives and Synthetic Voice Ads that offer novel and advanced capabilities to demand partners and publishers.

On the podcast front, Bianca announced the launch of the Simplecast Professional Tier, which gives podcasters greater transparency and control over listener experience and monetization by combining the power of Simplecast’s content management tools with AdsWizz’s monetization technology. AdsWizz has also enhanced its Programmatic Guaranteed solutions that boost efficiency and provide a seamless campaign management experience.

Roadmap and Second Half of 2024: Automation and Cookieless Future

AdsWizz is dedicated to leveraging automation and AI to streamline processes for agencies and customers. Bianca and Ionut emphasized the company’s open approach, strengthening partnerships with demand-side platforms (DSPs) and first-party data providers while preparing for a cookieless future. Ionut reinforced this commitment, highlighting ongoing innovation and a focus on customer-centric advancements.

Moving Ahead

OMR 2024 was a highly impactful venue for AdsWizz to showcase our innovative audio technologies and strategic partnerships (i.e., SoundCloud). As we move into the second half of 2024, AdsWizz remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing audio technology, enhancing efficiency, and preparing for a cookieless future.

Did you miss us at the event? Contact us today to learn more about our offerings or to schedule a meeting with our team.

by Aimi Knowling, Senior Manager, Sales Marketing

The post OMR 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

Market Trends

Janny Beberian, Director of Business Development for Southern Europe at AdsWizz, highlighted the transformative changes in digital audio. She emphasized the market’s rapid growth, driven by significant advances in podcasting and programmatic technology.

• With the loss of third-party audience IDs, publishers are using technology platforms to leverage their first-party data for relevant, privacy-friendly ad experiences.
• Market expansion is being driven by growth in politics, retail, pharmaceuticals, and travel sectors.
• Digital audio use exceeds radio, with the industry maturing through better data accuracy and compliance with IAB standards.

Case Study – AudioPixel as a Measurement Tool

Morgane Peron, Director of Audience Data Operations at AdsWizz, showcased AudioPixel’s capabilities. AudioPixel analyzes performance metrics across campaigns aimed at user acquisition, traffic generation, and purchase intent. It can track activities from email collection during registration to detailed customer purchase journeys on e-commerce sites.

Clement Berthet, Associate Director of Digital at NRJ Global, then presented a case study illustrating Morgane’s practical application of this technology. He emphasized the importance of crafting audio-specific content rather than repurposing video assets, ensuring a clear call-to-action tailored for audio platforms, and leveraging the unique continuous engagement potential of audio formats through innovative strategies like Dynamic Creative Optimization (DCO) and interactive formats such as ShakeMe.

Publicis + Hawk Brand Lift with Happydemics

Nadine Picosson, Associate Director of Audio Trading at Publicis Media, outlined her company’s strategy to boost digital audio, focusing on transparency, contextual data, and advanced programmatic approaches. Concurrently, Mehdi Aroussi, Senior Director of Global Partnerships at Hawk, introduced their new AI-driven DCO to support partners’ needs.

Use Audio as a Lever to Think Outside the Box

Camille Biehler, Key Account Director at Acast, Albane Laclavière, Business Director at OMD, and Léa Paris D’Artigu, Head of Media and Communication at Biocodex, gave an overview on the success of host-read content in capturing audience attention.

Digital Audio: A Key Lever for Brand Image

Anne-Marie Kalinka, Managing Director, France at Amnet, and Virginie Chesnais, Chief Marketing Officer at Happydemics, stressed the impact of digital audio in improving brand recognition and favorability, demonstrating its efficacy through the effect of audio investments on brand perception.

Their presentation recapped the effectiveness of campaigns using high and mid-funnel indicators to understand audience responses. They compared these metrics with a benchmark of over 180 audio brand lifts across different countries and media types and tailored recommendations aligned with campaign objectives and industry best practices to maximize the impact of each audio strategy, thereby verifying digital audio’s flexibility and strategic value.

SoundCloud: A Social Platform Pioneer

Quentin Spineu, Account Director, EU, at AdsWizz, illustrated SoundCloud’s innovative role as a social platform that breaks conventional barriers between artists and audiences. SoundCloud is a launching pad for local trends to escalate into global phenomena, regardless of the artists’ origins, languages, or connections. The platform also facilitates music discovery, where fans find and share their next favorite artists, and fosters direct interactions between artists and fans without intermediaries. 

SoundCloud is pioneering Mood Targeting, a feature that allows brands to connect with listeners based on their emotional state. This enables advertisers to target audiences across different moods, such as Angsty, Chill, Energetic, Focused, Happy, Soothing, Love, Celebratory, and Relaxed, thereby enhancing receptivity to brand messages.

Case Studies

• Walmart and SoundCloud celebrated Black History Month with a series featuring emerging hip-hop artists and their commentary on identity in music.
• Adidas and SoundCloud’s “We Gave the World an Original” campaign spotlighted fashion-forward creators, featuring artist Stormzy.
• Hyundai and SoundCloud launched a track series and contest to promote Hyundai’s positive impact, awarding $5,000 to one winner.
• Toyota and SoundCloud’s SCENES documentary series explored culture-forward music communities. It featured Mexican artists and launched on Billboard Latin.

Panel: Data-Driven Strategies for Content

Participants

• Morgane Peron – Director, Audience Data Operations at Adswizz
• Laurent Dauron – Director, Digital Operations at Lagardère Publicité
• Jenna Cortaredona – Head of Data Offers and Partnerships at M6 Publicité
• Mickaël Gaspar – Deputy Director, Sales at Altice Media

M6: Mastering Data Precision

Jenna Cortaredona, Head of Data Offers and Partnerships at M6 Publicité, provided an in-depth analysis of how M6 Publicité leverages a sophisticated cross-channel Data Management Platform (DMP) to utilize first-party data effectively. She emphasized Single Sign-On (SSO) and logged-in users for data integrity and future services. Jenna also addressed first-party data fragmentation and solutions with contextual targeting for better platform scalability and integration.

Altice: Leveraging Content for Engagement and Revenue

Mickaël Gaspar, Deputy Director, Sales at Altice Media, discussed how Altice leverages content to generate additional activation opportunities while naturally increasing traffic on their platforms. With web-radio offerings, they can attract a diverse audience, particularly during seasonal events like the Olympics or Roland Garros. This strategy benefits publishers by enhancing engagement and audience retention, attracting new listeners, and expanding monetization opportunities.

Lagardère: Integrating Data and Content for Market Expansion

Laurent Dauron, Director, Digital Operations at Lagardère Publicité, discussed merging audience data with engaging content to bolster their cross-channel offerings. He also described the benefits of their partnership with SiriusXM Media, which helps Lagardère reach new markets and improve contextual targeting.

The Future is Bright (and Loud)

AdsWizz remains steadfast in our mission to push the boundaries of technology in audio adtech, as evidenced by AdsWizz Audio Days Paris 2024. The vibrant discussions and presentations from industry leaders underscored the transformative power of digital audio. The ongoing convergence of these creative minds will continue to pave the way for future innovations in our industry.

See you at the next AdsWizz Audio Days!

by Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

The post AdsWizz Audio Days Paris 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

What Does This Mean for AdsWizz Customers?

For podcast publishers who aren’t already using the Simplecast CMS, you have direct access to and can easily combine your AdsWizz monetization tech stack with our best-in-class publishing, hosting, and audience analytics to get the most out of your podcasting business.

This means a lot to our demand partners. Through the brilliantly thought-out integration between our Simplecast CMS and the AdsWizz Podcast Marketplace, buyers can tap into a rich supply of independent shows that provide incremental reach and highly engaged audiences.

Why Now?

Today, we announced the launch of the new Simplecast Professional Tier, which offers the best in podcast creation and monetization tools through the combination of AdsWizz and Simplecast.

• If you’re a podcast publisher interested in enhancing your stack with the Simplecast CMS, contact your Account Manager or reach out here. 
• If you’re an advertiser looking to reach these new podcast audiences, contact our AdsWizz DSP team or visit our Contact Us page. 
• To learn more about Simplecast Professional Tier, click here.

The post Simplecast Becomes Part of AdsWizz appeared first on AdsWizz.

Programmatic Guaranteed offers more impactful tools tailored for optimal performance than other types of programmatic deals that involve varying levels of uncertainty – such as OpenRTB auctions with numerous bidders or preferred deals with non-guaranteed volumes. With fixed pricing and guaranteed volumes, this type of auction provides advertisers and publishers with a level of certainty and control not found in other programmatic transactions.

A One-Stop-Shop for Digital Audio Advertising

AdsWizz facilitates the buying and selling of reserved inventory globally by offering products like AudioMax SSP, AudioServe Campaign Manager, and audio-centric AudioMatic DSP, along with off-the-shelf integrations with some of the most reputable DSP platforms.

This ecosystem automates offerings and approvals and ensures transparent inventory and streamlined negotiations, reducing setup times and errors. Through AudioMatic DSP, buyers submit offers processed and negotiated by AudioMax for availability before approval, automatically creating Programmatic Guarantee deals.

Understanding Programmatic Guaranteed Campaigns

AdsWizz makes it easy for publishers and advertisers to establish and grow relationships. We support all major transactions of digital audio inventory – Direct Sales, Programmatic Guaranteed or Preferred Deals, and real-time bidding with a Private Marketplace or open auctions.

Although both Preferred Deals and Programmatic Guaranteed represent direct transactions between buyers and publishers, the latter ensures that a guaranteed number of impressions are sold at a fixed price.

NEW! Programmatic Guaranteed Enhancements

AdsWizz continues to push the boundaries of digital advertising technology, and we’re excited to unveil new Programmatic Guaranteed features! These capabilities boost efficiency, reduce manual errors, and provide a seamless Programmatic Guaranteed campaign management experience. 

Streamline Programmatic Guaranteed Management

Effortlessly customize campaigns on a single platform in AudioMax SSP and enjoy seamless synchronization with AudioServe Campaign Manager. This minimizes manual efforts and enhances overall campaign management efficiency and ease of use. 

Control Campaign Performance

Leverage the flexible customization capabilities of the AudioMax-centric integration to streamline operations, reduce manual errors, and maximize campaign effectiveness. Define multiple campaigns under the same order and prioritize them according to publisher needs.

Easily Adapt to Change

Be nimble and adapt swiftly to changing requirements without pausing delivery. Updates to live AudioServe Programmatic Guaranteed campaigns are automatically synchronized with AudioMax Deal’s settings and vice versa, ensuring real-time consistency between the two platforms. 

Optimize Advertising Strategies

By harnessing advanced reporting capabilities in AudioMax, publishers can optimize their strategies and maximize revenues through a comprehensive understanding of their programmatic business on a single platform. Detailed breakdowns of Programmatic Guaranteed transactions, including granular insights per DSP, Sales Channel, Buyer, Advertiser, and Deal Type, ensure seamless performance management and enhanced visibility into guaranteed versus non-guaranteed deals and associated campaign delivery.

Looking Ahead

AdsWizz’s progress in Programmatic Guaranteed Campaigns represents an essential milestone in digital audio advertising. AdsWizz offers a powerful platform for advertisers and publishers to meet their advertising objectives by leveraging automation, scalability, and better visibility. With the digital environment constantly changing, AdsWizz stays ahead by driving advertising innovation to enhance efficiency, performance, and success.

• If you are an AdsWizz publisher partner using AudioMax SSP and want to learn more about Programmatic Guaranteed Enhancements, please click here.
• If you are not an AdsWizz partner and would like to get in touch with us, please visit the Contact Us page.

by Catalin Georgescu, Senior Product Marketing Manager

The post Unleashing the Power of Programmatic Guaranteed in Audio Advertising appeared first on AdsWizz.

“Our collective insight on the show floor was further reinforced by interacting with industry peers and thought leaders, highlighted the essential role connectivity plays within the audio community. The conference profoundly acknowledged our current market realities, clearly demonstrating that digital audio is leading the industry toward increasingly innovative and integrated strategies.”

 

-Paul Brown, Vice President, European Business & Operations at AdsWizz

 

Keynote – How Digital Audio Stacks Up Against the Rest

AdsWizz’s Rowan Hamill, Director of Business Development, UK and Ireland, and Lindsay Lynch, Director of Business Development, International, presented industry findings illustrating the effectiveness of digital audio advertising through its convenience, accessibility, measurable effects on audiences, and expanding influence over traditional media.

Check Out the Presentation Slides

Comprehensive Integration and Consumer Trends in Digital Audio

Digital audio is deeply incorporated into daily life in the UK, complementing other media forms with its adaptability and relevance. More than 35 million people now listen to digital audio weekly—a 40% increase since 2019—with an average daily listening time of 2.3 hours. Audio integrates into various activities, such as morning news streams and evening podcast sessions. The pandemic in 2020 accelerated shifts in consumer behavior, particularly among younger audiences, who have shifted 31% of their media time to digital audio from traditional visual media.

Challenges, Prospects, and Synergies with Other Media

Digital audio enhances the media consumption experience by providing continuous adaptability that meets audiences wherever they are, engages users throughout the day, and serves as a versatile complement to other media. Technological advancements like AudioPixel improve ad conversion tracking across devices, enhancing audience targeting and engagement measurement without relying on cookies.

Strategic Implications for Digital Audio in Marketing

Marketers need to capitalize on the growing influence of digital audio by incorporating it more extensively into their media strategies. Notable technologies such as speech-to-text for podcast contextual targeting can optimize engagement with specific audiences, thereby streamlining marketing efforts.

Panel – AI, Programmatic and Tech Innovation

Our very own Ollie Chadwick, Regional Director for the UK & Ireland, participated in a panel discussion about the expanding influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in audio, which highlighted innovations that are redefining ad creation and performance tracking beyond traditional cookies while enhancing innovation, efficiency, and personalization. 

Participants

• Ollie Chadwick – AdsWizz
• Mary Ann Halford – Halford Media Advisory
• Matt Deegan – Folder Media
• Tom Sherwood – YouTube
• Emma Raz – NumberEight

Digital Audio and AI Integration

The conversation first summarized the integration of AI in the digital audio sector, focusing on solutions that simplify and enhance advertising processes. AI can be used to create tailored audio content based on demographic data, making advertising more targeted and effective.

Programmatic Audio

The panel then discussed the rise of programmatic audio and its efficiency in streamlining advertising campaigns. This method leverages automation to enhance targeting and reporting, thereby optimizing advertising expenditures and reach.

Multilingual and Inclusive Content

Touching on the importance of creating content that caters to diverse linguistic and cultural demographics, AI helps lower the barrier to entry for producing diverse and inclusive content, which can expand market reach and connect with broader audiences.

Future Trends and Innovation in Audio Advertising

Noteworthy future trends in audio advertising include more sophisticated contextual targeting, brand safety, and direct interactions with publishers. Driven by technological advancements, the advertising landscape in digital audio will continue to evolve rapidly.

The Future of Audio is Now

At The Future of Audio and Entertainment 2024, AdsWizz had a unique opportunity to elevate digital audio’s potential as a powerful advertising medium through our branding and content spotlighting market dynamics and AI innovations.

Interacting with industry peers and thought leaders further reinforced the essential role connectivity plays within the audio community. The conference profoundly acknowledged our current market realities, demonstrating that digital audio is leading the industry toward increasingly innovative and integrated strategies.

 

– Thema Archer, Senior Account Executive, EU Marketplace Partnerships at AdsWizz

Did you miss us at the event? Contact us today to learn more about our offerings or to schedule a meeting with our team. 

by Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

The post The Future of Audio and Entertainment 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

Advancing Brand Safety in Podcast Advertising

From March 26th – 29th, AdsWizz took on a key sponsorship role at Podcast Movement Evolutions 2024. Podcast Movement Evolutions is the leading conference brand for podcasters and industry experts, aimed at fostering growth in individual shows, the podcasting community, and the industry. 

Our private meeting space served as a hub for insightful discussions, highlighting our commitment to elevating podcast advertising through our cutting-edge technology solutions.

AdsWizz Technology Spotlighted at Podcast Movement Evolutions

Targeted Podcast Advertising Solutions

Our targeted podcast advertising solutions offer a wide range of premium and niche podcasts through partnerships with top publishers, enabling broad reach and precise targeting for advertisers with features like automated host-read ads and second-screen retargeting. For example, AdsWizz’s Predictive Audiences, a cookie-free targeting capability, utilizes podcast content consumption to identify over 300 audience personas, ensuring ads connect with the intended audience.

Brand Safety Solutions

AdsWizz enhances brand safety by providing advertisers control over ad placements to match suitable content and audiences. This technology ensures ads align with audience interests and brand values using advanced tools to analyze podcast content for relevant keywords, topics, and sentiments. The platform integrates Comscore data for precision and has partnered with HUMAN Security for Invalid Traffic Filtering (IVT), preventing ad fraud by ensuring ads reach real people, protecting investment, and optimizing ROI.

“At Podcast Movement Evolutions, building buyers trust and balancing brand suitability were top of mind for presenters and attendees. Podcasters understand that these are no longer nice to haves, but rather table stakes for a show or network to grow and succeed in today’s modern podcast ecosystem.”

-Justine Benjamin, Head of Global Marketing

The Power of Context: Brand Safety, Measurement, and Verification in Podcasting

Our very own Maria Breza joined industry leaders for a panel to discuss how the industry can bring more transparency to podcasting with brand safety and suitability verification solutions and, with them, help bring the audio ad marketplace into parity with video and display.

Panelists included:

• Bryan Barletta – Partner at Sounds Profitable (Moderator)
• Caleb Mansfield – VP, Partner Success at ArtsAI
• Tamara Zubatiy – Co-Founder and CEO at Barometer
• Maria Breza – VP of Ad Quality Measurement & Audience Data Operations at AdsWizz and SiriusXM Media

Top Takeaways from the Panel

Opportunity Gap in Podcast Advertising

Although podcasting accounts for 31% of media consumption, it attracts less than 9% of advertising dollars, revealing a vast area for expansion. Our industry should frame this discrepancy not as a grievance but as a pivotal opportunity for strategic investment.

From Show Sponsorships to Sophisticated Audience Targeting

The podcast advertising industry faces scalability and brand safety challenges. Large brands are moving towards audience-based buying rather than specific show sponsorships, necessitating content verification for safety. This shift toward advanced audience targeting leverages cutting-edge content analysis tools and integrates CRM tools for precise targeting, moving beyond traditional sponsorships toward scalable and efficient advertising strategies.

Nuances of Brand Safety and Brand Suitability

The panelists differentiated between brand safety (content unsuitable for any advertiser) and brand suitability (content that may or may not align with specific advertiser preferences), underscoring the importance of tools and standards that allow for nuanced content alignment and advertiser-specific targeting.

Real-Time Verification and Campaign Adjustment

The discussion highlighted the critical role of real-time data in making campaign adjustments, underscoring that instant feedback mechanisms allow advertisers to refine their strategies according to performance metrics and content suitability, fostering a more dynamic and effective approach to podcast advertising.

Maria Breza on the Evolving Issue of Brand Safety and Content Suitability

“Part of the pleasure of podcasting is feeling like you’re having a conversation with a friend instead of consuming mass-produced content. It is a powerful environment for an advertiser to meet the consumer with their message. But if the advertiser insists on having perfectly clean content with no profanity of any kind, they’re really cutting off a whole bunch of reach. So my question to them would be: have you truly thought about the podcast medium, and is that what you want to be doing? It comes up a lot as well with true crime and violence. So many brands often say no violence, no guns, no arms, no ammunition…and then they don’t run on any true crime, and that may not have been their intent..”

Looking Ahead

Podcast Movement Evolutions 2024 was an exceptional opportunity that allowed us to deepen our connections within the podcasting community and further empower brands to succeed in their podcast advertising endeavors.

Did you miss us at Podcast Movement Evolutions? Contact us today to learn more about our offerings or to schedule a meeting with our team. 

by Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

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