Retail marketers are facing a highly competitive season where every budget decision needs to prove it can drive real sales. Digital audio stands out here because it captures attention at the right moments, helping brands spark conversions and build lasting shopper loyalty.

The Retail Rush Meets the Audio Advantage

This peak shopping period brings intense competition, and brands are prioritizing media that can influence shoppers closer to the moment of purchase. Retail media spend is climbing globally, and in the US, programmatic digital audio is expected to reach $2.26 billion in 2025. The reason is simple: During Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and year-end promotions, shoppers are flooded with messages on every screen. 

Today’s shoppers move fluidly from one screen to another and from one place to the next. Someone might scroll through gift ideas on a phone during a commute, compare prices on a laptop later in the evening, then stop by a store on the drive home. Digital audio reaches people in those in-between moments, when their hands might be busy but their attention is still open.

About 79% of Americans age 12 and up listen each month, with even higher numbers among younger listeners. And it works. Studies show that audio ads create strong recall and can influence brand choice, helping turn seasonal interest into actual purchases.

Audio Adtech Has Your Back

As more shoppers tune in through digital audio, the technology behind it has accelerated to meet the pace of retail. Modern audio adtech gives marketers the flexibility and automation they need during the busiest time of year.

With the right adtech in place, retail marketers can automate key processes and still deliver ads that feel timely and personal. Imagine promoting a new line of sweaters on a cold morning or reminding a shopper about curbside pickup when they are just minutes away from your store.

This kind of agility sets the stage for what comes next, moving from reactive campaigns to storytelling that adapts to every listener’s moment.

Personalization at Scale With Dynamic Creatives

Personalized audio advertising no longer has to be complicated. By leveraging Dynamic Creatives with Synthetic Voice technology, brands can now produce studio-quality audio spots in minutes. This tech uses data such as location, weather, time of day, device type, demographics, and listening context to create millions of unique ad variations in real time. A listener in Chicago on a rainy afternoon might hear something completely different from someone in Austin on a sunny morning.

By making personalization fast and scalable, dynamic audio helps brands move beyond one-size-fits-all messaging and connect with people in more meaningful ways.

Here is how marketers use it:

• Instant voice production: Generate natural-sounding voiceovers without studio time or voice talent.
• Flexible workflows: Preview, edit, and launch campaigns quickly through a self-service platform.
• Consistent branding: Maintain a unified brand voice across thousands of creative variations.
• Real-time personalization: Match each listener’s moment, mood, or location so every ad feels relevant.

Smarter Targeting That Reaches Every Listener

Personalization is powerful, and precision targeting takes it even further. As the retail season ramps up and consumers face endless messages, the real advantage lies in reaching the right people at exactly the right time with messages that feel natural and relevant.

Tools like contextual targeting make this possible by using non-personal, privacy-friendly signals like listening patterns and even music choice. This helps brands move beyond one-size-fits-all campaigns and deliver messages that feel timely, relatable, and personal.

Here are a few ways this can work:

• Location targeting: Reach listeners nearby. A shopper walking past a mall might hear an ad for a weekend sale close by.
• Weather targeting: Match creative to the forecast. A coffee brand can push hot drinks on a cold morning or iced options when the temperature climbs.
• Multicultural targeting: Reflect diverse audiences. Build connections with growth audiences using bilingual ads or cultural messaging that resonates.
• Contextual music targeting: Align ads with what people are listening to. A shopper streaming a holiday playlist or relaxing after work hears a message that fits the mood.

How Retailers Can Activate Audio Campaigns

For retailers, success during the shopping season depends on being present at the moments that influence buying decisions. Audio connects with listeners throughout their day in ways that feel natural and personal.

Here is how to make it work:

• Plan for key retail moments: Launch campaigns early to build awareness before major sale events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Use audio to stay top of mind while other channels compete for visual space.
• Keep creative fresh: Update messages based on timing, weather, or product trends. Highlight weekend deals, feature trending categories, and shift tone as the season evolves.
• Reach nearby shoppers: Use location data to deliver local promotions and combine it with multicultural and contextual targeting for greater relevance.
• Integrate across channels: Pair audio with display, social, or in-store messaging to strengthen recognition. Someone who hears a podcast ad is more likely to recall the product later while shopping.
• Measure and refine: Track engagement, conversions, and brand lift, then use insights to optimize creative and targeting in real time.

Boost Your Retail Season With Audio

Ready to enhance your retail marketing strategy? 

Contact AdsWizz to learn how our digital audio solutions can help you increase both in-store and online sales this season.

by Bianca Stanescu, Senior Director, Product Marketing

The post Driving Conversions with Audio Ads During Peak Retail Season appeared first on AdsWizz.

Contextual advertising doesn’t rely on personal data but still connects with listeners based on their situational context. It’s smart, scalable, and built for a privacy-first future.

Privacy obligations aside, it simply works better to serve relevant ads to the right audiences at the right moments without tracking their every move. When consumers tell you where they like to spend time, there’s no need to peek through the blinds.

Why Contextual Is the New Gold Standard

People are spending their days with audio, and the numbers speak for themselves.

According to Edison Research’s Share of Ear Report (Q1 2025), listeners are spending four hours and 29 minutes hours a day with audio, using it as a companion throughout their daily routines.

SiriusXM Media’s User Study 2024 reinforces this: 64% of people listen while doing chores, 50% while cooking, 48% while working, and 44% while exercising. More than 30% also tune in while commuting, getting ready, playing video games, or relaxing at home. Nearly 80% of all audio listening happens when visual media isn’t available, making audio more integrated into daily life than most screen-based advertising.

That level of listener integration demands the same from advertisers. Ads that align with listeners’ routines boost brand connection by 12%, while ads that miss the moment achieve just a 3% lift.

The impact of contextual relevance is striking:

• Emotional impact is 156% higher with culturally relevant ads.
• According to Deloitte Digital, brands incorporating personalization into their ad campaigns experienced a 50% growth, with advertising budgets rising by 29% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
• More than 70% of brands and agencies are expanding their first-party data sets.

Mood, Weather, and Location Signals in Audio

Contextual targeting is a win-win for listeners and advertisers. It connects brands with more receptive audiences while reducing irrelevant ad clutter for those who might otherwise be open to the right message.

For example, a regional outdoor brand can promote lightweight waterproof outerwear to listeners within 25 miles of retail locations who are streaming a “Running Mix” during rainy weather—all without compromising privacy.

Weather Targeting

Weather influences behavior, and your advertising should reflect that. With updates every 60 minutes using live data from trusted sources, weather targeting allows brands to deliver messages tailored to current conditions. 

Trigger dynamic ads based on weather types like thunderstorms, fog, drizzle, clear skies, or snow, and go deeper with environmental triggers such as UV index, humidity, barometric pressure, and pollen count.

Location Targeting

Today’s location targeting goes far beyond basic geography. With powerful tools, you can go beyond the basics and engage listeners where they are with surgical precision.

• Reach users by country, region, city, DMA, or MSA
• Target specific points of interest, like a five-mile radius around airports, gyms, restaurants, or campuses
• Home in on postal codes or even exact GPS coordinates

Mood Targeting

In audio environments, mood isn’t just a vibe—it’s a signal. We analyze over 60 million tracks and use a blend of machine learning, expert human curation, and real-time scoring to detect emotional tone. With 10 rich mood segments, advertisers can align their message with listeners’ emotional state, whether that’s focused, happy, angsty, or soothing.

Life Moments, Trends, and Seasonal Targeting 

Advertisers can go even deeper with new segmentation layers that reflect how, when, and why people listen. Dynamic Top Lineups, Music by Activity, and Seasonality segments unlock powerful new ways to match your message to the moment.

• Activity-based segments let you engage during everyday routines—from working out and studying to cooking, gaming, or partying.
• Top Chart segments help you tap into cultural momentum with listeners who stream the week’s Top 50 songs, with added filters for Millennials and Gen Z.
• Seasonal moments give your brand relevance during key life and cultural events, like back-to-school, Pride Month, summer vacation, or Halloween.

Enhancing Listener Relevance Without Personal Identifiers

Privacy concerns are real, with 65% of Americans skeptical about data privacy efforts and 71% saying they would end their relationship with companies that mishandle sensitive data. Most important to advertisers: 83% of consumers consider data protection crucial for building trust.

The industry’s response has been transformative, with solutions like anonymized data processing, clean rooms, and predictive audiences leading the way. AdsWizz’s partnership with pioneering ID-less firm NumberEight exemplifies this shift. AdsWizz uses anonymized contextual data and machine learning to deliver precise demographic insights without compromising personal privacy.

We’re committed to privacy-first advertising, with 60% of global targeting on AdsWizz now using contextual signals. This marks a clear shift from traditional tracking to smarter, more respectful methods. Simply put, advertisers connect with audiences using the information people choose to share, not what they want to keep private.

Skip Ahead in Your Audio Advertising With AdsWizz

We’re not just part of the audio advertising evolution. We’re leading it.

Our technology delivers personalized, privacy-safe audio ads at scale. Each month, we power 16 billion impressions and scan 40 million podcast episodes to ensure brand safety and relevance. Tap into contextual targeting through weather, mood, location and more data signals—while meeting the highest privacy standards. 

Ready to transform your approach? Connect with us today!

by Bianca Stanescu, Senior Director, Product Marketing

The post Activate Smarter Audio Advertising With Contextual Targeting appeared first on AdsWizz.

As outlined in The State of Audio Adtech Report 2025, digital audio advertising offers so much more than placing ads in a linear stream. It’s about meeting listeners where they are through podcasts, music streaming, gaming, and even social media to create cohesive, multi-platform experiences that resonate.

Why Publishers and Advertisers Need to Go Omnichannel

With 31% of weekly podcast listeners tuning in via YouTube, it’s clear that audiences are consuming content across channels. In fact, 84% of Gen Z podcast listeners prefer podcasts with a video component, and 45% seek additional content from hosts on YouTube and social media, according to a SiriusXM Media Podsurvey User Study. Consumers now crave deeper connections and richer storytelling, making cross-platform engagement essential.

For brands, this shift is an opportunity. By blending audio with video, social media, and interactive elements, advertisers and publishers can create engaging, multi-dimensional experiences. The key is to connect with audiences in ways that resonate, using dynamic ads, hybrid formats, and interactive storytelling to capture attention across platforms.

Additionally, contextual targeting enables brands to reach listeners in the most relevant moments—whether they’re tuning in to a workout playlist, an industry-specific podcast, or a news briefing—maximizing the impact of ads and driving deeper engagement.

To thrive, brands must think bigger, adapt faster, and embrace new engagement strategies. Those that do will foster deeper connections, drive greater loyalty, and stay ahead of the competition. As audiences continue to demand richer, more interactive experiences, publishers and advertisers must move beyond traditional approaches—actively integrating new strategies and technologies to stay ahead.

Adapting to the New Audio Ad Landscape

To capitalize on these opportunities and adapt to evolving audience behaviors, brands and advertisers must embrace strategies that align with omnichannel consumption trends. By leveraging innovative tools, they can create personalized, immersive campaigns that genuinely resonate with today’s consumers—driving deeper engagement and delivering measurable results.

Key innovations unlocking new opportunities:

• Second Screen retargeting: Reinforce your audio messages. Second Screen retargeting combines the power of audio with display advertising, ensuring that listeners who hear an ad receive a follow-up visual ad on the web within two days. In a campaign AdsWizz ran with MedExpress, Second Screen retargeting helped achieve a 0.63% click-through rate (CTR), a 37% increase compared to the industry average, leading to over 1.2 million second-screen impressions.
• AudioPixel for real-time insights: Measuring audio engagement has never been more precise. AudioPixel connects ad exposure to consumer actions, tracking whether users visit websites or make purchases—providing advertisers with actionable insights into demographic, geographic, and behavioral trends. For example, Hyundai leveraged AudioPixel to track engagement for its IONIQ 6 EV campaign, resulting in 8,000+ leads, a 6.3% companion banner CTR, and a 1.3% conversion rate from in-game audio to test drives.
• Voice-activated ads for effortless interactions: Voice-activated ads enable seamless brand interactions via smart speakers and assistants, making it easy to redeem offers, book services, or explore products. These ads encourage interaction to drive instant engagement, transforming digital audio advertising. Lagardère Publicité News leveraged AdsWizz Voice Ads on Europe 1, allowing listeners to interact via voice commands to redeem offers, book services, or download apps effortlessly. The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Tourisme campaign achieved a 97% listener-through rate, showcasing the power of voice-activated engagement.
  

The Future of Digital Audio Advertising Starts Now

The future of digital audio advertising is already here. Brands that embrace more channels, advanced formats, and interactive experiences will be the ones that truly connect with audiences. Innovation is transforming passive listening into measurable engagement. As digital audio expands across platforms, now is the time to leverage cutting-edge adtech to foster stronger, more engaging relationships with audiences.

Want to dive deeper into this and the latest audio adtech trends for 2025 (and beyond)?

Download The State of Audio Adtech Report 2025 to stay ahead of the curve and maximize your digital audio strategy!

by Nicoleta Vieru, Senior Staff Product Marketing Manager

The post Grow Your Digital Audio Advertising with More Channels and Formats appeared first on AdsWizz.

Beyond the Basics: First-Party Data and Contextual Targeting in Action

The key isn’t just knowing what someone likes—it’s understanding when and how to deliver a message that resonates and creates meaningful connections. Instead of relying on broad strokes, brands and publishers today should harness first-party data and contextual intelligence to create and deliver hyper-targeted, privacy-compliant ad experiences. 

For example, it’s now possible to combine location targeting with weather insights for an even more focused and personal approach. If it’s a rainy day in a specific neighborhood, food delivery apps can reach listeners staying in, while auto service brands can target regions hit by storms with reminders for repairs or checks. By tapping into real-world context, audio ads don’t just show up at the right time—they actually make sense in the moment, feeling more like helpful tips and less like background noise.

Why First-Party Data is More Valuable than Ever

With more users opting out of traditional tracking, first-party data has become the gold standard for delivering relevant ads—without compromising privacy. Brands and publishers that leverage their own data—such as listening behavior, purchase history, and preferences—can deliver personalized messages without relying on third-party cookies.

And the impact is clear:

• 71% of brands, agencies, and publishers are expanding their first-party data strategies, moving away from their historically heavy reliance on third-party audiences.
• Brands adopting personalization have grown by 50%, with budgets increasing by 29% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
• Culturally relevant ads generate a 156% greater emotional impact, according to a study by MAGNA Media Trials and SiriusXM Media, “Challenging the ‘One & Done’ Approach: Connecting Culturally Through Digital Audio.

The best part? With first-party data, publishers regain control of all online interactions across their content. At the same time, brands can use highly relevant touchpoints for their messaging, making it a win-win for both parties. 

Contextual Targeting is Refining the Moment, Not Just the Audience

Having data is just the first step—what really matters is how you put it to work. A great ad should feel like a natural part of the experience, not something that disrupts it. Think about it: Delivering an ad for a sunrise yoga retreat to listeners streaming a meditation playlist can hit all the right notes–and feel downright serendipitous. Contextual targeting has evolved far beyond simply aligning ads with general content categories. Modern platforms now ensure ads fit the content but also the listener’s mindset and environment. With 60% of targeting dimensions on AdsWizz’s platform already contextual—based on impressions run on the platform—it’s clear that hyper-relevant messaging is the new norm.

This is where contextual targeting truly shines, allowing brands to craft hyper-relevant ads that feel seamless, timely, and genuinely useful to listeners.

Mood-based targeting

Music sets the tone for how people feel—whether that’s pumped up, chilled out, or somewhere in between. Studies show that during stressful periods, listeners actively turn to music as a coping mechanism, reinforcing the idea that audio content is deeply tied to emotional states. The AdsWizz mood library has over 60 million songs across nine mood segments, including one called Angsty—because sometimes you just need to embrace the vibe. Imagine someone blasting some Metallica, the last thing they want is a bubbly ad for cherry-flavored lipgloss. The right ad at the right time doesn’t just resonate—it respects the mood.

Weather-based targeting

Weather shapes moods, cravings, and shopping decisions. A cold, rainy Friday evening? Perfect for a cozy comfort food delivery ad. A high UV index? A well-timed reminder to grab that sunscreen. And when temperatures drop at higher altitudes, it’s the ideal moment to nudge listeners toward warm sweaters or ski boots.

Our platform updates live weather data every 60 minutes, ensuring ad messaging aligns with real-time conditions. By staying relevant in the moment, brands can personalize their approach and maximize impact—because no one wants to hear about ice-cold lemonade when they’re snowed in.

Location-based targeting

Location targeting isn’t just about hitting a city or zip code anymore—it’s about meeting listeners exactly where they are. You wouldn’t find an ad for snow boots useful when you’re sweltering at an outdoor summer concert, now would you? Our platform goes beyond standard geographic targeting with precision tools that let advertisers reach people down to a concert venue, a student campus, or even a vintage fair. With real-time data, location-based targeting makes ads feel appropriate and, most importantly, valuable. 

Podcast Contextual Targeting

Not all podcast listeners are created equal. Some are crunching finance news, others are knee-deep in true crime, and a select few are fully committed to the art of artisanal sourdough. But here’s the thing—just because someone’s tuning into a day-trading podcast doesn’t mean they’re not shopping for hiking boots.

Through our partnership with Comscore, we go beyond podcast genres to match consumer preferences with real behavioral insights. With over 300 audience segments spanning TV viewership, gaming habits, life stages, and more, you’re not just casting a wide net—you’re dropping your line exactly where the right listeners are biting.

Bringing It All Together: Smarter, More Relevant Audio Ads

The days of one-size-fits-all audio advertising are over. The real magic happens when first-party data meets contextual targeting, creating privacy-friendly, high-impact campaigns that actually make listeners pay attention—without feeling like an interruption.

The brands winning in 2025 and beyond won’t be the ones using contextual targeting at a surface level—they’ll be the ones refining it, using it dynamically, and making every impression count. If you’re not already embracing these strategies, now is the time to start.

Ready to Take Your Audio Advertising to the Next Level?

Download The State of Audio Adtech Report 2025 for more exclusive insights on the latest trends and strategies shaping the future of digital audio.

by Alexandra Ilie, Senior Product Marketing Manager

The post How First-Party Data and Contextual Targeting Are Transforming Audio Ads in 2025 appeared first on AdsWizz.

Why Weather Targeting Works So Well

Weather influences how people feel, make decisions, and ultimately, what they buy. Imagine a rainy day—perfect for a cozy evening at home. Now, picture a sunny day; it’s ideal for shopping, outdoor plans, or grabbing an ice-cold drink. With weather targeting, a brand can match its message to these natural behaviors, reaching people exactly when its product or service is most relevant.

This feature uses live data from trusted sources, updating every 60 minutes for real-time accuracy. Whether it’s rain, snow, high temps, or UV index levels, advertisers can zero in on specific weather conditions, ensuring their campaigns resonate while minimizing wasted ad spend.

How to Use Weather Targeting for Maximum Impact

Weather targeting in digital audio is incredibly versatile:

• Retail and seasonal promotions: Clothing brands can promote winter coats to listeners in cold climates, while summer brands can spotlight swimwear and sunscreen during warm, sunny days.
• Food delivery and convenience services: Delivery apps can reach listeners on rainy or snowy days, reminding them they can enjoy their favorite foods from the comfort of home.
• Home improvement and auto services: Brands offering repairs or maintenance can target audiences after extreme weather, providing timely reminders for storm repairs or car checks.

The Benefits of Weather Targeting in Digital Audio Advertising

Incorporate weather targeting into your digital audio strategy to ensure ads deliver the right message at the perfect moment, offering unique advantages that enhance relevance and engagement:

• Increased relevance: Ads that mirror a listener’s current environment feel more natural and connected.
• Cost efficiency: Targeting specific conditions reduces wasted impressions, meaning ads reach listeners at the right time, boosting conversion rates.
• Higher engagement: Ads that reflect what listeners are experiencing right now have higher engagement, recall, and interaction rates.

Make Your Campaigns Unforgettable with Weather Targeting

Weather targeting takes digital audio ads to the next level by delivering timely, relevant messages that engage listeners when they’re most likely to act. Ready to make your campaigns more impactful and cost-effective? Start using weather targeting today and connect with your audience like never before, rain or shine!

• Download the AdsWizz eBook, Advanced Targeting in Digital Audio Advertising, to discover how it and other advanced strategies can help your campaigns resonate.
• While AdsWizz’s weather targeting is enhancing engagement with contextually relevant messaging, our partnership with data firm NumberEight is transforming audience targeting with ID-less advertising, balancing precision and privacy to deliver innovative podcast solutions. Read more here.
• Do you have more questions and want to connect with us directly? Visit our Contact Us page to learn more.

by Hannah Nardone, Manager, Sales Marketing at SiriusXM Media

The post Supercharge Digital Audio Ads with Weather Targeting appeared first on AdsWizz.