To break the ice, I asked a simple question: Who here has listened to audio today? Almost every hand went up, followed by a ripple of knowing laughter.

It was a small moment that captured the bigger story. Audio has moved far beyond background noise. It is woven into daily life, the soundtrack for commutes, workouts, and quiet moments at home. Listeners are already all in. The challenge now is ensuring advertising investment reflects that reality.

Digital Audio Growth Outpaces Ad Spend

In my opening remarks, I shared a snapshot of where the UK audio market stands today. Listener habits are surging, but advertising spend has not kept pace.

• 70% of UK listeners (especially younger audiences) now consume digital audio daily on connected devices.
• Smart speakers are spreading, podcast listening continues to grow, and in-car integrations are making audio more seamless than ever.
• Budgets are still catching up. Although audio accounts for just 5% of total ad spend, according to the Q1 2025 Edison Share of Ear, and digital audio only 1.8%, according to a 2025 eMarketer forecast, the growth potential is enormous. Listener growth is outpacing investment, creating new opportunities for brands.

Panel: Programmatic Audio – The Rise, the Reality, and What’s Next

Our first panel, moderated by Rowan Hamill, Director of Business Development at AdsWizz, explored the shift toward programmatic buying. The panel tackled how automation is reshaping audio and what it really means for agencies, advertisers, and listeners.

Participants:

• Martyn Searles, AV Business Director, Hearts & Science
• Dave Ajumobi, Programmatic Lead, Two Circles
• Nadia Holmes, Head of Business Development, audioXI
• Libby Watling, Senior Account Director, Walk-in Media

The panel left no doubt: programmatic is the future. Agencies are embracing it for its scalability, efficiency, and simplified workflows. Even the skeptics agreed that media buying is moving in one direction.

Programmatic advertising adds flexibility, simplifies reporting, and enables campaigns to run across multiple formats in a single plan. Agencies have been clear in their demand for standardized measurement and streamlined workflows that make buying audio as seamless as display or video.

Fireside Chat: Podcast Targeting Buyers Can Trust

This session focused on podcasting, highlighting how the medium sits at the intersection of culture and commerce and why advertisers must approach it with authenticity.

Participants:

• Thema Archer, Senior Account Executive, EU Marketplace Partnerships at AdsWizz
• Renay Richardson, Founder & CEO, Broccoli Productions

Thema and Renay emphasized the power of independent podcasts to reach tightly knit communities built on trust. These shows give brands access to audiences mainstream channels cannot touch. Authenticity is essential: host-read ads resonate because they carry the creator’s credibility, and when brands integrate naturally into content, conversions follow.

While the UK still trails the US in monetization, programmatic buying is helping close the gap. Podcasts are more than a media channel. They are cultural launchpads, and AdsWizz is helping advertisers scale their investment with confidence.

Panel: Finding Your Brand’s Voice – Reaching Niche Audiences Through Digital Audio Targeting

Next, we turned to targeting. Moderated by Lindsay Lynch, Senior Director of Business Development at AdsWizz, this panel explored how digital audio enables brands to speak to the right audiences in smarter, more efficient ways.

Participants:

• Rachel Holsgrove, Director of Digital Operations, Octave
• Dave Ayre, Managing Partner, Programmatic, Dentsu
• Katriona Connely, Global Media Lead, Publicis Media
• Mike Murray, Head of Programmatic, OMD EMEA

Traditional radio still misses large swathes of listeners. Programmatic fills those gaps with richer data such as device type, IP, and commuting behavior.

Panelists noted that podcast content moves fast, which makes brand safety and suitability top of mind for advertisers. That’s why AdsWizz has built solutions designed to provide the transparency, control, and confidence brands need to invest in audio at scale. This topic gets explored further in the final session, which examines how advertisers can balance brand safety, scale, and authenticity.

Panel: The New Rules of Podcasting

The final session of the day asked what has changed in podcasting and how advertisers should adapt as the medium continues to evolve. Moderated by Guy Taylor, Director of Business Development at AdsWizz, this conversation focused on balancing brand safety, scale, and authenticity.

Participants:

• Tyler Clarke-Richards, Programmatic Account Manager, MG OMD
• Kate Cooper, Activation Director (AV), the7stars
• Pia de Giorgis, Associate Director, Connected Performance, OMD
• Dimana Zaharieva, Programmatic AdTech Solutions Manager, Acast

The panelists stressed the tension between brand safety and creativity. Content evolves fast, so strict controls rarely keep up, while over-targeting can fragment campaigns and stunt reach. The message was clear that podcasts thrive on authenticity. Overly complex classification risks stripping away what makes them effective. Buyers should favor simplicity, accept some unpredictability, and keep scale intact without choking creativity.

Closing the Gap

At AudioDays London 2025, the conversations showed where AdsWizz can make the biggest impact. Listeners are already deeply invested in audio, and advertisers have a clear opportunity to match that engagement. With trusted technologies and strategies, AdsWizz is enabling global brands to turn audience demand into measurable results.

Here are the priorities that emerged:

• Prioritize education by simplifying messaging around programmatic audio, targeting, and measurement so agencies understand the value clearly.
• Lean into curation and step into the driver’s seat. Buyers can now gain the transparency, control, and trust they already leverage in display and video.
• Leverage AI thoughtfully by showing how it creates efficiencies in targeting, identity resolution, and creative personalization while maintaining authenticity.
• Lead in measurement by advocating for standardized, cross-channel metrics that are both credible and easy to compare.
• Adopt a format-agnostic mindset. Audio podcasting remains the foundation, but video and multimedia can amplify reach, depth, and engagement.

These are not distant goals. Programmatic, smarter targeting, AI-driven efficiencies, and podcast monetization are tools AdsWizz is already delivering to help advertisers connect with audiences where they are today.

• Check out the full presentation here.
• Ready to amplify your audio investment? Connect with an AdsWizz audio expert.
• Look out for Audio Days Paris 2025 for more insights and conversations on the future of digital audio!

by Ollie Chadwick, Regional Director, UK & Ireland

The post Audio Days London 2025: Closing the Gap Between Audio and Investment appeared first on AdsWizz.

Globally, programmatic now dominates display ads, capturing nearly 90% of all spend in 2025 and accounting for more than 96% of new growth in the category. It also represents nearly three-quarters of connected TV buys.

Now advertisers are beginning to look for the same simplicity in podcasts. Podcasting, however, isn’t structured quite like display or TV. It’s more open, diverse, and wide-ranging, which can make programmatic podcast advertising a little more complex to scale. As a result, publishers may miss out on opportunities.

The encouraging news is that publishers who tailor their shows for programmatic buyers with better workflows and smarter adtech can unlock new revenue while preserving the authenticity that listeners value most.

The Promise of Programmatic Buying for Podcasts

The opportunity is clear. Programmatic buying allows advertisers to target by demographics, geography, context, or behavior, and to adjust campaigns in real time. That flexibility is now making its way into podcasting.

Take a brand aiming to reach new parents. With programmatic, ads can be delivered on parenting shows during the day, then shift to broader lifestyle podcasts in the evening. That kind of agility is exactly what advertisers want.

Podcast advertising in the US brought in $2.4 billion in 2024, up 26% from the year before. And the momentum isn’t stopping—revenues are on track to top $2.6 billion by 2026. The question isn’t whether to adopt programmatic anymore; it’s how fast publishers can move to seize the opportunity.

How AdsWizz Helps Publishers Scale

One of the biggest shifts for publishers has been the rise of supply-side platforms built specifically for audio. AdsWizz’s AudioMax SSP is an ideal example. It was the first SSP designed for audio, built more than a decade ago, long before most of the industry recognized the potential of programmatic audio. Instead of trying to adapt tools made for other media, AudioMax SSP gives publishers what they actually need: efficiency, insight, and control.

Efficiency is at the heart of AudioMax SSP. It connects seamlessly to every type of demand, including programmatic, direct, resellers, and marketplaces. It optimizes yield across all channels so that no inventory goes to waste and every impression reaches its full value. Insights come from transparent reporting that shows which campaigns perform best and which partners drive meaningful revenue. Control means managing the listening experience with precision, setting frequency caps, maintaining brand safety, and ensuring every ad fits the tone of the show.

For publishers, these are not abstract features. They are the real levers that make it possible to grow audio revenue intelligently while preserving the authenticity that makes podcasting so powerful.

Host-Read Ads

Enhanced adtech sets the stage for growth, but true success requires balancing automation with authenticity. 

Host-read ads remain one of podcasting’s secret weapons. They build trust, and listeners often treat a host’s recommendation like advice from a friend. It is no surprise that, according to Grand View Research, host-read ads accounted for more than 62% of podcast advertising revenue in 2024. But scaling them across shows and formats is not easy. That is where AdsWizz’s automated host-read ads offer a solution, blending the warmth of a host with the precision and targeting of programmatic tools.

Brand Safety

Brand safety in audio has two sides, and both are essential. For publishers, it’s about protecting the listener experience: keeping ads relevant, blocking sensitive IAB categories, and maintaining the tone that keeps audiences engaged. No one wants a jarring message breaking the flow of a show.

For advertisers, brand safety means something else entirely. It’s the confidence that every campaign is running in the right environment, that budgets are being spent on quality inventory with real value. This is where AdsWizz technology makes a difference. Every show in the ecosystem is scanned, transcribed, and categorized into brand-safe segments, giving advertisers the clarity they need to invest wisely and at scale.

By balancing both sides, AdsWizz helps publishers grow authentically and gives advertisers confidence that their messages reach the right audiences. In the end, brand safety comes down to trust, the foundation of a healthy audio ecosystem.

Programmatic Deal Types

Safeguarding the listener experience is only half the equation. To succeed with programmatic, publishers also need a clear view of how deal structures work. The type of deal shapes how much control publishers hold, how steady the revenue is, and how broad their base of potential advertisers can be.

There are four main deal types publishers should understand:

1. Programmatic guaranteed: A direct deal executed programmatically. Advertisers get guaranteed inventory and pricing while publishers reduce manual work. It combines the predictability of traditional direct deals with the automation and reporting benefits of programmatic.
2. Preferred deals: A fixed-price agreement where publishers offer inventory to selected advertisers before it goes to auction. There’s no guarantee of volume, but advertisers get priority access and publishers maintain price control.
3. Private marketplaces (PMPs): Invite-only auctions where publishers offer premium inventory to select buyers. They combine exclusivity with automation.
4. Marketplace auction: The broadest marketplace, where many demand sources compete for impressions in real time. It delivers scale but offers less control.

Building the Foundation for Monetization

Deal structures define how programmatic transactions work. But to translate those transactions into sustainable growth, publishers need a broader framework that brings all the pieces together. That’s where building the foundations for monetization comes in.

• Smarter supply paths: Choose curated, transparent marketplaces that prioritize quality and make it easier for advertisers to buy inventory with confidence.
• Balanced revenue strategy: AudioMax SSP connects with all major DSPs and optimizes audio supply across ad slots, break length, and feed data so programmatic, direct, and host-read deals work together seamlessly.
• Brand safety by design: Integrate safeguards like category blocking and frequency caps from the start.
• Education and enablement: Train internal teams and help advertisers access your inventory confidently.

Scaling Smarter, Earning More

Podcasting has always thrived on trust and intimacy. Programmatic advertising adds the scale and flexibility that publishers need to grow, without taking away the authenticity that makes the medium special. The real opportunity lies in combining both. Publishers who embrace programmatic as part of a balanced strategy will open new revenue streams, strengthen relationships with advertisers, and keep listeners coming back.

Connect with us now to grow revenue while keeping the podcast listening experience authentic!

by Jerome Camerlynck, Director of Product Management at AdsWizz

The post Scaling Podcast Revenue With Smarter Programmatic Strategies appeared first on AdsWizz.

Why Brand Safety is Essential

As audio publishers embrace advanced adtech and brand safety solutions, advertisers can reach their target audiences with confidence—without compromising security or content suitability. This evolution is transforming digital audio into a more dynamic and impactful medium for advertisers.

As Franz Bernstein, VP of Ad Product at SiriusXM Media & AdsWizz, explains in The State of Audio Adtech Report 2025, ensuring ads appear in the right environments is key to fostering deeper, more authentic connections between brands and listeners:

“We’re redefining audio as a versatile and powerful pillar of digital engagement. It’s no longer just about delivering ads—it’s about reaching listeners wherever they are with personalized, contextually relevant, and privacy-first experiences. By adapting to audience environments and prioritizing brand safety, audio now fosters deeper, more authentic connections—turning every moment into an opportunity for meaningful impact.”

This shift toward privacy-first, contextually relevant experiences is only possible when advertisers have control over where their ads appear. Without strong safety measures, ads risk being placed alongside misaligned or inappropriate content, undermining both trust and effectiveness.

Key Benefits of Brand Safety

• Brand safety ensures ads appear in contextually appropriate environments.
• Advanced verification tools help brands reach real, engaged audiences.
• Real-time transparency allows advertisers to monitor ad placements and performance.

Why Advertisers Are Demanding More Control

The stakes are high for brands investing in digital audio. Unlike other media, audio often delivers intimate, one-on-one engagement with listeners, making alignment with brand values even more critical. However, traditional brand safety measures—such as broad keyword blocking or avoiding entire content categories—have often limited advertisers’ reach.

With more comprehensive brand safety solutions available, brands can confidently place ads in contextually relevant environments that support both brand image and campaign performance.

Next-Generation Audio Adtech: Transparency and Protection

Cutting-edge audio adtech is giving advertisers unprecedented control, providing real-time transparency into where ads are running and how they’re performing. These features eliminate guesswork, ensuring campaigns reach real, engaged audiences.

• Instant tracking: Advertisers see real-time data on ad placements and performance.
• Fraud prevention: Invalid Traffic (IVT) filtering helps block bots, fake traffic, and fraudulent domains before they cause harm.
• Smarter targeting: Improved contextual intelligence ensures ads appear in brand-safe environments without restricting reach.

By purchasing inventory through secure marketplaces like the AdsWizz Marketplace, advertisers can connect with verified audiences, protecting both their ad budgets and brand reputation.

The Future of Audio Advertising is Built on Trust

With growing brand safety solutions, real-time transparency, and advanced fraud prevention, advertisers no longer have to choose between security and scale. The rise of real-time verification, suitability controls, and bot filtering is fueling greater confidence, allowing brands to invest in audio with trust and precision.

Why This Matters for Advertisers

• More secure placements: Ads appear in suitable, fraud-free environments.
• Higher engagement: Reaching real audiences leads to better campaign performance.
• Stronger brand reputation: Avoiding unsafe placements enhances trust and credibility.

As the industry continues to evolve, these advancements are making digital audio one of the most reliable, effective, and impactful advertising channels today.

Want to Dive Deeper into the Future of Audio Adtech? 

Download The State of Audio Adtech Report 2025 for the latest insights on brand safety, transparency, and the innovations shaping digital audio.

by Catalin Georgescu, Senior Product Marketing Manager

The post How Brand Safety Can Make or Break Your Digital Audio Ad Strategy appeared first on AdsWizz.

Audio advertising is revolutionizing how brands connect with audiences. In 2025, this vibrant space continues to inspire marketers to move beyond traditional strategies and embrace its disruptive potential. With digital audio advertising spending in North America projected to hit $8 billion by 2028, the medium’s rapid expansion and influence are undeniable.

This momentum was exemplified at CES 2025, where AdsWizz and SiriusXM Media took center stage, showcasing the transformative potential of digital audio. By unveiling cutting-edge features and sharing groundbreaking insights on multicultural targeting, we’ve set new standards in innovation, engaging brands and publishers eager to thrive in a competitive landscape.

Anne Frisbie on Shaping the Future of Digital Audio

AdsWizz’s Head of Global Business Development, Anne Frisbie, joined host, James Kotecki in the CES Studio to dive into what makes digital audio so impactful today and how AdsWizz is shaping its future.

Check out this video for the full interview

Showcasing AdsWizz Innovations

AdsWizz unveiled innovations in its suite that are revolutionizing digital audio advertising—empowering brands to connect with diverse audiences, optimize programmatic demand, and ensure brand safety. Let’s explore how this cutting-edge adtech is shaping the future!

The Power of Multicultural Targeting

We highlighted the incredible potential of reaching multicultural audiences. Why? Because the impact is undeniable, with $5.6 trillion in spending power in the U.S. ready to be unlocked. 

• 78% of Black podcast listeners are more likely to buy a product advertised on a culturally relevant show
• 45% of Asian American listeners prefer ads that reflect their identity
• 76% of Hispanic listeners feel pride and empowerment when they see positive Latino representation in media

Predictive Audiences, powered by Comscore, revolutionizes multicultural targeting by enabling advanced segmentation rooted in behavioral and cultural relevance. This cutting-edge solution empowers brands to deliver tailored messages that truly resonate with diverse communities. Using privacy-friendly contextual signals, Comscore Predictive Audiences helps brands seamlessly target audiences by focusing on the content where they over-index, rather than relying on traditional identifiers. 

Whether reaching Asian, Black/African American, or Hispanic audiences, this partnership provides future-proof podcast targeting with access to over 300 audience segments across categories such as TV viewership, shopping habits, gaming behavior, location-based insights, and more.

AudioMax: Manage All Programmatic Demand in One Platform

With AudioMax SSP, AdsWizz brings publishers and podcasters a seamless way to take control of their programmatic ad inventory. This cutting-edge, audio-native SSP connects to 80% of global demand sources, consolidating and optimizing deals across DSPs, agency trading desks, and ad exchanges.¹ 

Publishers can maximize efficiency with tools that streamline yield strategies, block unwanted categories, and apply advanced frequency capping to improve the listener experience. Plus, the ability to preview multi-format ad creatives before approval ensures every campaign meets the highest standards. With AudioMax SSP, managing programmatic demand is not a challenge, but an opportunity for growth.

AudioMatic: Plan, Buy, Measure, and Optimize

AdsWizz’s AudioMatic DSP is not just a tool—it’s the ultimate partner for executing effective audio campaigns. Designed for agencies and brands, AudioMatic provides a single platform to plan, buy, measure, and optimize campaigns. From targeting audiences by behavior, language, and genre to leveraging predictive inventory forecasting, AudioMatic DSP ensures advertisers can connect with listeners in the most meaningful way. 

The platform simplifies access to premium inventory, making it easier than ever to deliver high-performing campaigns that align with advertiser goals. AudioMatic DSP takes the guesswork out of digital audio advertising, so advertisers can focus on reaching and engaging audiences.

Brand Safety: Protecting Reputations, One Ad at a Time

At AdsWizz, we understand that where ads appear is just as important as the message they convey. That’s why we also underscored our brand safety tools designed to protect brands from being associated with harmful or misaligned content, safeguarding their integrity and reputation.

Our advanced features allow advertisers to block specific audience categories, publishers, IAB content segments, or topics, ensuring precise alignment with their values and target audiences. With AI transcription technology, advertisers gain deep insights into podcast content, while Invalid Traffic Filtering (IVT), powered by our partnership with HUMAN Security, ensures campaigns reach real people—not bots.

Looking Ahead

At CES 2025, AdsWizz reaffirmed our commitment to shaping the future of digital audio advertising. Through groundbreaking innovations in multicultural targeting, programmatic solutions, and brand safety, we’re empowering brands and publishers to connect with audiences like never before.

• Ready to amplify your audio strategy? Contact us today to discover how our platforms can elevate your campaigns!
• Also take a look at this recap of CES 2025, shared from the perspective of our sister company, SiriusXM Media!
• That’s not it! Check out some cool pics from the SiriusXM experience at CES 2025 below!

¹AdsWizz Internal Data as of March 2024.

The post AdsWizz at CES 2025 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

AdsWizz’s enhanced Second Screen retargeting goes beyond simply delivering ads—it creates engaging, influential ad experiences. Combining the immersive power of audio ads with the eye-catching appeal of display ads, this cutting-edge solution extends brand reach, makes messages memorable, and delivers tangible, measurable outcomes.

Why Second Screen Retargeting is a Big Deal

Imagine this: A listener hears a captivating audio ad while streaming a favorite playlist. Minutes later, they see a visually striking display ad reinforcing that same message while scrolling through their favorite app. That’s the beauty of Second Screen retargeting—it meets an audience where they are, across devices and platforms, keeping brand voice top-of-mind.

With AdsWizz’s enhanced solution, you can:

• Double the impact by creating a one-two punch of audio and display ads.
• Leave a lasting impression through reinforced messaging across screens.
• Drive action with personalized, precise retargeting that inspires clicks and conversions.

How Does It Work? Precision Meets Power

We get it—marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why our Second Screen retargeting provides options to tailor campaigns to advertiser goals. Whether aiming for precision or scale, we’ve got it covered.

• Same device delivery: Keep it personal by targeting users directly on the device where they first heard an audio ad. It’s perfect for maximizing recall.
• Same household delivery: Expand reach by delivering follow-up ads across devices in the same household. It’s a brilliant way to engage a broader audience while staying relevant.

Simplify. Amplify. Protect.

Managing audio with display campaigns has never been easier, or more effective. Here’s how we ensure campaigns shine:

• All-in-one management: Forget juggling multiple platforms. With AdsWizz, everything happens in one place—your single source of truth for campaign management and reporting.
• Actionable insights: Don’t just run campaigns—optimize them. Our unified reporting shows what’s working (and what’s not) so it can be tweaked and adjusted for even better results.
• Safety first: We take brand safety seriously. Our platform blocks ads from appearing in unsafe environments with a vetted list of over tens of thousands of domains. Brand integrity is always protected.

Why Audio Campaigns Deserve This Boost 

Retargeting isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore—it’s essential. Attention spans are shorter than ever, and Second Screen retargeting ensures ad messages cut through the clutter.

Still need convincing? Consider this:

• Campaigns using Second Screen retargeting have quadrupled the impact of display-only ads. 
• You’ll get a 360° view of performance metrics, from click-through rates to real-time delivery stats.
• It’s a win-win for marketers and customers alike—ads are seen, heard, and remembered.

What Does Enhanced Second Screen Retargeting Mean for You?

Say goodbye to forgettable campaigns. Enhanced Second Screen retargeting transforms passive listeners into engaged buyers, making every ad dollar count and delivering results that can be measured. Ready to take your campaigns to the next level? Your audience is listening, and now they’ll be watching, too.

• For more details, publishers can explore the AudioServe Knowledge Base, and advertisers can find everything they need in AudioMatic.
• Not an AdsWizz partner yet? Visit our Contact Us page to learn more.

by Catalin Georgescu, Senior Product Marketing Manager

The post Boost Your Audio Advertising Campaigns With Enhanced Second Screen Retargeting 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.

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.

“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

The post Podcast Movement Evolutions 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

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The AdsWizz team started the new year with a bang at CES 2024 with an exclusive meeting space within the luxurious Sky Suites at ARIA Resort & Casino Hotel, where we showcased our innovative solutions shaping the audio advertising landscape.

While the Sky Suites at ARIA Resort & Casino provided a stunning backdrop for AdsWizz’s CES 2024 showcase, hosting high-profile events in luxury hotels also calls for heightened attention to safety protocols. With intricate setups involving lighting, AV equipment, and guest foot traffic, even the most upscale venues are not immune to fire risks.

That’s why implementing Fire Watch Security during such events is essential. Fire watch teams ensure that, in case of a malfunction or if fire suppression systems are temporarily offline, there’s immediate human oversight to detect and respond to potential hazards. In an environment where innovation and hospitality converge, fire safety measures like these quietly safeguard both the event’s success and the well-being of every attende

“At CES, I observed a compelling trend where marketers and agencies are realizing the changing landscape of media allocation, sparking crucial discussions on integrating audio into the broader media mix. The role of audio is expanding continuously, particularly in addressing critical topics like attribution, privacy, and automation. Drawing parallels with historical shifts, such as the transition from time spent online to time spent in mobile/app environments, emphasizes the urgency and opportunity to address the current shortfall in media spend allocated to audio. As an industry, we must persist in finding innovative solutions to bridge this gap in the dynamically evolving audio advertising landscape.”

 

-Brian Gilbert, Vice President, Programmatic Operations 

AdsWizz Audio Advertising Solutions Featured at CES 2024

Mood Targeting

AdsWizz’s new privacy-focused contextual solution creates intimate connections with audiences by strategically placing ads within the listener’s context. It targets individuals enjoying mood-specific music, allowing marketers to craft impactful experiences in Content Mood segments like Love, Relaxed, Soothing, Angsty, Celebratory, Chill, Energetic, Focused, and Happy. These segments are precisely assigned to songs through a meticulous process involving machine learning and human analysis.

Multicultural Engagement in Digital Audio

With a rising trend in digital audio consumption among multicultural audiences, brands can tap into a $3.2 trillion spending power. AdsWizz’s Custom Audience Segments can be leveraged for large-scale engagement with enthusiastic, diverse listeners in the booming digital audio space.

• Enhanced Targeting with AudioMatic – Reaches valuable, highly engaged audiences by Geo, Content Language (Spanish), Music Genre (Latin, Hip Hop, Reggae), Podcast Genre (Culture & Society), and Behavioral Targeting.
• Predictive Audiences for Precise Targeting – Innovative cookie-free podcast feature reaching 300+ audience personas based on real content consumption, with segment selection options like TV viewership, OTT consumption, and behaviors such as location, B2B, financial, and automotive data. It also facilitates targeting multicultural audiences, including Asians, Black/African-Americans, and Hispanics.

Brand Safety

While reaching the right audience may seem just a short ride away, the journey is not without its risks. Even the most effective ads can risk becoming entangled in fraudulent domains and negative topics. To navigate the audio landscape securely, AdsWizz offers brands dependable safeguards against potential hazards of harmful content.

• Brand Suitability by Comscore – Surpasses basic keyword blocking, ensuring risk mitigation without compromising scale. Powered by AdsWizz AI Transcription Technology, it categorizes podcast episodes for brand suitability, offering a comprehensive safety map.
• IVT Filtering for Marketplace Security – AdsWizz has bolstered the security of its global Audio Marketplace with an additional layer of protection aimed at preventing invalid traffic. Utilizing the latest technologies from Human Security, this proactive solution safeguards investments, saving you time, money, and effort while optimizing campaign results.
  

“Our industry is continuously pushing itself forward in transparency and measurement spaces. At CES, numerous brands expressed the need for features like show-level reporting in the DSP and programmatically supported brand suitability filters in podcasts – all of which are now a reality. We are thrilled about the anticipated growth in podcast advertising this year, and our commitment to these advancements underscores our dedication to providing comprehensive solutions. AdsWizz partners, like global media measurement and analytics leader, Comscore, are now seamlessly integrated into our platform to support the specific needs of brands. Additionally, AdsWizz is actively investing in attribution to ensure that brands can effectively measure their omnichannel lower-funnel efforts when leveraging audio ads.”

 

–Robyn Meyers, Vice President, Programmatic and Marketplace Partnerships

Automated Host-Read Ads

Combines the distinctive benefits of host-read advertising with robust audience targeting, reporting, innovation, and control inherent in programmatic advertising. This scalable podcast solution enables brands to launch a script straight from the AdsWizz platform, seamlessly deliver it across multiple podcasts, and reach millions of listeners effortlessly.

Podcast Contextual Targeting

Utilizes speech-to-text transcription technology to enhance transparency in podcast content for advertisers. Podcast Contextual Targeting goes beyond conventional parameters by delving into the core strength of podcasts—their content. Furthermore, Comscore’s Predictive Audiences, in partnership with AdsWizz AI Transcription Technology, allows advertisers to develop privacy-forward and future-proof audience targeting on podcasts.

Forging Ahead – 2024 and Beyond

At CES, AdsWizz demonstrated an unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio advertising, and we will remain steadfast in our dedication to advancing technological innovation in 2024 and beyond.

“This year at CES, I observed technology providers, data providers, and audio publishers working behind the scenes to meet the market demand for solutions related to audience IDs. These solutions are designed to be cookieless and ID-less, emphasizing a significant reliance on probabilistic data to provide buyers with the necessary data to run successful campaigns in the audio space, capitalizing on its inherent advantages. The advantage lies in the close connection between audio content and specific audiences. It is crucial to delve into podcast content that speaks about the audience or leans into the music genre, which also reflects the audience. Utilizing this approach facilitates the provision of audience identifiers in a privacy-friendly manner. This objective is number one on many people’s lists, and it’s great to see collaboration among industry players to deliver robust solutions that will make a substantial difference this year.”

 

-Justine Benjamin, Head of Global Marketing

If you missed us at CES 2024 but want to know more about our audio advertising technology solutions, contact us now!

by Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

The post CES 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.