Tag: CES

Spotify Introduces Call-to-Action Cards for Podcast Ads

January 6, 2022

What’s the next great frontier in audio? We believe it’s interactivity. Over the last year, Spotify has introduced new tools for creators to interact more directly with their audiences through video podcasts, Q&As, and Polls. We’ve also enabled experiences like Blend, which allows listeners to merge their musical tastes with their friends’ in one shared playlist. Finally, we introduced our voice-controlled in-app experience, “Hey Spotify.”

Now we’re bringing interactivity to the audio ad experience. 

Whether you’re blasting your personalized On Repeat playlist during your morning run, catching up on the week’s pop culture news with Higher Learning while you make dinner, or listening to Monica and Dax unpack the struggles of being human while stuck in traffic on Armchair Expert—music and talk are your constant companions.  

But what happens when you hear an ad letting you know about Ulta’s “Hello Holidays” sale or an offer from Athletic Greens giving you 25% off when you sign up for a monthly subscription? You’re often forced to remember a promo code or URL, or make a mental note to look up the offer when you return to your phone or laptop. This process is far from seamless. That’s why we’re excited to announce a new ad experience launching across podcasts called call-to-action (CTA) cards.

 

 

CTA cards will appear in the app as soon as a podcast ad begins playing, and will resurface later on while you’re exploring the Spotify app—making it easier to check out the brand, product, or service you heard about while listening. CTA cards will make it easier for you to directly discover the products and services you’re interested in without having a hard-to-remember promo code or vanity URL.

With the launch of this new ad experience, we’re making podcast ads interactive for the first time, transforming the format from something that can only be heard, into an experience that you can also see — and, most importantly, click.

With digital audio being such a multitasking-friendly and engaging medium, more people are listening than ever before. In fact, in the U.S., mobile time spent listening to audio content is now outpacing time spent on social media, video, and gaming, according to eMarketer. CTA cards are the latest step in Spotify’s vision for the future of audio as an interactive, multi-way experience. 

CTA cards will be available across select Spotify Original & Exclusive podcasts in the U.S. beginning today. Advertisers can be especially excited—our tests have shown twice as many site visits with these new clickable ads compared to non-clickable podcast ads. Learn more at Ads.Spotify.com.

CES 2020: Spotify Makes Noise with SAI Announcement, Ludacris Performance, and More

January 10, 2020

This week, industry experts once again converged at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Spotify was on the ground for the seventh year in a row, contributing to the mix of innovative discussions and product debuts.

From the launch of Spotify Podcast Ads, powered by Streaming Ad Insertion (SAI) to partying with Ludacris at our annual Spotify Supper, we listened, learned, and connected in person and through a love for all things audio. Take a look back at some of Spotify’s notable CES 2020 moments.

Wired x Spotify: The Trends That Will Define 2020 and Beyond

“There’s no other medium like podcasts. They’re a uniquely intimate format that resonates with listeners, and our research proves it—81% of users take action after they’ve heard a podcast ad.” —Lee Brown, Spotify VP, Global Head of Ad Sales at the Wired x Spotify fireside chat with Wired Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Thompson

Credit: Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Spotify

Cheers to Happy Hour

“I’m so excited to launch Spotify Podcast Ads powered by our proprietary Streaming Ad Insertion tech. We’re bringing real-time targeting, measurement and interactivity to the format for the very first time.” —Jay Richman, Spotify Head of Global Ads Business and Platform

Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Spotify

ELLE Women in Tech Panel with Dustee Jenkins

“I always had an inner voice that said ‘keep going.’ We have to be intentional about supporting and advocating for other women.” —Dustee Jenkins, Spotify Global Head of Communications

Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Spotify

“Yeah!” It’s Spotify Supper

With a performance by Ludacris and bites from three James Beard Award-winning chefs—Tim Hollingsworth, Charleen “The Veggie Whisperer” Badman, and Kwame Onwuachi—there was plenty to chew on and a lot to celebrate.  

Oh yeah, did we mention Lele Pons, Paul Feig, Sophia Bush, and Paris Hilton hit the dance floor during Luda’s performance?

Spotify’s Head of Global Ads Business and Platform Jay Richman Talks New Spotify Podcast Ads

January 8, 2020

Jay Richman, Spotify VP, Head of Global Ads Business and Platform, has spent his career at the intersection of digital media and ad tech. His positions at NBCUniversal, Scholastic, and Bertelsmann taught him how to build consumer ad experiences that deliver for companies, brands, and creators. In his role at Spotify, he especially takes pride in delivering standout promotional experiences for consumers, artist teams, and brands—helping to bring free music and podcasts to the world.

This week, Jay is representing Spotify at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a major annual convention that looks ahead to the future of consumer technology (last year’s event had over 180,000 attendees). He’s excited to explore topics like IoT (internet of things; a.k.a. the devices that orbit smartphones), and how AI is being integrated into smart earbuds. 

But he’s also part of a major announcement for Spotify: the unveiling of Spotify Podcast Ads, powered by Streaming Ad Insertion (SAI). At first glance it seems like a lot to unpack, so we caught Jay at the start of the conference to learn what this means for podcasts lovers and creators, and the brands that back them. 

Today Spotify announced Spotify Podcast Ads powered by Streaming Ad Insertion (SAI) which leverages the power of streaming to deliver Spotify’s full digital suite of planning, reporting, and measurement capabilities to podcast advertisers.

So, break it down for us. How does this change things for podcasters, advertisers, and listeners?

First of all, I’m super excited to be launching Streaming Ad Insertion for Spotify Podcast Ads this week. We’re essentially taking all that’s great with podcast ads today and adding real-time targeting, measurement, and interactivity to them, none of which exists in the industry as it stands today.

SAI will make podcast ads targetable—they’ll be relevant to the people who get them; measurable—we’ll more easily prove that they’re effective; and interactive—more to come here—for the first time. This will make the podcast ad experience more personalized for podcast fans, introduce performance metrics for advertisers, and allow creators to better monetize their content and make money off their hard work.

Why is this different from podcast advertising as it exists today?

Think of it this way: Podcast ads—until now—were actually more like magazine ads, versus the ones that we’ve all become accustomed to on the internet, which are personalized based on the content we’re reading or the video we’re watching. That’s because the podcast ads themselves came downloaded with content regardless of who is listening.

Now, with the shift to streaming, we can serve ads in real time based on who you are and what you’re interested in, and we can understand whether or not the ad was actually listened to. Soon we’ll be adding interactivity so users can directly engage with podcast ads without needing to remember, say, the coupon codes. We’re really excited about what this means not just for Spotify, but the industry overall.

You mentioned that this is an industry first. How does this set the stage for the future of podcast advertising across the industry?

It’s no surprise that Spotify is making big investments in podcasts—from content to the user experience with playlists like Your Daily Drive and now advertising, starting with SAI. What we’re doing is providing the industry with an example for what podcasts can do moving forward, adding another way to showcase just how remarkable the medium is.

Our research shows that a staggering 81% of listeners have taken action after hearing audio ads during a podcast. This means that podcast ads are already effective in allowing creators to earn more off their hard work. So with SAI, we’re taking formats that traditionally have been more of a static experience and making it a more personalized and attractive one. It’s not just about reach and numbers, but about impacting the ideal audience and knowing it. It’s a great opportunity for brands to have measurable impact.

Today, SAI is only available for Spotify originals and exclusives. When is this offering going to be available for a larger set of creators?

We’re starting with Spotify originals and exclusives as a part of the testing phase. This represents a first step into a super exciting space that will benefit consumers, creators, and Spotify alike. At Spotify, we are constantly innovating. Sometime down the line we might expand this to more audiences. This is just the beginning of a long-term journey.

On a more personal note, are there any podcasts that you’ve been especially into recently?

Well, I just finished a series called S-Town by the producers of Serial and This American Life. It documents a brilliant yet deeply disturbed man who despises his Alabama town. I found the series to be pretty suspenseful and gripping, like a murder mystery. I don’t want to spoil it, but definitely one worth checking out.

Want to learn more about Spotify Podcast Ads and Streaming Ad Insertion? Head to Spotify for Brands.

Spotify Supper Chef Kristen Kish Dishes on the Complementary Balance of Food and Music

January 9, 2019

Now in its sixth year, Spotify Supper is our signature CES event. Amidst the fast-paced, high-decibel Las Vegas tech conference, Spotify Supper is a standout celebration of the senses through an incredible pairing of music and cuisine. Commanding the sights, sounds, and tastes this year was a female powerhouse duo: international pop singer Rita Ora delivered an outstanding performance, while Chef Kristen Kish, winner of Top Chef (Season 10) and owner, executive chef, and partner of critically acclaimed restaurant Arlo Grey, served up a meal to match.

Culture: Now Streaming, Live from CES

January 8, 2019

Every January, tech companies, marketers, publishers, and media agencies converge in Las Vegas, Nevada, at CES (Consumer Electronics Show). It’s a marquee opportunity for creative and technology leaders to set the stage for—and get a glimpse of—what’s in store for the year ahead.

Spotify, founded on innovation, is no stranger to the annual event. In fact, our activations at CES (not to mention the Cannes Lions Festival, as well as dozens of other stages over the past six years) showcase our commitment to the constant we’ve built our business upon: change. This year, we’ll once again be part of the CES mix, highlighting the latest innovative and effective ad opportunities for our brand partners.