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The news: Spotify added direct messaging to its free and premium tiers, marking a major step toward the streaming platform becoming a more social destination. Messaging is available one-on-one on mobile devices, and users can only start conversations with people they鈥檝e already shared content with鈥攍ike a collaborative playlist or participating in a Blend or Jam. Our take: For marketers, this opens up greater potential for content virality, social-driven campaigns, and integrations with creators and communities. Brands should explore building shareable, collaborative music experiences, like sponsored playlists or interactive audio experiences built for DM sharing.

YouTube has more users than Facebook, Netflix, or Spotify. But its advertising revenues do not match its vast reach. This report contextualizes the opportunities and scope for growth in various media spheres.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss if Google is actually fending off the AI search competition, what its AI Overviews are doing to search behavior, and why growing AI search usage might not necessarily translate into a booming ad business. Join our conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Senior Director of Briefings, Jeremy Goldman, and Principal Analyst, Yory Wurmser. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The news: Netflix is deepening its investment in unscripted TV as it aims to expand its user base and gain ad-supported subscribers, per The Wall Street Journal. The streamer reportedly spoke with Spotify about partnering on live events, including live concerts and music awards shows. Our take: Netflix鈥檚 unscripted push is a strategic move that will solidify it as a destination for high-quality originals and reality programming alike, where ad inventory is ripe, costs are low, and audiences come from all walks of life.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss how much the merger with xAI can move the needle for X, if the social platform can recoup the kinds of ad dollars it was making before Elon Musk bought them, and where X users have migrated to (if anywhere). Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, and Analysts Marisa Jones and Emmy Liederman. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss where GIFs came from, how GIF user behavior changes, and which ones work best for brands. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman, Analyst Emmy Liederman, and the Vice President of Client Solutions at Giphy Alix McAlpine. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Digital audio consumption continues to grow in the US. Younger audiences are leading the way, adopting platforms like Spotify and audio content like podcasts.

Instagram integrates with Spotify: Users can now save songs from Reels directly to their Spotify library.

With limited transparency on causes, these failures remind users that platform dominance doesn鈥檛 guarantee stability or uninterrupted access.

YouTube鈥檚 2.50 billion monthly active users worldwide outnumber those on all other digital platforms, according to our 2024 forecasts and Spotify data.

Today, the percentage of US Spotify users who are subscribers, rather than ad-supported listeners, continues to tick upward, however slowly: By 2028, 57.5% of Spotify鈥檚 US listeners will be subscribers, up just 1 percentage point from 2024鈥檚 figure. Spotify鈥檚 non-podcast ad business will exceed $1 billion in 2025.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss why Ms. Yaccarino left X, the expectations for its advertising business in the short and long term, and how realistic its chances are of becoming an 鈥渆verything app鈥�. Join our conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Jasmine Enberg, and Analyst, Marisa Jones. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The news: Podcast ads are turning passive listeners into active consumers and driving measurable outcomes for brands, per a Nielsen study. Podcast campaigns led to a 10-point boost in brand awareness; an 8-point increase in information-seeking; and a 6-point increase in recommendation and purchase intent. Our take: Podcasting鈥檚 high engagement and success for brands makes it an increasingly critical investment鈥攂ut key considerations must be kept in mind. Host-read ads perform best. Brands are most likely to thrive with podcast ads when the host is an actual user of the products advertised and comes across as authentic.

In today鈥檚 podcast episode, we explore the blurring of social media and streaming, focusing on how content from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram is increasingly being consumed in the living room. We also discuss the significance of YouTube and whether streamers should be concerned about the rise of social media platforms. Join the conversation with Director of Reports Editing and host, Rahul Chadha, Vice President of Content, Paul Verna, and Senior Analyst, Minda Smiley. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Spotify boosts global ad tools: New programmatic, targeting, and AI creative features position Spotify as a full-funnel solution for global marketers.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss the battle between linear TV and CTV, one mobile device metric that is going down, and a surprising finding about which age group uses YouTube the most. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Principal Forecasting Writer Ethan Cramer-Flood, and Senior Director of Forecasting Oscar Orozco. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.