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My first newsletter went out last week. Every edition I'm aiming to dedicate a section to some of my thoughts / philosophies on tech trends.
I received a number of replies & calls about ideas it inspired.
This one was on the "Audio Tech Renaissance".
Thought I'd share it! A
I received a number of replies & calls about ideas it inspired.
This one was on the "Audio Tech Renaissance".
Thought I'd share it! A
Thoughts About What I'm HearingThe COVID-19 Pandemic unleashed an audio tech renaissance.
@Clubhouse launched, amassed users at a record speed (even with an invite-only, iOS-only model) and quickly became a MULTI-billion-dollar company.
For those that don't know, @Clubhouse is a social audio app that allows you to create rooms where you can bring people up to the 'stage' and have discussions.
It's purely audio and you can jump in and out of rooms.
It's purely audio and you can jump in and out of rooms.
There was a lot of scepticism with Clubhouse's insane growth and its ephemeral content.
How do you give people that dopamine hit quickly when the audio is live and unplanned?
In contrast, when radio and TV is live, it's heavily planned.
How do you give people that dopamine hit quickly when the audio is live and unplanned?
In contrast, when radio and TV is live, it's heavily planned.
@ShaanVP's very entertaining breakdown gives some great insights and resulted in him getting blocked on Twitter by Godfather Venture Capitalist, and Clubhouse Investor, Mark Andreesen. #ouch https://twitter.com/ShaanVP/status/1371972261004070913?s=20
Regardless, like Hyenas descending on Simba, the tech giants weren't going to let another small tech company capture the attention of their audience, and since then Facebook, Twitter and, even, Slack have announced their own versions of Clubhouse.
See: https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/26/slack-wants-to-be-more-than-a-text-based-messaging-platform/
See: https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/26/slack-wants-to-be-more-than-a-text-based-messaging-platform/
Clubhouse isn't generating revenue and there seems to be little excitement about the tech giant's copycats, so I'm not sure who will have the last laugh.
Regardless of whether we're playing in the next elephant graveyard, there's opportunities here..
It could be the unbundling of Clubhouse; instead of a platform for talking anything and everything, companies will emerge that target a specific audience - this could be sport, religion, hobbies, politics.
Further, Podcasts continue to soar in popularity, and the actual experience is poor, one-sided and unsocial.
Companies like @getshuffleapp are looking at changing this, allowing the listening experience to be more social with reactions and discussions.
Companies like @getshuffleapp are looking at changing this, allowing the listening experience to be more social with reactions and discussions.
The challenge here? Most audio apps, besides music streaming services, are free.
However, as the world wakes up to the analogy 'if you're not paying for the product, you are the product', more consumers are happy to pay for content than ever before.
However, as the world wakes up to the analogy 'if you're not paying for the product, you are the product', more consumers are happy to pay for content than ever before.
The surge in paid newsletters, thanks to companies like @SubstackInc, is evidence of this.
So whilst non-music-based audio has typically been free, its likely more people will happily pay for listening apps than ever before. Companies like @supercast are proving this is possible
So whilst non-music-based audio has typically been free, its likely more people will happily pay for listening apps than ever before. Companies like @supercast are proving this is possible
Watch.. I mean.. Listen to this space..
What else is happening in audio tech? 
What are your predictions?
What did I miss?Let me know!
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