Annie Langston

Annie is MIDiA’s audio analyst. Her coverage mainly focuses on the business strategies and consumption trends among podcasts, audiobooks, and radio.

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AI use cases in the entertainment industry
Electric Sheep, Mubert, Unreal Engine 5, Descript, Uhmbrella, and My AI

Hanna Kahlert, Ashleigh Millar, Tatiana Cirisano and Annie Langston

20 Mar 2023

Cultural trends Critical Developments

Electric Sheep | Using AI to introduce accuracy and efficiency into the VFX industry Rotoscoping, an element of visual effects (VFX) where the background of either an image or video is removed so that effects can be added, has traditionally been an intricate and time-consuming endeavour.

Spotify’s Stream On event recycles podcast features in a new feed

Annie Langston

9 Mar 2023

Spotify Podcasts Creators

At Spotify’s annual Stream On event, the company announced a new, TikTok-style home screen and various “new” podcast features. Following the podcast investment boom, platforms need experimentation and discovery tools to both attract creators and entice new audiences.

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How AI will shake up the podcast market

Annie Langston

8 Mar 2023

AI Spotify Adobe

AI technology is shaking up every entertainment format . With AI technology, podcasters can simplify their creative processes and platforms can revolutionise traditional market practices. Major platforms such as Apple Books have already implemented this technology with its digital narration featur...

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Podcasts and radio
How radio can play by its own rules

Annie Langston

1 Mar 2023

Spotify live Radio

Radio set the stage for music streaming and podcasts, only to watch them take portions of its audience. However, there is a clear opportunity for radio companies to assert themselves in the podcast market, drawing on decades of programming expertise to retain audiences and find new ones.

Cover image for Global Radio illustrates the opportunities for radio’s digital transition

Global Radio illustrates the opportunities for radio’s digital transition

Annie Langston

1 Mar 2023

Business Strategy Audio

Radio’s future growth depends on its ability to transition its content to a digital space while both maintaining traditional listeners and expanding to younger audiences. This means exploring podcasts, videos, and other types of on-demand digital content.

YouTube Music’s podcast launch reveals competitive agenda with Spotify

Annie Langston

1 Mar 2023

Podcasts YouTube YouTube Music

After months of speculation , YouTube has officially launched podcasts — on YouTube Music . This U.S.-only launch includes both audio and video podcasts, making podcasts that were already on YouTube available on its music streaming platform.

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Blue Wire and fuboTV’s new deal is a slam dunk for sports podcasts

Annie Langston

22 Feb 2023

Blue Wire FuboTV Podcasts

Sports podcasts, hosted by sports writers, athletes, and other creators, are among the top podcast genres, as 30% of podcast listeners say they regularly listen to sports podcasts. Many platforms and networks have explored the genre, such as iHeart , which has deals with the NHL and NBA, and Spotify...

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Year of change
Themes that will shape entertainment in 2023

Mark Mulligan, Tim Mulligan, Karol Severin, Hanna Kahlert, Kriss Thakrar, Ashleigh Millar, Tatiana Cirisano, Annie Langston, Perry Gresham, Samuel Griffin, Ben Woods and Srishti Das

15 Feb 2023

Spotify YouTube Amazon

This report deep dives into the themes identified in MIDiA’s 2023 predictions report. These themes will drive innovation in the digital entertainment landscape in 2023 across music, video, games, audio, cultural trends, and the creator economy. Expect 2023 to be a of period significant disruption and innovation forced upon the digital entertainme...

Is it goodbye to Google Podcasts? How YouTube’s podcast takeover has begun

Annie Langston

15 Feb 2023

YouTube Google Google Podcasts

One of our 2023 predictions is that YouTube will become a key player in the podcast market. YouTube is now the top podcast platform at 49% monthly penetration — compared to Spotify at 41% — despite not having a clear podcast strategy (MIDiA Research Consumer Survey Q4 2022).

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How radio broadcasters can become key players in the podcast market chessboard

Annie Langston

8 Feb 2023

Radio Spotify BBC

Last week, Spotify announced an exclusive podcast deal with journalist Louis Theroux , one of BBC’s most notable personalities. Theroux is the latest radio talent to make the move to podcasting, which has become radio’s younger, cooler sibling.

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Podcast videos
Format blurring expands podcasts’ future

Annie Langston

1 Feb 2023

Creators Apple Spotify

Podcasts are breaking out of traditional audio and entering the video space, as nearly a quarter of consumers now watch podcast videos monthly. Visual elements for podcasts are becoming a crucial tool to reach new audiences and engage current listeners.

Cover image for Apple Music taps into mainstream music audience to grow podcast videos

Apple Music taps into mainstream music audience to grow podcast videos

Annie Langston

1 Feb 2023

Business Strategy Audio

Apple Music taps into mainstream music audience to grow podcast videos Podcast videos are becoming an essential way for creators to both market their podcasts and reach new audiences. Several streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, now support video podcasts for creators.

What Spotify’s podcast layoffs indicate about the changing audio market

Annie Langston

1 Feb 2023

Spotify advertising YouTube

For the last few years, audio companies have funnelled millions of dollars into the podcast market. Yet, the economic recession indicates that the boom of investment into podcasts may be reaching its peak.

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With a rumoured podcast feature, will TikTok become the Swiss Army knife of entertainment?

Annie Langston

25 Jan 2023

TikTok Podcasts Spotify

Despite recent layoffs and program cuts, the audio market continues to expand. While major music streaming platforms have led the way, social media platforms continue to diversify their audio offerings and compete in the wider market.

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Three podcast market trends to watch in 2023

Annie Langston

18 Jan 2023

advertising listener experience format blurring

All of entertainment is facing new challenges in the recession. Both creators and platforms are doing everything they can to keep audiences as entertainment spending is at risk. While audio platforms have already seen notable cuts to programming, podcasts are exploring new ways to expand the format ...

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Pivot point
MIDiA 2023 predictions

Mark Mulligan, Tim Mulligan, Karol Severin, Hanna Kahlert, Kriss Thakrar, Ashleigh Millar, Tatiana Cirisano, Annie Langston and Ben Woods

12 Jan 2023

Free Report

Business Strategy

MIDiA analysts dive into our 2023 predictions, and why we believe it will be the ' pivot point '. Watch the webinareither on YouTube or LinkedIn ....

How AI narration could transform Apple Books’ creator economy

Annie Langston

11 Jan 2023

Audiobooks artificial intelligence Apple

It is a new year for the audio world and Apple is attempting to expand audiobook creation. Apple Books launched its “digital narration” feature which allows authors to publish audiobook versions of their work using AI-generated voices, and is specifically geared towards independent authors and s...

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Audiobook consumer profile
Following in podcasts’ footsteps

Annie Langston

4 Jan 2023

Apple Spotify YouTube

The audiobook market is at an important stage of its evolution. Similar to podcasts, the niche format is trying to grow amid heightened competition for consumers’ time and attention, while the looming recession puts subscriptions growth and retention under pressure.

Cover image for Spotify’s audiobook vertical brings a new format to the masses

Spotify’s audiobook vertical brings a new format to the masses

Annie Langston

4 Jan 2023

Audio

Spotify successfully integrated podcasts into its platform and has the potential to do the same for audiobooks. In September 2022, Spotify launched its official audiobook vertical with over 300,000 titles available for à-la-carte purchasing. While the Apple App Store commission has disrupted this strategy, the à-la-carte model differentiates Spot...

New year, new live audio: How the format can pivot in 2023

Annie Langston

21 Dec 2022

live audio Spotify Clubhouse

The live audio boom in lockdown, primarily driven by Clubhouse, inspired many major platforms to develop their own feature. Most notably was Spotify, which acquired Betty Labs and relaunched its Locker Room live audio offering as Spotify Live.

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