Rutger Rosenborg

As a partner Audio Analyst at MIDiA, Rutger’s mission is to situate audio insights within a broader entertainment context. With a Bachelor’s in English Literature from Stanford University, a Master’s in Music Business and Technology from New York University, and studies at Oxford and Columbia universities, Rutger has a broad range of knowledge across many disciplines, from poetry to podcasting. Previously, Rutger managed marketing, analytics, and consulting at Chartmetric where he also hosted and produced one of the music industry's most popular podcasts.

The medium is no longer the message – the messenger is now, too

Cover image for The medium is no longer the message – the messenger is now, too
Rutger Rosenborg
Podcasts
Audio
Spotify
Key takeaways from this blog: Podcasts now rival traditional media in influence, especially around current events, thanks to their strong personalities, flexibility, and direct audience engagement The success of top podcasts is driven by hosts, not media networks — charisma, connection, and commentary often matter more than institutional credibility Traditional media must adapt by embracing engaging, personality-led formats without sacrificing editorial integrity, to remain competitive in the on-demand content era A quick scan of the podcast charts on Spotify , Apple , and even YouTube reveals a striking trend: Current events are dominating podcasting right now, at least at the top.
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Is it too soon to be talking about podcast superfans?

Cover image for Is it too soon to be talking about podcast superfans?
Rutger Rosenborg
Fandom
Business Strategy
Social media
Key insights from this blog: Podcasting faces challenges on its way to becoming a mainstream format on the level of radio, music, and TV While the medium excels at creating a sense of community and personal connection, discovery and accessibility hurdles have so far held podcasts back Supported by our forecasts and consumer survey data, MIDiA proposes "glocalised" content as one way for podcasts to move from niche to mainstream Podcasting faces significant challenges in becoming a truly global, mainstream format.
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Audio creators are the creator economy's unsung heroes

Cover image for Audio creators are the creator economy's unsung heroes
Rutger Rosenborg
Business Strategy
Audio
Podcasts
Key insights from this blog: MIDiA's latest audio report, ' The audio creator opportunity ' , argues that brands and platforms can no longer afford to neglect audio creators Audio creators are a fast-growing force in the creator economy, driving demand for better tools and marketing They are more likely to run their work as a business and invest heavily in creator tools, presenting a clear opportunity for tailored solutions With most tools designed for video and music, companies that develop end-to-end platforms for audio creation can unlock a valuable market and empower this expanding community The creator economy is evolving rapidly, and while TikTok influencers and YouTubers often steal the spotlight, there is a fast-growing creator segment that brands and platforms can no longer ignore: audio creators.
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The audio creator opportunity
Audio creator behaviours and monetisation potential

Cover image for The audio creator opportunity
Rutger Rosenborg
Creators
Subscriptions
Spotify
Historically, YouTubers and TikTok influencers have received the lion’s share of mainstream attention as a creator class – but audio creators are increasingly active on the same digital platforms and operating within the same formats. As a result, the audio creator has become a jack of all trades, moving between copyediting, audio editing, and video editing.
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Spotify’s embrace of AI-generated audio is a blessing and curse for authors

Cover image for Spotify’s embrace of AI-generated audio is a blessing and curse for authors
Rutger Rosenborg
Product Strategy
Spotify
Audio
As we covered in August 2024, the future of AI-generated audiobooks is here. Up until this month, however, streaming platforms themselves had yet to fully embrace AI audiobook narration. Now, Spotify has announced their support for ElevenLabs ’ AI-generated audiobook content, paving the way for end-to-end audiobook generation that could capture audiences who demonstrate no clear preference between AI- and human-generated content.
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Audio’s entertainment value
Examining audio listeners’ cross-entertainment lives

Cover image for Audio’s entertainment value
Rutger Rosenborg
music industry
Music streaming
Content
Typically, the marketing team for a games company or TV show would not be thinking of audiobooks and podcast listeners as a key consumer segment to address. Yet, podcast and audiobook listeners are digitally sophisticated and spend more time and money than the consumer average on most forms of entertainment – including games, music, and video.
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