New York reins in AI ads: New rules demand disclosures for synthetic performers and guard the deceased, putting onus on advertisers.

Audio is leading the story as Spotify allows for users to disable video, but carousel ads and Sponsored Playlists keep visuals in play.

In a crowded digital environment, 80% of advertisers say audio delivers higher audience attention and less distraction, according to new Spotify research. As trust and focus become harder to capture, audio is emerging as a more reliable way to reach listeners.

Even as the majority of podcasters (71%) use video, per Sounds Profitable, video podcast ads are falling short of driving purchases compared with audio ads. YouTube’s video podcast ads are 18% to 25% less effective than audio downloads at driving users to purchase, according to an Oxford Road and Podscribe study. Video podcast consumption is growing, and YouTube remains the largest media platform globally, but advertisers looking to target podcast consumers specifically must make audio a core part of their campaign planning.

The news: Audio ad platform Odeeo and content creation platform Wondercraft today announced an in-game audio ad partnership that will allow advertisers to craft audio ads in multiple languages in minutes. The partnership will integrate Wondercraft’s AI-powered creative production tools with Odeeo’s in-game audio solutions, with features to craft, localize, and personalize content. Our take: Odeeo and Wondercraft’s collaboration promises potential, capitalizing on the steady trajectory of time spent with gaming while accounting for gamer preferences for ads that are non-intrusive and integrate with the game’s environment.

Spotify wants a share of CTV ad spending: The audio app is partnering with Roku to capitalize on consumers who use their TVs as living room speakers.

On today's episode, we discuss how Spotify added a record number of users, the impact of its price increase, and the latest on its podcast business. "In Other News," we talk about how good people are at recalling audio ads and some adjustments to Netflix's ad tier. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.

On today's episode, we discuss Spotify's Q4 performance and what it tells us about how the audio streaming giant is changing. Then for "In Other News," we talk about what the biggest threat to Spotify's podcasting dominance will be and a new way to improve the accuracy of audio ads. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Peter Vahle.

More people than ever in the US are spending time with digital audio, leading to growing advertising opportunities. To properly communicate with audiences, advertisers should make sure the right creatives are used with the right audio formats. Otherwise, they run the risk of annoying or alienating their audiences.

Consumers’ reasons for blocking ads point sharply in the direction of user experience. It’s clear internet users are unhappy with ad loads overall, but there are also some types of ads they like more—or less. The ones that provoke the most ire are those that get in the way of consumers’ ability to view the content they have sought out.