Podcast growth outpaces social, with trusted hosts driving purchases and attention other feeds can’t match.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Spotify right now: What will the audio giant do about AI slop? Can it generate significant revenue from advertising? Will people sit down in their living rooms and turn on a podcast to watch, en masse? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Ross Benes and Senior Editor Daniel Konstantinovic. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

What began as an audio-only medium now spans video formats, connected TV screens, and creator-driven content that rivals traditional television.

Podcast skipping may be overstated, as playback data shows many shows retain 90% or more of listeners through ad breaks.

Spotify is scaling its programmatic push, with Ad Exchange advertisers jumping 222% as reserved buys and stronger measurement court brand budgets.

Netflix is reshaping CTV economics as sports, live events, podcasts, and a potential WBD acquisition push its ad tier toward 10% of spend, with $3 billion in sight this year.

Media habits keep evolving as digital gains ground faster than traditional declines. Video is absorbing more attention, screens are doing more of the work, and the central battle is for a share of limited consumer time.

The music giant will benefit from Checkout.com’s AI tools to boost payment efficiency.

Marketers could face a new challenge of podcast fragmentation, requiring more complex media planning.

Spotify sports podcast listening jumps 358% after games, outpacing pregame gains and opening a bigger ad window beyond live TV.

Podcast listeners are sought out by marketers for high engagement, and listenership is only set to grow.

Spotify outlines how AI, automation, and immersive experiences will reshape how brands connect with consumers in 2026.

At CES, Amazon is repositioning Amazon Ads as a full advertising ecosystem rather than a commerce-adjacent channel, emphasizing unified reach across TV, streaming, live sports, audio, and programmatic partners.

The automotive dashboard is evolving into a media hub. By 2029, 203 million connected car drivers will give advertisers access to captive audiences through AI commerce, in-vehicle ads, charging sessions, and rideshare integrations.

In 2026, AI will reshape advertiser workflows and behaviors, while rising video consumption will boost CTV and YouTube.

Listening patterns from 2025 show how audio fits into everyday moments differently across markets, from commutes to cooking to winding down at night. Spotify’s Wrapped for Advertisers pulls those signals into a clearer picture for 2026 advertising decisions.

Digital audio commands massive attention, and podcasts keep most listeners within reach. As viewing blurs with listening, marketers face an opportunity—but also a widening gap between consumer time spent and the ad investment flowing into audio.

Apps dominate mobile activity and are essential for marketers and publishers to reach audiences. Key data shows how app users are shifting, which apps they prefer, and the outlook for consumer spending and ad revenues.​