At this Insights Studio, authors from three different continents showcase their recently published work—including the JAR Best Paper 2022 on how advertising expenditures drive consumers’ perceptions of ad and brand quality. Also featured are studies on deepfakes and AI reshaping the advertising industry, the success of using product endorsers who are actors known for roles portraying despicable characters, and KPI patterns of social media influencers across several platforms. Talking points in the concluding Q&A span the future of AI in advertising and influencer marketing, machine-driven decisions for choosing endorsers, and factors (product- and economic-related) affecting consumer perceptions of quality in TV ads and engagement in user-generated content.
MediaCell is an app that transforms a smartphone, tablet, or laptop into a passive portable audiometer. It also captures on-device consumption of audio and video. It is currently deployed in panels in the U.K. and Australia and will soon by deployed in South Africa. Ipsos is working with Kantar to use MediaCell in the Netherlands to produce the radio currency there. Its audio measurement capabilities are based on ACR technology. It is easy to on-board panelists; Jim noted that there were no breaks in the data in their U.K. panel due to the pandemic.
Nielsen uses the Portable People Meter (PPM) to passively measure audiences for radio and to enhance its national and local TV ratings. It is now testing a new wearable device to replace the PPM to measure audio and to replace button-pushing to measure person-level television audiences. The new wearable is intended to enable cross-platform measurement of audio and video. Two other pieces of equipment accompany the device – a beacon to allow Nielsen to distinguish between in-home and out-of-home exposure and a data hub to transmit the data back to Nielsen. Another component of the wearable system is a mobile app which will enable engagement and communication with Nielsen and can also be used to transmit data back to Nielsen.
At this Insights Studio, authors from three different continents showcase their recently published work—including the JAR Best Paper 2022 on how advertising expenditures drive consumers’ perceptions of ad and brand quality. Also featured are studies on deepfakes and AI reshaping the advertising industry, the success of using product endorsers who are actors known for roles portraying despicable characters, and KPI patterns of social media influencers across several platforms. Talking points in the concluding Q&A span the future of AI in advertising and influencer marketing, machine-driven decisions for choosing endorsers, and factors (product- and economic-related) affecting consumer perceptions of quality in TV ads and engagement in user-generated content.
What spot length works best? Audacy partnered with Veritonic to compare frequent radio listener responses to 15, 30 and 60-second ads across multiple categories such as auto, financial, retail and professional services to address this frequently asked question. Jenny Nelson (Audacy) and Korri Kolesa (Veritonic) presented the results of this study, which were measured by Veritonic’s audio score components such as attribute score, intent score and engagement score. This survey-based study of a panel of 2,400 radio listeners pointed to a variety of recommendations, such as initiating multiple 30-second ads instead of fewer 60-second ads, testing creative before launch and deploying a total audio strategy to reach omnichannel listeners.
In this session, Idil Cakim (Audacy) and Devora Rogers (Alter Agents) presented some findings from research they conducted together in uncovering the “rituals of humans” pertaining to their audio consumption. In this study, audio content could include audiobooks, podcasts, sounds (nature), music, etc. These rituals often included tasks being performed while listening (e.g., cooking, exercising, commuting, walking, etc.), but also the ritual experience could be the audio itself, opening up many opportunities for advertisers to reach audiences. Beginning her discussion, Idil acknowledged the massive changes that have taken place in audio over the past few years. Their methodology embraced a variety of approaches which included a quantitative nationally represented survey, ethnographies through mobile diaries and a qualitative approach using a 45-minute in-depth interview. Both Idil and Devora presented findings from their study which provided deep insights into the ritualized and often personal nature of audio content. This provides many unique opportunities to connect with consumers through targeting the ritual (e.g., school drop off, prepping for sports, cooking, etc.).
Mark Loughney of Hub Entertainment Research unveiled the results of an online survey which looked at U.S. consumers’ media consumption patterns while in transit. Hub’s survey was of 2,566 U.S. consumers ages 16 – 74. There were no exclusions. It included TV and non-TV homes, pay subscriptions and non-pay subscriptions and so on. They weighted to U.S. census data, including age, gender, ethnicity, income and size. The data was collected from mid/late November 2022.
Steve Keller (SXM Media) looks at opportunities for sonic interventions: What are things in the world, in our culture, where sound can provide a positive solution? Sonic intervention, for the purposes of this research, starts with the concept of the color line, first addressed by W.E.B. Dubois in his 1903 collection of essays, “Soul of Black Folks.” For Dubois, the color line was the dividing line between Black and White individuals. A century later, SUNY Binghamton professor Jennifer Lynn Stoever defined the sonic color line as the hierarchical division between the whiteness and blackness of sounds that have been created and perpetuated by a dominant culture on the listening ear. Indeed, in the 1920s radio show Amos ‘n’ Andy with 40 million listeners, two white personalities performed racialized sonic tropes. Black radio performers were forced to play these stereotypes. Fast-forward to today, the sonic color line still cuts through our technology, our smart speakers, and often in the studio Black voiceover actors are asked to sound more “urban”. Yet the error rate in recognizing prompts from Black speakers is significantly higher than the rate for White speakers.
Mark Loughney – Senior Consultant, Hub Entertainment Research
Mark Loughney of Hub Entertainment Research unveiled the results of an online survey which looked at U.S. consumers’ media consumption patterns while in transit. Hub’s survey was of 2,566 U.S. consumers ages 16 – 74. There were no exclusions. It included TV and non-TV homes, pay subscriptions and non-pay subscriptions and so on. They weighted to U.S. census data, including age, gender, ethnicity, income and size. The data was collected from mid/late November 2022.
Over the air (OTA) radio is still overwhelmingly the most used device and medium in the car, with two-thirds using it “all” or “most” of the time. Smart phones were the most common mobile device present and music overwhelmingly the most popular genre. Commuter numbers look nearly identical to drivers. One-third of drivers claim that their passenger will use a different device in the car “all or most” of the time. That jumps to 50% for those with children. Also, the presence of a tablet nearly doubles when a child is present. Even though today, OTA radio remains king of the road, mobile hotspot usage and the streaming of music will likely increase as people retire older vehicles. The biggest change in media consumption habits came with flying, where books, followed closely by personal music, are the media most often consumed.
Key Takeaways
In the car, OTA radio is the most used built-in option (81%), followed by CD players (50%) and satellite radio (41%). This makes sense if you consider that about half of the cars on the road are five years old or older, many 10 years or older.
OTA radio is the most frequently used medium in the car (83%) and smart phones are the most common portable device on hand (73%). A tablet’s presence goes from 20-35% when a child is present.
Typically, one-third of drivers said their passenger is using a different device while they travel.
When flying, print was the most common “ever use,” followed by personal music and streaming. Magazines were about average, with at least half saying they use them sometimes.
Devora Rogers – Chief Strategy Officer, Alter Agents
In this session, Idil Cakim (Audacy) and Devora Rogers (Alter Agents) presented some findings from research they conducted together in uncovering the “rituals of humans” pertaining to their audio consumption. In this study, audio content could include audiobooks, podcasts, sounds (nature), music, etc. These rituals often included tasks being performed while listening (e.g., cooking, exercising, commuting, walking, etc.), but also the ritual experience could be the audio itself, opening up many opportunities for advertisers to reach audiences. Beginning her discussion, Idil acknowledged the massive changes that have taken place in audio over the past few years. Their methodology embraced a variety of approaches which included a quantitative nationally represented survey, ethnographies through mobile diaries and a qualitative approach using a 45-minute in-depth interview. Both Idil and Devora presented findings from their study which provided deep insights into the ritualized and often personal nature of audio content. This provides many unique opportunities to connect with consumers through targeting the ritual (e.g., school drop off, prepping for sports, cooking, etc.).
Key Takeaways
Seventy-four percent of listeners consume audio during their daily rituals, and 40% of listeners plan their day/activities around audio content.
The top six rituals when listeners engaged with audio were listed as the following: Having “me time,” putting my child to bed, exercising, snack time, walking and commuting (work/school).
Both quantitative and qualitative ethnographies indicated the top reasons people listened to audio content were because they participated in the following activities: running general errands (85%), doing home maintenance (84%), exercising outdoors (83%), preparing a meal (83%), driving (83%), commuting (82%), having a meal (81%) and cleaning (81%).
The study identified that in seemingly routine and dull moments, "audio infused rituals with energy and purpose” and assists listeners to recall and share a message.
Audio is part of more rituals than any other medium. Audio was listed as the highest in rituals throughout the day followed by online/streaming video, scrolling social media and broadcast/cable TV. Audio spanned the whole day revealing many moments for brands to connect.
Overall earnings from their study indicated the following results:
Rituals make our lives predictable, manageable and enjoyable, and audio often plays a role in these rituals.
In many cases audio is the ritual because listeners are so “deeply engaged with the listening experience.”
Certain cohorts are "more reliant on rituals and highly engaged in audio."
Embracing rituals "unlocks huge potential for advertisers to become part of them and connect more deeply with consumers."
