a16z Podcast

The Future of Audio

Oct 14, 2022

Connie Chan, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, and Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s chief R&D officer, delve into the transforming landscape of audio. They discuss the convergence of audio and video, emphasizing user engagement and AI's role in content creation. The duo explores the creator economy, noting strategies from China for monetization through fan engagement. They highlight the significance of interactivity and innovative features while examining recommendation systems for music and podcasts. Their insights paint a vivid picture of audio's evolving future.

57:16

Creator website

Episode guests

Gustav Söderström

Connie Chan

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Is There a Vertical Solution in Podcasting?

01:25

What Can we Learn from TikTok and apply to Audio?

01:30

Is There a Big Opportunity to Expand the Funnel of Creators?

01:49

Mix Talk With Music in a Session

02:20

Intro

3min

Transforming Audio in a Visual World

8min

Reimagining Audio Interaction

7min

Unlocking Monetization through Fan Engagement in the Creator Economy

2min

Innovations in Audio Engagement

17min

Navigating Audio Discovery

19min

The Evolution of Audio Engagement: Fragmentation and Community Building

2min

Audio is no longer just audio anymore -- podcasts now pull from new video platforms like TikTok and older ones like radio, user experience is growing and changing, and it's easier than ever to create audio content. Where do all these mediums converge and where do they diverge -- when it comes to user experience, product design, recommendations, discovery, and more?

In this episode from October 2020, a16z general partner Connie Chan and Spotify’s chief R&D officer Gustav Söderström join host Sonal Choksi to discuss the past, present and future of audio. They dig into everything from what the past in radio can tell us about the future, what audio can and will borrow from mediums like video and platforms like TikTok, the role for more interactivity and increased use of tools like machine learning and AI, and more.

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