The state of sound in 2020 and beyond

In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of spatial audio, Apple AirPods, digital walkie talkies, audio-based meditation and mindfulness services like Headspace (I’m an investor), and social audio experiences like Discord and Clubhouse.

Hardware enablers—AirPods and smart speakers—are colliding with changes in consumer behavior. On top of that, screen fatigue is drumming up demand for screen-less content. This confluence of factors is creating huge demand for “water”—for audio content and audio-first social networks.

Ek: “I believe that the AirPods may be one of Apple's all-time most sold devices next to the iPhone. And so if you think about that and just think about ambient computing and the ability for people to consume more and more content now via their ears, because most of us are having these sort of white earbuds in for many hours per day, that's just an... See more

three themes will emerge: innovation in the content format, the evolution of the business model, and the growing ubiquity of audio.

As we see more brands interested in the audio space, we’ve found a huge need for solutions to help guide their investment in their own audio identities.