Hardy Audio

Audiobooks Set for Explosive Growth

Glen — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:29:24 +0000

The audiobook industry is booming, with global sales tipped to grow by an impressive 26 percent annually. This surge is being fuelled by a combination of rising listener numbers, innovative technology and the growing popularity of subscription-based models.

A Rapidly Expanding Audience

Deloitte forecasts that 270 million people worldwide will be tuning into audiobooks each month, representing a 15 percent increase on last year. They suggest Audiobooks are expected to make up around six percent of all book sales globally, signalling a shift in how audiences consume literature.

Subscriptions Changing the Game

Platforms such as Audible, Spotify, Storytel and Scribd are at the forefront of the audiobook revolution. By offering massive libraries through subscription services, these platforms are bringing audiobooks into the mainstream and reshaping the publishing landscape.

Untapped Global Potential

Companies are also exploring opportunities beyond English-speaking markets via the huge potential in developing local-language catalogues in order to attract new listeners and broaden the industry’s reach.

Direct Relationships

Discoverability and user experience is essential. Experts suggest that publishers could benefit from owning their own platforms, allowing them to build direct relationships with audiences and create more sustainable business models.

What It Means for the Industry

Australia’s publishing and media sectors will find valuable opportunities by leveraging local talent and unique storytelling voices. A strong growth outlook will also present exciting opportunities for publishers, producers, narrators and tech developers.

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The Rise of Digital Audio Spending: Why Broadcast Radio Still Matters

Glen — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:16:54 +0000

In recent years, the advertising landscape in Australia has seen a notable shift towards digital audio platforms. As brands invest more in digital audio, media agencies are keen to highlight the continued significance of traditional broadcast radio in their marketing strategies.

The Digital Audio Boom

The digital audio sector has witnessed substantial growth, driven by the increasing popularity of streaming services and podcasting. Advertisers are recognising the value of reaching audiences through these platforms, as they offer targeted advertising possibilities and a personal touch that resonates with listeners.

According to industry reports, spending in digital audio is on the rise, reflecting a broader trend towards digital media consumption. This shift is particularly appealing to brands looking to connect with younger demographics who are more engaged with online audio formats.

The Timeless Appeal of Broadcast Radio

Despite the surge in digital audio, broadcast radio remains a crucial component of the media mix. Many media agencies emphasise that radio offers unique advantages, such as wide reach, local targeting, and established trust between listeners and their favourite stations.

Broadcast radio continues to be a reliable medium for advertisers, especially for local businesses seeking to connect with their communities. The immediacy of radio advertising allows brands to capitalise on current events and promote time-sensitive offers effectively.

Finding Balance

As the digital audio market expands, the challenge for advertisers is to find the right balance between digital and traditional media. While digital audio offers innovative ways to engage consumers, the strengths of broadcast radio cannot be overlooked. Media agencies advocate for an integrated approach, combining the reach of broadcast radio with the precision of digital audio targeting.

Conclusion

The landscape of audio advertising is evolving, but the importance of broadcast radio remains steadfast. As brands navigate the complexities of digital audio spending, they must recognise the value that traditional media brings to their overall strategy. By leveraging both digital and broadcast audio, advertisers can ensure they are effectively reaching their target audiences in this ever-changing media environment.

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Why Radio Advertising is More Powerful Than You Think

Glen — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 04:10:20 +0000

Radio advertising has often been overshadowed by digital and television campaigns, yet it remains one of the most effective ways to reach a broad audience. With high levels of trust and affordability, radio provides a unique opportunity for brands to connect with consumers in a meaningful way.

Unlocking Radio’s Potential

Studies show that while radio campaigns reach thousands of listeners, many brands struggle with recognition and recall. A large portion of listeners fail to connect a radio ad with the intended brand, meaning businesses are missing out on a major opportunity to strengthen their presence in consumers’ minds.

To make the most of radio advertising, brands need to focus on key elements that drive engagement and retention.

What Makes a Great Radio Ad?

For a radio campaign to be successful, it needs to prioritise four essential factors:

Strong Branding – Distinctive sounds, jingles and memorable sonic elements help establish brand identity and recognition.
Immediate Impact – The first few seconds are crucial in capturing attention, as many listeners are engaged in other activities while tuning in.
Emotional Connection – Ads that trigger emotions, whether through humour, storytelling or music, create a stronger bond with audiences.
Entertainment Value – A well-crafted, engaging ad ensures that listeners stay tuned rather than tuning out.

Creativity is Key

Many brands treat radio ads as an afterthought, particularly when they are part of larger campaigns involving television or digital media. However, radio’s success depends on creative execution. A well-produced and strategically crafted ad can turn passive listeners into engaged customers.

By prioritising originality, emotional appeal and clear branding, businesses can transform their radio campaigns into powerful tools for audience connection and brand growth. Radio isn’t just background noise, it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impression.

Get Heard with Hardy Audio

At Hardy Audio, we specialise in crafting high-quality, engaging radio ads that cut through the noise. Whether you’re looking to build brand awareness or drive customer action, our team will create a sound strategy that delivers real results.

Ready to make your message heard? Contact Hardy Audio today and take your radio advertising to the next level.

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Why Professional Audio Equipment is Essential for Your Audiobook Recording

Glen — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 01:16:49 +0000

Narrating your own audiobook can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to connect with your audience in a deeply personal way.

While consumer gear might seem convenient, professional equipment ensures a high-quality, industry-standard recording that enhances your book’s credibility and listening experience.

As audio professionals, here are our top six reasons why using professional equipment will help elevate your audiobook.

Your Voice Deserves Superior Sound Quality

Your story deserves to be heard in the best way possible. Professional microphones, such as condenser and ribbon microphones, capture a broader frequency range, bringing out the richness and nuances of your voice. The result? A warm, engaging narration that keeps listeners hooked.

Say Goodbye to Background Noise

Ever tried recording with a basic mic and ended up capturing traffic noise, the hum of your computer, or even your neighbor’s dog? Consumer microphones struggle to isolate your voice from background sounds. Professional-grade equipment, with features like high signal-to-noise ratios and directional pickup patterns, minimises unwanted noise so your words come through crystal clear.

Keep Your Audio Levels Consistent

Your audiobook will be several hours long, and maintaining a steady vocal tone and volume is crucial. Professional audio interfaces, preamps, and compressors help regulate levels, ensuring smooth and balanced sound. Without these, your recording might have distracting volume fluctuations that require tedious editing.

Editing and Processing Made Easy

When you use professional equipment, you’re setting yourself up for seamless post-production. Industry-standard Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) like Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, and Logic Pro offer advanced tools for noise reduction, EQ adjustments, and fine-tuning. Consumer-grade setups often lack this flexibility, making editing a frustrating challenge.

Reliable Equipment for the Long Haul

Recording an audiobook is a marathon, not a sprint. Professional microphones, interfaces, and headphones are designed for long sessions and consistent performance. Cheaper alternatives may degrade quickly or fail to deliver reliable results, leading to re-recordings and wasted time.

Meeting Industry Standards

If you want your audiobook on platforms like Audible, Apple Books, or Google Play, you need to meet strict technical requirements. Professional equipment ensures your recording meets these standards, avoiding potential rejections due to poor sound quality or inconsistent levels. Your audiobook will sound as professional as those from top publishers.

The post Why Professional Audio Equipment is Essential for Your Audiobook Recording appeared first on Hardy Audio.

Dolly & Barbra Nominated In The 2025 GRAMMY Audiobook Awards

Glen — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 09:13:34 +0000

If you missed it, the 2025 audiobook GRAMMY nominations were announced on 8 November last year. Yes, who knew?

Two of the audiobooks spotlighted in the nominations include Dolly Parton’s BEHIND THE SEAMS and Barbra Streisand’s MY NAME IS BARBRA.

Both books are read by the authors and have earned Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording nominations.

In Behind The Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, country superstar Dolly Parton shares the full story behind her lifelong passion for fashion, including how she developed her own distinct Dolly style.

Dolly’s audiobook is an immersive listening experience, featuring over 30 of her beloved songs, as well as archival interviews and performance clips.

My Name is Barbra was ten years in the making, and encapsulates EGOT winner Barbra Streisand’s six-decade career as a singer, actor, and director.

In her book, Barbra tells the story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn and her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs, to her breakout performance in Funny Girl and winning the Oscar.

Another entrant, coming in at 100 years old, was the late Jimmy Carter; the oldest nominee in the 2025 awards. The former President was also nominated for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording.

The 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

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The Best Chistmas Campaigns Of 2024

Glen — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 02:18:22 +0000

It’s no surprise that Christmas advertising performs well due to the feel-good ‘human truth’ story-telling that brands employ. So let’s take a look at this year’s favourite’s.

AMAZON

In the US, Amazon’s ‘Midnight Opus’ ad tells an uplifting story of a theatre caretaker who usually works behind the scenes. In the ad, Amazon emphasises the joy that a simple act of thoughtfulness can bring to others.

COCA COLA

One of the year’s most talked about ads was Coca Cola’s ‘Holidays are Coming’ because it was AI-generated. Many speculated that AI wouldn’t engage consumers. What do you think?

JOHN LEWIS

In years past, UK department store John Lewis has made some of the most talked about Christmas ads. This year the team chose to start the story in a John Lewis store and then lead viewers on a mysterious journey in search of a gift.

MYER

Closer to home, Myer’s ‘Share the Joy’ ad saw a departure from the tone and style of previous Christmas ads. ‘Share the Joy’ features a naughty Grinch-like character who disturbs the neighbourhood Christmas decorations.

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Spotify Trials New Video Features For Audiobooks

Glen — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:20:45 +0000

In an effort to bring listeners closer to their favorite authors and stories, Spotify will trial three new features (for premium users), which include video clips, author pages and the ability to add visuals that appear while you listen.

The new ‘follow along’ visual feature aims to provide a more immersive experience, making it feel as if users are flipping through a book with illustrations, photos, and graphics.

Another interesting feature will be the option for authors, or publishers to submit a short video with the audiobook, such as an interview with the author, or behind-the-scenes footage from the audio recording process.

In addition, new author pages will build upon current artist pages, with dedicated profiles work, and other relevant author information.

The new features are currently live for premium listeners in all markets where Spotify audiobooks are available, including Australia.

The introduction of video clips for audiobooks aligns with Spotify’s ongoing investment in the format, particularly following the launch of music videos and video podcasts.

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Digital Audio & Podcast Listener Patterns Similar To Radio

Glen — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 01:55:28 +0000

A recent Australian Internet Advertising Revenue Report (IARR), compiled by PwC states that podcast listenership peaks between 7am and 9am, with a smaller spike between 4pm and 6pm. Which of course mirrors radio, or people’s daily commute to and from work.

The IARR report also suggests that we’ve seen a 23.6% increase in podcast and streaming audio ad spends this year.

In fact, the $290 million ad spend has been the mediums fastest growth period since the previous peak of 477.8 million during the December 2023 quarter.

As such, advertisers are increasingly investing in online audio because it remains prevalent in people’s cars, homes, and on portable devices while continuing to deliver both audience trust and accessibility.

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Remembering James Earl Jones

Glen — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 01:55:17 +0000

James Earl Jones who died on 9 September 2024, will be remembered as an acting icon and master of voice.

An Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe award winner, Jones performed the iconic character voices for the Lion King’s Mufasa, and Darth Vader in the Star Wars films. Jones also famously lent his voice to CNN’s tagline, “This is CNN.”

His first movie appearance came courtesy of the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove. His most memorable film roles included Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, Claudine and The Field of Dreams.

In 1969, Jones participated in making test films for Sesame Street, which were instrumental in what was to become the long running format for the children’s educational series.

Jones was a once in a generation talent who has left an enormous legacy in American culture.

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Latest Audio Listening Trends In The US

Glen — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:12:38 +0000

Nielsen’s recent audio report suggests that Americans spend almost 20%, or 4 hours and 5 minutes of every day listening to audio.

The research, conducted between April and June, 2024 breaks down people’s time spent listening to audio as follows:

67% of daily listening to ad-supported radio
19% of daily listening to podcasts
11% of daily listening to streaming services
3% of daily listening to satellite ad-free subscription radio

While Americans use radio throughout their day in many different settings, most listening happens outside of the home during daylight hours.

In the car, more than 80% of ad-supported audio time goes to radio. With radio offerings that spread news, culture, music, comedy, sports talk and companionship.

The share of streaming audio is also dynamic when sorted by age. The formats which have a higher share of audience for streaming are spoken word, which are inclusive of News and Sports, and rock-based formats, which include Alternative and Classic Rock.

Among younger listeners (18-34), there is more balance between total share and streaming because these are the most avid audio streamers.

Even with new channels emerging every year, audio remains a cornerstone of the American media diet.

This is particularly true in 2024 with marquee sports and news events like the summer Olympics and presidential election.

As marketers continue to look at where best to engage with audiences in Australia, the report continues to provide great insight into audio’s reach and impact.

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