However, American Internet users prefer shorter episodic audio content, with 43% liking 5-15 minutes and 38% preferring 15-30-minute episodes.
Los Angeles, Calif. – December 12, 2023 – Audio Series platform Pocket FM today unveils the findings of its US-edition entertainment consumption survey, Digital Entertainment Insights: Audio Takes Centerstage. The survey, conducted among 4,394 internet users in the US, aims to understand the audio industry and delves into internet users’ preferences, behaviors, and attitudes towards various forms of digital entertainment.
In a nation defined by its diverse tastes and cultural shades, the findings reveal interesting insights into the dynamic habits of American entertainment patterns: 90% of users engage with audio entertainment daily, reflecting the influence of audio in their daily lives. Storytelling takes the spotlight, inspiring half of users to prefer audio, while one-third of users opt for audio due to its convenience, and another third values it for the diverse range of content.
While consuming audio content, 63% of Americans favor smartphones, 15% opt for tablets, and 22% spread their audio consumption across Smart TVs, Desktops, and other devices. Genres such as Drama (21%), Romance (23%), Suspense/Thriller (16%), and Sci-Fi (15%) emerge as top choices.
Regarding content duration, 43% of US listeners lean towards shorter episodes, spanning 5-15 minutes, while 38% prefer a slightly longer duration of 15-30 minutes. Only 18% are inclined toward lengthier content, opting for episodes lasting approximately 45-60 minutes.
As audio entices the imagination and creativity, 45% visualize the storytelling while listening, while the remaining 55% lean toward a visual experience, desiring the audio storytelling to be adapted on video platforms, such as movies, TV series, or web series.
Trust in content recommendations emerged as a crucial factor, with 38% relying on platform recommendations, 31% seeking guidance from social media, and surprisingly, only 3% swayed by influencers.
The survey uncovered that audio serves not only as an entertainment source but also as a productive tool, with 65% of users leveraging audio to destress, 17% to avoid distraction, and 17% to enhance focus, showcasing its versatility in meeting various user needs.
Additionally, 62% of US listeners are keen on recommending their favorite audio content. When it comes to spreading the word, good old-fashioned word of mouth leads the pack, with 42% of users relying on recommendations from friends. Social media is a little behind, influencing 34% of users.
Zooming into specific audio content, audio series steal the spotlight, with 67% giving 5-star recommendations. In comparison, 42% give 5-star ratings to TV entertainment but get a rating of 3 or below from 37% users. Online music and video OTT also fare well, with 53% and 58% giving 5-star ratings, respectively, but rated three or below by 29% and 20% of users, highlighting a shift in the audience’s digital entertainment preferences and reflecting fatigue with the existing format.
While audio series emerged as the most loved and preferred entertainment format, the findings have shown that 36% of users shifted from music to audio series, 22% of users replaced audio series with video streaming, and 18% moved from audiobooks and podcasts, illustrating the dynamic evolution of American entertainment preferences.
The survey reveals that 29% of American users lean toward subscriptions, though 32% are more inclined to pay for individual episodes, signaling a potential shift in monetization strategies towards microtransactions. Meanwhile, 39% prefer ad-supported models and other promotional offerings.
Speaking on the survey findings, Rohan Nayak, CEO and co-founder of Pocket FM, said, “This trend shows that people want more immersive experiences and suggests a bigger shift that encourages away from constantly looking at screens for entertainment while trying to distress. The rising popularity of audio series, where people binge-listen without needing to stare at a screen, is a clear sign of this change. It’s an exciting time for audio, emerging as the new lifestyle, as we find new ways to create engaging experiences that really connect with our users.”
Methodology
The survey, with a total sample size of 4,394 internet users in the US, was conducted between 28th October 2023 and November 15, 2023. Regarding gender distribution, the respondents comprised 47% males and 53% females. Delving deeper into age demographics, 64% of the sample are millennials, Gen Z represents 32% of the sample size, and only 4% belongs to Gen X. Geographically, the survey has a balanced representation, with 40% of respondents hailing from urban areas and 32% and 28% come from semi-urban and rural regions respectively.
About Pocket FM:
Founded in 2018, Pocket FM was built with a vision to redefine the audio OTT space by pioneering the audio-series category. We pride ourselves in embedding the storytelling elements with a layer of content personalization in the serialized format that resulted in the emergence of “binge listening” as a consumption habit. We have emerged as the preferred digital audio destination for a refined storytelling experience with the audio-series format, riding on our diverse and engaging content.
Available on iOS and Android, click here to download Pocket FM. For more information, please get in touch with communications@pocketfm.com.
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To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: 90% of American Internet users tune into audio for entertainment; 63% find audio helpful to destress: Pocket FM Survey
