- Subscription models show potential as 59% of podcast listeners are willing to pay £4 a month
- Financial services set to capitalise as savvy listeners save over 25% more money than non-listeners
- Celebrities attract listeners, with 50% saying it’s important they have heard of the presenter
- View the full 4DC A-List(en)ers report here
Global strategic podcast consultancy, 4DC has revealed the second release of its quarterly report. The new data shows podcasts are far from being an add-on, and should now be viewed as a central part of the marketing mix. With 7.1 million people in the UK listening to podcasts weekly, UK consumers have accepted the channel as a normalised entertainment platform.
Subscriptions Welcome
As consumers grow accustomed to subscription packages across a multitude of services, from Netflix to Hello Fresh, it seems there’s a strong opportunity for podcasts to follow a similar model in what is fast becoming the Holy Grail of marketing.
In a podcast industry first, the data has revealed that more than half (59%) of listeners would be happy to pay for premium content at an average of £4 (£4.03) per month, or around £50 a year.
Combining the growth of podcasts with listeners’ willingness to pay a monthly premium for good content, subscriptions are set to be the next phase in podcast services.
ROI
As advertising within podcasts shows 60% growth year-on-year, the report from 4DC reveals that consumers are not only willing to subscribe, but also purchase brands.
According to the research, 80% of listeners are either positive or neutral to receiving adverts, with a sizeable 59% willing to buy from a brand advertised in a podcast. As these audiences grow, good messaging can fast increase a brand’s commercial opportunity, with 22% of listeners purchasing at least one product discussed.
In fact, the importance of aligning brand messages with consumer interest is backed up by the report’s findings, as more than half of listeners (56%) go on to research the brands mentioned either immediately or straight after the podcast has finished. This consequently highlights the vital need for online visibility.
Peter Mitchell, Co-Founder – 4DC, highlights that “with just a fifth of consumers saying they don’t want to hear ads or sponsorship in podcasts, brands should seize commercial opportunities. Recall of brand mentions is staggering with a large – but growing – audience willing to buy straight away.”
Mitchell continues “For those listeners who don’t want to be targeted, we have been told they would be willing to spend for premium programming, either going ad-free or signing up to a subscription. In 2018, the UK market for delivery subscriptions broke through the £2bn barrier and looks to be welcoming podcasts into the fray as a healthy new revenue system for brands. The likes of Luminary are taking a Netflix-style approach, offering premium content at an affordable monthly cost.”
Savvy Savers
The monetary habits of listeners will likely pique interest from financial institutions. Podcast listeners are shown to be wise with their money, and willing to save. In fact, the average amount saved by listeners is more than £2,000 a year, a notable 25% more than non-listeners. However, listeners are not averse to a loan: 16% have taken one out, compared to 10% of non-listeners.
It would seem that podcasts have earned the trust of their savvy saver audience. Encouragingly, 59% of listeners believe that podcast advertising is relevant to them, and a significant 57% trust it. In the right context, this trust is something brands and institutions will benefit from.
Celebrities
The US clearly leads the way in podcasting prowess, using powerful celebrities to draw in listeners, with the likes of Joe Rogan’s self-titled programme currently number one in the subscriber charts for 2019. Although the UK is embryonic in comparison, we’re certainly becoming more attuned to hearing recognisable voices: half of listeners say it’s important they have heard of the presenter when picking a new podcast.
As we see more and more celebrities in the UK hosting their own shows, from Fearne Cotton to Peter Crouch, the growing demand is clear. In fact, the previous 4DC report from June this year indicated that 17% of listeners preferred a celebrity presenter, climbing to 25% in only 6 months.
Howard Kosky, Co-Founder – 4DC, added “The UK podcast audience, A-list(en)ers, are active, loyal, connected, growing in number – and possess valuable spending power. This data demonstrates podcasts are fast becoming a normal part of people’s routines. They are now an established information and entertainment service. As a platform for brands, this is an ROI opportunity not to be missed.”
