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For brands like Cricket Wireless, Sponsored Playlists offer a way to show up authentically in the moments fans care about most.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Cricket, connection goes beyond wireless; it\u2019s about showing up in the moments people care about,\u201d said Stephen Barnes, Director of Media at Cricket Wireless. \u201cMusic plays a powerful role in how people connect and express themselves, and Spotify\u2019s Sponsored Playlist gave us a thoughtful way to be part of that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Introducing Carousel Ads<\/p>\n
We\u2019re testing Carousel Ads, a new swipeable display format that lets brands tell a visual story directly in Spotify\u2019s Now Playing view.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Carousel Ads give advertisers the option to feature up to six cards, each with its own image, description, and unique link, with the ability to include pricing or promotional details.<\/p>\n
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Early beta testing with brands including Priceline, eBay, and GNC showed the format drove strong engagement, pointing to its potential to turn listening into moments of discovery and action.<\/p>\n
\u201cPriceline is always looking for innovative ways to connect with travelers, making Spotify\u2019s carousel format a natural fit,\u201d said Toby Korner, SVP Marketing at Priceline. \u201cIn partnership with Spotify\u2019s Creative Lab, we brought our destination-driven storytelling to life through a visually rich, immersive experience powered by emerging ad technology. Early engagement has been encouraging, reinforcing the role of new formats on platforms like Spotify in creating more dynamic ways for travelers to discover their next trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new format will be rolling out soon in beta to eligible markets in Spotify Ads Manager.<\/p>\n
Two new ways to optimize campaigns<\/p>\n
We\u2019re also introducing new tools in Spotify Ads Manager designed to take the guesswork out of campaign optimization and drive better performance.<\/p>\n
Split testing: Advertisers can now compare different creative elements to better understand what resonates with their audience. Results are measured across metrics like completion rate, click-through rate, video view expand rate, cost per click, and cost per acquisition. The capability helps brands move from instinct to insight, to quickly boost campaign performance.
\nAutomated bid: Powered by machine learning, this feature optimizes bidding in real time, adjusting automatically to market dynamics. Advertisers can deliver their full campaign budget without the uncertainty of manual bidding, making it easier to maximize impact on Spotify.<\/p>\n
New research on how fans engage with audio<\/p>\n
We\u2019re releasing new research, The Sound-On Era<\/a>, that looks at how consumer behavior is evolving and what that means for advertisers. The report draws on insights from more than 5,000 consumers, 105 advertisers, and 30 experts to share what we\u2019re hearing, seeing, and learning as we build the future of audio.<\/p>\n The findings show that as AI transforms how we communicate, voice is reclaiming its place as our primary interface, shifting audio from background noise to the connective thread of modern media. For advertisers, The Sound-On Era is both a snapshot of today\u2019s media landscape and a roadmap for where it\u2019s going. Explore the full report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n