Welcome to the Audio multiverse — where listening is just the beginning.

For today’s fans, how they tune in matters way less than who they’re tuning in for. Car radio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube clip, TikTok stitch… it all blurs into one seamless experience built around the creator at the center. We’re not just choosing shows; we’re choosing voices we trust, storytellers we obsess over, personalities we keep in our daily rotation.

And as those voices stretch across platforms, something powerful happens: their fandom follows; and brands now have more ways than ever to show up with them.

There’s a reason you hear people say, “You have to watch this podcast.”  That’s the new reality.

When it comes to podcasting, fans want the full experience — the mic, the banter, the reactions, the behind-the-scenes moments. And creators? They’re leaning in. Audio is still their home base, but video brings new discovery and new energy to their storytelling.

At Audacy, we’re proudly Audio-first, but we’re also championing this hybrid world. Because when you pair great voices with visual moments, you unlock entirely new lanes for advertisers, like in-studio branding, subtle product placement, branded live streams, and video cut-downs for social.

It’s all part of the evolution. And audiences are absolutely here for it. 42% of listeners actually prefer podcasts with a video component.

Audio creators don’t just live in our earbuds anymore. They live everywhere their fans do. Think of each show like a 360-degree franchise ecosystem: Social clips, live shows, TV broadcasts, merch drops, book launches, and IRL fan events.

Audiences aren’t just listening — they’re belonging. They want to be part of the world their favorite hosts are building.

Take DC’s The Sports Junkies. They’re radio powerhouses, prolific podcasters, broadcasting on TV, selling out merch, and even writing books. That’s not a show — that’s a universe. And advertisers who show up inside that universe tap into emotion, affinity, and loyalty that can’t be faked. 48% of listeners feel more engaged with podcast hosts they see or hear outside the show.

More touchpoints → more fandom → more impact.

Creators are no longer confined to a single format. And neither is your advertising opportunity. When fans follow their favorite voices across every corner of the media map, brands gain a roadmap to show up wherever that fandom flows.

The creator effect is real. And it’s rewiring how influence is built and how brands break through.