This Year's Most Popular Social Audio Apps to Keep an Eye On

It's no longer just about the clubhouse – social audio is here to stay, and with it comes the opportunity for creators to network, express ideas, monetize, and meet new people in an immersive virtual environment. Among other things, collaborating...

(However, it's important to remember that Clubhouse did not invent social audio, despite popularizing it in the US.) Dizza, TT Voice, Tia, and Yalla, four audio-based companies backed by Chinese developers, are examples of international companies. Investors already had a growing user base interested in these virtual audio "rooms" thanks to social media, which are media apps.

"Social audio could be the next big thing in social media. While staying at home during the pandemic, consumers suffering from Zoom fatigue were initially drawn to the audio-only concept, and the market has since exploded, writes Kat Shea.

In June 2021, Social Audio Apps became mainstream, and the same week, Spotify launched Greenroom and Facebook launched Live Audio Rooms (and podcasts). (Not to mention the surge in popularity of podcasts and spoken-word audio.) "This week, I spent some time listening to conversations across all four products," Kaia Yurif writes. These apps will stand out by offering features that entice speakers to stay with a large audience. " What would be the distinguishing characteristics?

"All four have a similar interface," Kaya continues, "with photos and lists of participants in each virtual room, an animation showing who is currently speaking, and the ability to exit the app while listening in the background."

Until now, Facebook and Twitter have added auto-captioning to make themselves more accessible to people with hearing impairments. Greenroom on Spotify has a Zoom-like chat feature, and Clubhouse has a personal calendar.

What else sets these platforms apart? What could these social audio apps be missing?

The Entertainment Industry is being revolutionized by four social audio applications.

Let's take a closer look at each of these social audio apps and features.

1. Clubhouse

During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the first to start the trend. "Clubhouse is a voice-only environment, and we believe that voice is a truly unique medium," Clubhouse explained in July 2020. You're not bound by eye contact, what you're wearing, or your location if you don't have a camera." Tone, change, and emotion in the voice all convey nuance and allow you to form unique human connections with others. You can continue to push each other and have difficult conversations, but there is often an opportunity to develop empathy when using voice. This is what initially drew us to the medium."

The app's "Creator First" program was launched a few months ago and has since expanded internationally (to include Brazil and India!). They write, "As we like to say, Clubhouse is a humanitarian platform." "It's a place where you can meet new people and find the right rooms at the end of the session to make you feel better."

Furthermore, studies have shown that spatial audio reduces cognitive load while improving speech intelligibility. "Your brain has to figure out who's speaking," says Justin Uberti, Clubhouse's head of streaming. You must rely on timing without spatial cues, which requires more cognitive effort. This can result in a more pleasurable experience in addition to increased immersion. This is why the popularity of clubhouse clone app is increasing.

Clubhouse is one of the best Social Audio Apps that has partnered with High Fidelity until September 2021. What exactly does it imply? Not only does spatial audio improve the naturalness and immersion of conversation, but it also has less obvious advantages.

2. Twitter Spaces

Twitter Spaces, which first launched in December 2020 for a small group, went public on May 3, allowing anyone with a Twitter account to join as a listener (at least 600 followers). Any Twitter user with a large number of followers can act as a host (location).

It marketed the platform as being more inclusive than Clubhouse at first. "Women and members of other marginalized communities, who regularly join the ranks of others, will be the first people to access the space," she says.

Take a look at this detailed comparison of Twitter Spaces vs. Clubhouse. Viewers can respond with emoji during Space, but this feature is not available in Clubhouse. "Spaces are more accessible because anyone can listen to the Twitter app; there is no need for an invitation."

3. Facebook Audio Rooms in Real Time

"Public figures and certain groups based in the United States may begin hosting Live Audio Rooms through the main Facebook iOS app," Facebook announced on June 21, 2021. Anyone can speak, and up to 50 people can speak at the same time.

There is no limit to the number of people who can attend – a direct challenge to the clubhouse, which has room size restrictions."

"It's also introducing additional useful features, such as live captioning, and responses will be available to interact with users throughout the chat," Brian Menegus and Ashley Carman add. Clubhouse does not have captions, despite the fact that Twitter Spaces, the company's live audio feature, now has them."

4. Greenroom on Spotify

Greenroom is a live audio-based social media platform that connects artists, musicians, and other creators with their fans, followers, and friends. “ Talk about your favorite music. You don't agree with the fantasy sports picks. Allow space for your teammates. Spotify recommends that you "listen to your favorite topics."

The Spotify Greenroom app is based on a locker room code that already exists. Users who already have a Spotify account can log in to the new app using their existing credentials.

"One of Spotify's biggest selling points is that its greenroom sessions are taped. Producers can request an audio file after a show has ended, which they can then convert into a podcast episode. This ability to switch between live and recorded audio may be more useful. The world has changed since Covid, and users are no longer confined to their homes."

Chat controls, more information about recording capabilities, and a new onboarding experience are among the other features mentioned in this post.

Final Thoughts

Take a look at the history of Social Audio Apps: People are looking for new ways to connect, create, and share. What better way to do this than with immersive audio, which can mimic a more natural, personal conversation? Communication must be endemic in order to feel authentic. "No one comes when multiple people try to communicate without spatial audio."