One of the biggest audio developments over the last few decades has undoubtedly been the seismic shift from physical to digital. It began in the 1980s, when the CD slowly began to take up valuable real estate on store shelves. By the 90s, CDs were the standard format, but their reign wouldn’t last forever.

Sustainability is emerging as an increasing priority for K-12 and higher education schools, says Futuresource Consulting’s latest report on the education technology sector.

Futuresource Consulting has revealed the topics of focus for Audio Collaborative 2023, the tenth official gathering of the firm’s annual event. Taking place on the 9th of November at London Soho’s Ham Yard Hotel, Audio Collaborative will unite the far reaches of the audio industry to discuss the issues and opportunities gripping the landscape.

As if audio wasn’t already pervasive, consumer interest continues to climb. As listening devices diversify and streaming services introduce new personalised features, demand shows no sign of waning. Futuresource research shows that globally, the retail value of the consumer audio market will grow by 11% year on year from 2021.

The pandemic is far behind us, but working from home remains fixed. Futuresource’s research from 2022 shows that the future of work is very much hybrid, prompting changes in how businesses approach meetings. Quality AV technology is becoming a key consideration for almost every enterprise, as they grapple with new working patterns and how to best support the dispersed workforce.

In May, the Cologne Messe hosted ANGA COM. This annual event draws executives from around the world away from the comfort of their fibre-connected homes and offices to discuss connectivity and content in the flesh.

Student engagement is often regarded as key to improving learning outcomes. But when teachers are struggling under ever-increasing workloads, a dearth of resources, and inadequate compensation, re-engaging teachers is just as vital in creating a mutually beneficial education system.

The headphones market continues along growth path despite stifled demand in developed markets and global economic uncertainty. Volumes saw incremental growth at 1% in 2022, though revenues climbed by a healthy 9%.

Games continue to prove themselves to be an immutable part of popular culture. The forty-year-old franchise Zelda recently smashed records with the release of Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK), shifting an eye-watering 10 million copies within the first three days

Entertainment moves at a lightning pace. Consumer habits are constantly shifting as new and immediate platforms disrupt the landscape. Technologies are advancing rapidly, and the possibilities they offer are generating excitement across the industry. With plenty more solutions primed for launch, it can be hard to pin down what’s next for the future of streaming.

XR is inching us ever closer to the virtual world. Immersion is the cornerstone of this innovative technology, with VR being particularly effective in engrossing users in new virtual realms.

At Futuresource Consulting’s flagship event Audio Collaborative, conversations on the future of audio were abundant. One panel, chaired by Guy Hammett (Head of Home Audio at Futuresource), explored this in detail.

As part of the BPI’s new Insight Session 50 series, audio and music experts gathered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios for an event dubbed The Future of Recorded Music.

In some respects, the last decade has been all about the live service game. Also known as games as a service or GaaS, the explosion of Fortnite in 2017 demonstrated just how powerful the format can be. Other examples like Destiny and Apex Legends have further cemented live-service games as the format of the future.

In March 2023, the Futuresource team attended Enterprise Connect, a leading communications and customer experience technology conference, in Orlando, Florida. In this post, Scarlett Woodford, Senior Market Analyst in the Collaboration team shares key takeaways from the event and highlights strategic recommendations for market stakeholders.

It’s been a rocky road for cinema in recent years. From the booming popularity of SVoD services like Netflix and Amazon Prime creating cut-throat competition, to the Covid-19 lockdowns forcing theatres to close for vast stretches, to the cost-of-living crisis that’s driving consumers to tighten their belts. The beloved and culturally significant cinema has, in many ways, been battling to stay relevant.

Wearable healthcare devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers have become synonymous with active and outdoorsy folk, but body-monitoring devices like these can also be revolutionary in the care of the elderly. Also known as elderly watches, the goal is to allow older adults to live more independently day to day.

The consumer loudspeaker market continues to climb, achieving 7.6% year-on-year value growth last year, despite being held back by adverse economic conditions.