Audio

AI is not the future. It’s the here and now. In the latest episode of Future Sessions, Carl Hibbert, Research Director at Futuresource Consulting, sits down with Simon Forrest, Principal Technology Consultant, to unpack the breakthroughs and expose the roadblocks shaping AI’s trajectory across entertainment and consumer electronics industries in 2025.

Futuresource Consulting has blended its latest round of international consumer research with its comprehensive market data and expertise, to reveal the buyer journeys that will shape the future of the headphone and soundbar markets.

On World Hearing Day, not only should we acknowledge the challenges that surround hearing health, but we also need to look to the transformative potential of technology in addressing them.  

With 487 million people projected to experience hearing loss by 2028, and 38% under the age of 50, the urgency to drive awareness and accessibility has never been greater.

As one of the world's most comprehensive AI regulations, the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (the EU AI Act) officially came into force in August 2024, regulating activities across the full AI lifecycle to ensure fair and ethical usage, safeguard fundamental rights and create a transparent AI ecosystem.

Essential report highlights the evolution of automotive entertainment and the next big shift for AI, apps and automobiles. Futuresource Consulting has released its latest report, Automotive Infotainment: 6 Trends Set to Shape 2025, providing key insights into the rapid transformation of in-car entertainment systems.

The luxury audio market is entering a new phase of growth, shaped by shifting economic conditions, changing consumer behaviours and a renewed appetite for high-end experiences. That’s according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting, which provides a comprehensive assessment of the sector, the opportunities and the future outlook.

The ever-increasing popularity of true wireless stereo (TWS) devices is reshaping consumer audio. TWS isn’t just offering convenience, it’s also delivering potential benefits for wellness.

With headphones now an everyday companion for work, entertainment and communication, they are seamlessly integrated into daily routines. However, noise exposure is also on the rise, and it is impacting hearing health.

The audio market has witnessed sweeping transformation over the last 15 years. Streaming platforms are providing access to millions of songs, hardware innovations are making audio devices central to everyday life, and more people are listening to music than ever before. But there’s a problem.

We are thrilled to announce that Audio Collaborative 2024 is now available on demand! Thank you to everyone who attended the event and contributed to the vibrant atmosphere filled with excitement, connections, and a genuine enthusiasm for the future of audio.

Futuresource Consulting is launching Future Sessions on 6 January 2025, a dynamic new video series, designed to inform the technology and entertainment industries.

The resurgence of vinyl has been an unexpected success story. Audio Collaborative 2023 saw an entire panel dedicated to the revival, with experts discussing how heritage is playing a key role in the format’s popularity.

Despite recent slowdowns after the pandemic-induced boom, content creator populations are stabilising and growing in 2024, according to Futuresource Consulting’s new Content Creator Survey and Sizing report. This has been prompted by new users continuing to be inspired and driven to join the space, particularly as the accessibility of content creation tools and platforms only increases.

Big news in audio with one of the largest mass market audio brands acquiring one of the largest premium audio brands! Bose Corporation has announced the acquisition of McIntosh Group, the parent company of renowned high-performance and luxury audio brands like McIntosh and Sonus faber. This strategic move unites industry pioneers with more than 175 years of combined expertise, craftsmanship, and a commitment to reaching passionate music fans around the world.

The professional loudspeaker market continues to display steady global expansion, growing from $2.78 billion in 2022, to achieve $3.05 billion last year. And while a new report from Futuresource Consulting predicts continued volume and value growth, the market is experiencing a divergence of fortune at the sector level. 

Audio industry executives, experts and specialists, mark your calendars for the return of Futuresource Consulting’s Audio Collaborative conference, taking place in London on Monday 4 November. With less than a month to go, this exclusive half-day event will focus on the shifting opportunities within the audio landscape.

Aftermarket headphones maintain their position as a cornerstone of consumer electronics ownership, ranking third behind smartphones and TVs in a new consumer research survey from Futuresource Consulting.

The consumer love affair with music and audio in the home shows no signs of cooling off. With audio hardware capturing the attention of shoppers, Futuresource Consulting’s latest round of international research points to a future of multiroom audio and a demand for even longer battery life from portable speaker owners.

The global headphones market continues to expand, generating $10.8 billion in Q2 2024, according to the latest quarterly tracking data from Futuresource Consulting. The research firm reports that Q2 volumes increased by 1.3% year-on-year, with revenue growth of 0.5%.