Looking for something to listen to? the new popular streaming app will prompt you whenever you don’t have any new episodes of your favourite podcast to listen to.
Sure, you might think to yourself.  It’s great of them to ask, although I’m 99% sure that the algorithm is just doing what it can to immerse me in content from one of its (paid, high-profile, global) creators.
From time to time some people do enjoy this, but over the years, the fact that these are usually devoid of local nuance such as ‘Gqeberha’ updates on the water crisis, Cape Town taxi strikes or the freshest Amapiano, etc. The lack of local bothers some quite a bit. The algorithm picks up the listening preferences but does not actually reach into a listeners South African-ness, so to speak. In a modern world filled with noise, subscriptions and clutter, many listeners would appreciate more local nuance in language, music and news.
Those who share these sentiments will be happy to hear that there is something on the horizon to change all of this. This is the LiSTN Audio app, a cutting-edge aggregator of local audio brands that people already know and love. So why LiSTN?
Watch: LiSTN, a new audio world.
Audio anytime, anywhere
From streaming favourite radio stations to exploring captivating podcasts, the LiSTN Audio app presents a world of audio at the touch of a button. Fundamentally designed with the user experience in mind, the app knows that audio enthusiasts have an ever-evolving list of wants and needs. That is why it offers instant access to diverse content including real-time news updates and expert-curated, genre-specific music channels.
All this excellent content is accessible anytime and anywhere without sign-up or sign-in. Users simply have to download the app and start listening. Because it is launching simultaneously on Android and iOS, nobody is left behind from day one.
Zero subscription fees
It would be safe to expect a service like LiSTN to launch with a premium tier, but this isn’t the case. People are free to access the already extensive library of audio content (and live radio shows) at zero personal expense.
There are no subscription fees to add to debit orders and in an age where data for audio streaming can cost as little as R1.50 an hour, the time is truly ripe for South Africans to fully immerse themselves in the world of digital audio.
Key features
Freshly launched, the app is live in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The following key features lay a solid foundation for features that will be added as users start engaging and LiSTN’ing.
- Live radio streaming capabilities give users access to an extensive list of stations to enjoy in real-time. Expect a variety of genres, talk shows and more.
- Heartwarming podcasts encourage listeners to engage with storytelling through in-house podcasts curated by voices from their favourite audio brands and subject matter as well as specialised topic experts. It is more than what you are used to on other platforms, it is a home to more variety and options, and this will continue to grow.
- Genre-specific channels offer a seamless playlist of the best that R&B, Gospel and Smooth Listening have to offer. Easy scrolling carousels at the top offer a variety of tabs to explore and keep people entertained at their leisure, no matter the mood or setting.
- In the age of fake news, reliable, real-time news updates are essential. LiSTN taps into content providers with a long history of journalistic freedom and transparency in South Africa.
Premium content
Considering the rise of the medium over the last twenty years, it’s no surprise that podcasting is integral to the LiSTN experience. This LiSTN audio app is about premium content, local and international. LiSTN is also not about delaying the content, it’s all available from when you install the app. The balance between local and international content is highlighted in two podcast contributors.
The first is the popular Moneyweb program, which has roots in a website that still gets two million unique visitors every month. Its highly engaged audience is working hard towards achieving financial freedom, with LiSTN creating the opportunity for more South Africans to improve their financial literacy and well-being. The platform also connects you to expert insight and continual market updates.
Wondery is another notable brand presence on LiSTN, as it has been leveraging new opportunities in the local podcasting arena for some time. AME holds the rights to promote all Wondery podcasts through its subsidiaries; an integral part of a strategy to grow the South Africa podcast listener numbers to tens of millions over the coming years.
First impressions matter
The team behind the app know all too well that making a good first impression matters, so the user experience is captivating from the second people hop on. Here’s why:
- There are a lot of cool brands on it already. From the Citizen to Jozi FM, to Algoa FM, OFM and Simply Smooth (AME’s online radio station), LiSTN is already populated with around fifteen polished, interesting curators. More will keep being added over time.
- The platform is 100% radio station agnostic. From Moneyweb’s RSG and SAFM shows to FM stations, digital streams and Namibian partners, LiSTN has a wide range of voices, available in one place.
- Brand profiles are vast, giving people more than just one form of entertainment. From live stream capabilities to catch-up content, the latest videos and even competitions, listeners can access a dynamic range of content no matter which curators they choose to follow.
A real-world use case
South Africans who are avid travellers know all about feeling homesick from time to time. With LiSTN, accessing your favourite audio content from back home is as easy as connecting to Wi-Fi and opening the app. Whether you’re in a coffee shop in Paris or eating roosterkoek in Parys, the experience is the same.
This matters because people now have ready access to what is happening on the ground in the country, while also creating a space for different voices across specific geographical regions to thrive. Users will not be bombarded with push notifications either – essential content only, and you get to decide.
So, when can you start LiSTNing?
The big question is when will people be able to start exploring the groundbreaking app? The exciting response is that it is available for download now for Android and Apple users alike.
LiSTN promises to do all the hard work of finding great content itself, so that users can sit back, relax and enjoy a transformative medium that continues to enhance daily life for millions of people.
Once you’ve streamed the rest, LiSTN to the best.
