A new era for digital audio advertising

Bauer Media Audio is set to strengthen its digital audio influence as it brings its successful digital audio advertising product, audioXi, to the UK.

This powerful advertising solution will be fuelled by high-quality Bauer audio and publishing brands’ first party data to target audiences across a diverse range of audio content. It will be available for campaigns booked with Bauer from July.

Now one of the largest digital audio advertising marketplaces in Europe, audioXi already operates across eight of Bauer Media Audio’s markets, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Ireland, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. The UK launch will unlock new targeting opportunities for commercial partners.

Bauer’s audioXi will offer UK advertisers AI-enabled opportunities to build effective, addressable campaigns accessing consumer data from over 50 of Bauer’s iconic and influential media brands including audio networks Absolute Radio, KISS and Magic Radio, and podcasts, along with quality publishing brands such as Grazia, Empire, Car and Mother and Baby.

Simon Kilby, MD, Bauer Media Advertising, said: “Launching audioXi in the UK has been our long-term strategic plan, giving us increased agility and control to shape our next steps in the digital audio landscape while strengthening our offering across Europe. We’re genuinely thrilled to integrate our broadcast and digital audio solutions and the response from advertisers has already been incredibly positive. As Bauer Media celebrates its 150th birthday this year, the business continues to evolve, building on its trusted foundations with ambitious investment in the future.”

This strategic decision follows the announcement in February that Bauer has agreed to sell its share of Octave to News UK.  This move reinforces Bauer’s independent position in digital audio advertising and enables it to enhance its digital audio offering in the UK. By aligning its UK business with its successful European model, Bauer aims to provide brands with a seamless and effective way to purchase high-impact, addressable inventory across the UK’s most popular audio content.

Advertisers will continue to purchase digital audio advertising through Octave for campaigns running until the end of June 2025.

ENDS

Press Contact:
Amelia O’Shea, Head of Communications – amelia.oshea@bauermedia.co.uk
Odelia Yu, Commercial Communications Manager – odelia.yu@bauermedia.co.uk

About Bauer Media UK:

Bauer Media UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Brand Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.