Audio stories are now live on social journalism platform Medium, but mostly for subscribed members.
Subscriber audio offer
A couple of months ago, Medium launched a US$5 monthly subscription service with a nebulous value proposition of exclusive stories and downloadable content. Now, Medium’s membership page offers folks something more, with the ability to ‘Listen to top Medium stories’.
Medium promises professionally recorded narrations of all member-exclusive content and editor selections.Indeed, the site’s ‘Audio’ tab already features written stories that have an audio stream option available exclusively to subscribers.
Beyond blog
Medium’s self-proclaimed mission is to provide ‘a place for important ideas that deserve to be heard.’ Audio stories deliver on that ‘to be heard’ bit quite literally.
With a smattering of pages and publications—and both professional and amateur writers generating content on the site—Medium has struggled to practically differentiate itself from other blog sites.
Medium members
Finally, with Audio Stories, Medium’s staking a claim for something a bit unique and possibly worthwhile.
At first, it seems like an interesting take on the paywall: making written content available, but the audio is only for the premium customers. A real incentive for the podcast generation to get in with Medium.
As other sites compete for video supremacy, Medium’s contrarian strategy might win it a few nods and could give it the leg-up it needs to bound towards something more.
Would you pay a premium for audio of your favourite regular reads? Is there another way Medium should have made their subscription service better?
Copy Transmission is a Melbourne-based agency :: Better Brands. Loud & Clear.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
LinkedIn Expands Campaign Targeting, Offering Interest Deep Dive
LinkedIn has expanded its interest ads targeting by adding…
LinkedIn has expanded its interest ads targeting by adding…
Instagram Kills Live Shopping In March
Instagram is no longer interested in live stream shopping.…
Instagram is no longer interested in live stream shopping.…
TikTok Unveils Expanded, Richer Video Insights For Businesses
TikTok already offers some of the best free social…
TikTok already offers some of the best free social…