Auddia Announces Completion of faidr 3.0 and Provides M&A Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Auddia achieves key milestone with faidr 3.0 release, subscription conversion rates averaging 10% on iOS free tier over last three months. New AI model for ad-free podcast listening announced. M&A strategy progressing with Target #1 expected to close in early Q4, adding 4.6 million mobile MAUs and over $2 million in revenue.

Positive

• Subscription conversion rates for faidr 3.0 on iOS averaging 10% over last three months
• New AI model for ad-free podcast listening announced

Negative

• None.

faidr 3.0 with new user interface is now available in app stores for both Apple and Android users

Achieves key milestone to accelerate direct-to-consumer marketing and reporting on full funnel metrics for faidr 3.0 for the first time

Subscription conversion rates for faidr 3.0 off the iOS free tier averaging 10% over the last three months

New AI model for automated commercial free podcast listening on faidr being prioritized with timeline for expected release to be announced end of Q3

M&A strategy progressing with Target #1 expected to close in early Q4 adding 4.6 million mobile MAUs and over $2 million in high margin revenue

BOULDER, CO, Sept. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire – Auddia Inc. (NASDAQ:AUUD) (NASDAQ:AUUDW) ("Auddia" or the "Company"), developer of a proprietary AI platform for audio and innovative technologies for podcasts that is reinventing how consumers engage with audio, announced today that it has achieved the key milestone of fully integrating podcasts, exclusive content in the form of Music Casts, exclusive playlists under the faidrRadio brand, and a new user interface across both iOS and Android. Referred to as faidr 3.0, this milestone positions the Company to accelerate direct-to-consumer advertising to grow the user base and report on full funnel metrics for faidr 3.0 for the first time upon filing the third quarter 10Q.

Michael Lawless, CEO, stated, “The entire Auddia team has been aimed at building faidr 3.0 across both the iOS and Android platforms all year. This focus has led to a significant expansion of Music Cast exclusive content and a much-improved user interface that we expect will greatly increase the likelihood of meeting or exceeding our previously announced targets for full funnel metrics. We have also advanced our AI work aimed at adding an automated, consumer driven, commercial free podcast listening experience to faidr. This is another industry first listening experience being introduced by Auddia that we are very excited about and believe holds the potential to drive a viral adoption moment for faidr. Although some additional development remains, integrating this capability into faidr has now been prioritized and we will announce the expected release of ad-free podcast listening with the filing of our next 10Q.”  

Chief Marketing Officer, Theo Romeo, added, “Completion of faidr 3.0 is super exciting for the team. We focused our marketing spend in Q2 to gather preliminary subscription conversion insights on the impact of 3.0 improvements in iOS, which was released in mid-June. We continue to see subscription conversion rates averaging 10% over the last three months. With the release of faidr 3.0 on Android, we will be increasing our ad spend in Q3 and reporting on full funnel metrics across both iOS and Android in mid-November.”

With the release of faidr 3.0, the Company believes it has the best free streaming AM/FM listening platform in the market as faidr’s free tier is the only streaming platform that allows manual skipping of commercials and replicates the full radio dial with all stations. With market reports showing over 76 million monthly AM/FM streaming listeners in the U.S. with streaming representing the fastest growing segment of AM/FM listening, the Company believes faidr 3.0 is well positioned to gain market share on the free tier. As the only streaming platform able to leverage a proprietary, internally built AI to provide a commercial free premium listening experience on every station and the growing library of exclusive Music Cast content and faidrRadio playlists available on the paid tier, the Company believes there is a large opportunity for subscription conversions off the free tier.

M&A Update

Jeff Thramann, Executive Chairman, stated, “We are making steady progress with our M&A strategy and plan to stagger the two acquisitions currently under LOI. Binding purchase agreements for both targets are currently in active negotiation. Subject to favorable financing, we are aiming to close our first target in early Q4, which represents the acquisition of over $2 million in high margin TTM revenue and 4.6 million mobile MAUs listening to AM/FM radio on a free tier. Almost 650 thousand of these listeners are English & Spanish speaking and will be candidates for subscription conversion in Q1 of 2024. The acquisition will expand the number of stations on faidr’s free tier from just over 5,000 in the United States to over 50,000 internationally. Although we have a very attractive opportunity in front of us to drive de novo users through DTC advertising at favorable cost-per-install rates, when you apply ad spend to our targeted metrics, the cost to acquire a user on our free tier is $14.34. At our targeted subscription conversion rate of 12%, this provides a compelling ROI on ad spend. The power of our acquisition strategy is that at the currently proposed purchase price, our cost to acquire a user on the free tier goes all the way down to $2.67. This makes it crystal clear why we are aggressively pursuing this strategy and why we believe it completely enhances the trajectory of the company.”

Android and iOS users can visit  faidr - Apps on Google Play and faidr on the App Store (apple.com) respectively to download the faidr 3.0 Superapp.

Visit Auddia - Product Faidr for more information about faidr 3.0.

About Auddia Inc.
Auddia, through its proprietary AI platform for audio identification and classification and related technologies, is reinventing how consumers engage with AM/FM radio, podcasts, and other audio content. Auddia’s flagship audio superapp, called faidr, brings two industry firsts to the audio-streaming landscape: subscription-based, ad-free listening on any AM/FM radio station and ad-free podcast listening with the addition of interactive digital feeds that support deeper stories and open untapped revenue streams to podcasters. faidr also delivers exclusive content and playlists, and showcases exciting new artists, hand-picked by curators and DJs. Both differentiated offerings address large and rapidly growing audiences with strong purchase intent. For more information, visit: www.auddia.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 about the Company's current expectations about future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Statements that are not historical facts, such as "anticipates," "believes" and "expects" or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the Company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. These and other risks and uncertainties are discussed more fully in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are encouraged to review the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as other disclosures contained in the Annual Report and subsequent filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Relations:
Kirin Smith, President
PCG Advisory, Inc.
ksmith@pcgadvisory.com
www.pcgadvisory.com