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LinkedIn has axed Audio Events, its standalone audio-streaming feature, joining tech giants like Spotify and Amazon in abandoning Clubhouse-inspired products.
First introduced in 2022, Audio Events allowed people to create and host audio-only streams, where participants could log in and talk. Effective Dec. 2, users will no longer be able to stream Audio Events on LinkedIn without using a third-party platform, though they will still be able to record events using LinkedIn Live.
(Credit: LinkedIn)If you have an Audio Event scheduled before Dec. 31, you can still host it. But if your Audio Event is scheduled for after that, you'll need to create a new event through LinkedIn Live by Dec. 15, because the original event will have been removed.
When it launched Audio Events in 2022, LinkedIn pitched them as "a great way to connect with your followers, build relationships, and even unlock new career opportunities." They're "camera-free and pajama-friendly, so you can launch a conversation from anywhere."
LinkedIn was a little late to the game. Audio-only streaming tools had a moment in the spotlight during the pandemic as people looked for ways to connect during lockdowns. Clubhouse launched as an invite-only app in 2020 and exploded in popularity as celebrities and influencers alike joined the app's party line-like chats.
Clubhouse dropped the invites in 2021, but by then, tech giants had churned out their own Clubhouse clones. The hype quickly faded. Facebook was the first to go, ditching its Live Audio Rooms in December 2022, while 2023 saw the end of Reddit Talk, Spotify Live, and Amazon’s live radio DJ Amp app. X Spaces is still around, though it often encounters technical difficulties during high-profile chats.
Clubhouse, meanwhile, is now more focused on traditional messaging.