Airbuds is authentic. Airbuds is connection. Airbuds is a fun and creative music-sharing space that I simply will never get tired of.
I wanted to reconnect with Brittany from Airbuds. She created the iconic app that wraps our listening habits into an #AirbudsWeeklyRecap and shows us what our friends are listening to.
From launch to viral growth
Since my last conversation with Brittany in February 2024, the Airbuds app has continued to embody authenticity with new features and collaborations with popular artists.
“I don’t think we were close to that back then. But now we’ve done sponsorships with Tyler, The Creator, PinkPantheress, and Tame Impala, so it’s definitely changed,” Brittany said.
More recently, Airbuds collaborated with Joji. It is so fun for me to watch Airbuds grow all around. I was on the app in November 2022, one month after launch.
The reactions and stickers have only gotten more customizable. You can pick from words and emojis, or even use stickers designed for artist collabs.
Brittany came up with the concept of a Tyler the Creator reaction sticker. She got to design it and watch crazed fan reactions when it rolled out.
“Being a fan and intricately knowing his style, what would make him laugh… it was just fun to have that knowledge and produce something that he would like.” Brittany told me, “I doubt he saw it, but if he did, I’d want to know that he giggled at it.”
It can feel like a full circle moment, that fan-girl to industry worker pipeline—we both get it.
Express yourself with the Space feature
Introduced in the last year, Airbuds’ “space” feature allows users to customize a portion of their profile. This space can be filled with their favorite bands, albums, lyrics, and even a photo from your camera roll.
Right now, I have songs and pictures on my space: one photo of my cat and a photo I took at a local basement show. You’re able to showcase your personality in ways that are simply lost in other social media platforms.
In an age where algorithms rule our feed and we barely see our own friends’ posts, it’s refreshing to have a space without it.
“Airbuds is made for friends. It kind of feels like the last place on the internet for that,” Brittany added, and I agreed.
I really couldn’t agree more. While my Instagram algorithm is curated for me and I often enjoy it, I can’t remember the last time I saw my friends’ posts within 24 hours.
Inside the Airbuds Ambassador Program
The Airbuds Ambassador team stretches worldwide and has over 100 people in the program. Brittany noticed a sudden surge in Brazil users a couple of months back.
So, she launched the program there.
“The Ambassador Program is very rewarding because they all do great stuff,” Brittany said, “I’m 27, I can only do so much to go viral at this point. I try my best. But teenagers and young adults are so in touch with everything, so to have them is awesome.”
Yet as Airbuds grows, it faces the typical tech-industry pressures to hit more milestones and make even more money.
“It’s hard to work within the constraints of the tech industry environment, because if you need money, then you put ads in the app, right?” Brittany explained, “Nobody likes ads. But it’s the only way to stay alive. So it’s like, what do you do now?”
Brittany said users were not very bothered by the ads. The subreddit r/Airbuds speaks the truth; users understand the ads.
Airbuds’ core mission has not changed
Even with the ever-changing social media landscape and industry pressure, the core mission of Airbuds hasn’t changed.
“Social media was such a beautiful tool to connect, and obviously, it’s just not like that anymore. It’s more about holding your attention. I hope that Airbuds continues to be a place that isn’t soul-sucking, stealing money from people… I want it to be fun.” Brittany remarked.
Airbuds continues to create communities and make the internet feel personal again. As I said in my first article, I love the app Airbuds.
Thank you to Brittany for sitting down with me and to the entire Airbuds team for the opportunity!
