LinkedIn is switching off on its Audio Events feature

LinkedIn is pulling the plug on its Audio Events feature, following in the footsteps of tech giants like Spotify and Amazon, which have also let go of their Clubhouse-inspired products.

First introduced in 2022, Audio Events allowed users to host audio-only streams—spaces where professionals could gather, share insights, and connect without the need for video. However, starting December 2, 2024, the feature will no longer be available.

What does it mean for users?

For LinkedIn users, the changes mean that new Audio Events can no longer be created after this time, though any events scheduled through December 31 will still be supported. Instead, users will now have to rely on LinkedIn Live, which offers combined video and audio streaming supported by third-party tools.

The decision to retire Audio Events reflects a larger trend across the tech industry. Audio-only streaming tools, once a pandemic-era sensation, have largely fallen out of favour. Clubhouse, which pioneered the format, surged in popularity during 2020’s lockdowns as people sought fresh ways to socialize. By 2021, interest had already waned. Tech giants like Facebook, Reddit, Spotify, and Amazon quickly launched their own Clubhouse clones, but most of these services have since been quietly shuttered. Only X(formerly Twitter) is keeping the torch burning with X spaces.

LinkedIn, a late entrant to the trend, has now faced a similarly brief run with Audio Events. It is unsurprising, especially with bigger platforms like Facebook and Amazon having killed off their audio event features, the writing was already on the wall.

What's next?

But it appears to be a part of a broader effort to simplify its offerings and focus on what works best. Video content, in particular, has been a major growth area for the platform. Back in 2019, when LinkedIn Live first launched as an invite-only beta, LinkedIn noted that video was the platform’s fastest-growing content format. Today, that trend shows no signs of slowing, and LinkedIn is doubling down on video rather than audio as a key driver of engagement.

The demise of LinkedIn Audio Events is yet another chapter in the rapid rise and fall of audio-first platforms. The pandemic may have given these tools their moment in the spotlight, but novelty alone isn’t enough to sustain user interest. As the tech industry moves on, professionals seeking to host meaningful conversations and events will need to embrace video.