Vibenomics

What Vibenomics does

Vibenomics operates a programmatic Audio Out-of-Home (AOOH) advertising platform that delivers in-store audio and digital advertising to shoppers at the point of purchase across retail locations in the United States. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Fishers, Indiana, the company runs one of the largest in-store digital advertising networks in North America, with deployment across 23,600+ shopping locations reaching 170M+ monthly unique shoppers and 1B+ monthly shopping visits. The platform enables retailers to monetize their in-store environment through a curated audio and digital signage experience while giving CPG brands a closed-loop, point-of-purchase advertising channel that operates outside the cookie-based digital ecosystem.

The underlying technology combines in-store audio hardware, a cloud-based content management system, and integrations with major demand-side platforms including The Trade Desk (via Vistar Media) and Microsoft Advertising, allowing advertisers to purchase in-store audio inventory through the same programmatic workflows used for online media. Measurement is delivered through third-party partners including Quividi (visual sensors) and Pathformance (attribution), with measurement standards recognized by the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Vibenomics monetizes via a programmatic advertising revenue model shared between the retailer and the platform, with the retailer typically receiving a share of media spend in exchange for audience access and inventory.

Vibenomics is anchored by a roster of major retail partners including Kroger (2,500+ locations), Hy-Vee (400+), Stater Bros. Markets (165), CVS, Ahold, Royal Farms, and TravelCenters of America, and serves 200+ CPG brands. In March 2023, the company was acquired by Mood Media and now operates as a subsidiary within Mood's broader portfolio of 500,000+ global commercial locations, leveraging Mood's distribution to scale the Vibenomics platform across hospitality, fuel, and QSR verticals.

Name

Vibenomics

Legal name

Vibenomics, Inc.

Website

https://vibenomics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vibenomics operates a programmatic Audio Out-of-Home advertising platform that delivers in-store audio and digital ads across 23,600+ U.S. retail locations, serving 200+ CPG brands and major retailers including Kroger, Hy-Vee, CVS, and Stater Bros. via integrations with The Trade Desk and Microsoft Advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Media Technology

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (54181), Media Buying Agencies (541830)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio/Podcast/Streaming Media Buying (MPAAABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC), Direct Marketing, CRM & Lifecycle (Email, SMS, Loyalty) (BPAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• In-store audio advertising
• Retail media networks
• Programmatic ad platform
• Audio out-of-home
• Point-of-purchase marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Fishers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. In-Store Audio Advertising: Vibenomics operates an in-store audio advertising network, selling advertising inventory to brands and CPG companies. The platform enables programmatic ad buying, targeting specific audiences at the point of purchase within retail environments. Revenue is generated through advertising fees based on impressions, campaign duration, and targeting parameters.
2. Digital Display Advertising: Integrated digital display advertising revenue stream, offering visual advertising placements alongside audio ads. This creates a multi-sensory advertising experience for brands.
3. Retail Media Network Platform: Platform licensing and managed services for retailers seeking to digitize their on-premise experience. Provides a single integration point for retail media platforms to access, deliver, measure and evaluate on-premise digital impressions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vibenomics operates a cloud-based, programmatic in-store digital advertising platform that delivers targeted audio and display advertising to shoppers at the point of purchase across 23,600+ U.S. retail locations. The platform offers SKU and audience targeting, first-party data contextualization, POS attribution, IAB-compliant impression measurement, and creative production services for CPG brands, non-endemic advertisers, and retailers.

Product overview

Vibenomics is a Mood Media Company offering a unified in-store digital advertising platform. The core product is Audio In-Store, delivering programmatic audio advertising at the point of purchase across 23,600+ U.S. locations reaching 170+ million monthly unique shoppers. This integrates with Creative Services for audio content creation. The platform provides programmatic ad buying capabilities through partnerships with demand-side platforms (The Trade Desk, Vistar Media) and offers measurement solutions through integrations with Placer.ai, Quividi, and Pathformance. The AOOH Advertising Marketplace enables automated audio ad buying, while Retail Media Networks provides omnichannel capabilities combining audio, display, and experiential channels. The company was acquired by Mood Media in 2023, expanding its reach to include digital displays and interactive touchscreens alongside its original audio focus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audio In-Store Programmatic in-store audio advertising platform delivering targeted, data-driven audio messages to shoppers at the point of purchase. Provides product SKU and audience targeting, personalized contextual creative, location-based attribution, and automated campaign management across 23,600+ U.S. shopping locations. For CPG brands, non-endemic advertisers, and retailers.
• Creative Services No-cost content creation and consulting for in-store audio advertising. Vibenomics Creative Studios produces audio ads with catchy jingles, humorous elements, unique sound effects, and professional voiceovers for brands running campaigns on the platform.
• AOOH Advertising Marketplace Programmatic Audio Out-of-Home (AOOH) advertising marketplace enabling automated ad buying to programmatic standards, allowing advertisers to strategically target customers at the point of purchase with specialized music and messaging across Vibenomics' retail network.
• Retail Media Networks Single, all-in-one retail media network platform empowering retailers to digitize on-premise experience and enabling advertisers to connect with customers via display, audio, and experiential channels. Provided through the Mood Media partnership and hardware infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.2%+ sales lift achieved by fresh chicken brand using in-store audio to combat private label shift (Circana, April 2024)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• In-Store Marketplace (ISM)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 May 2026In-Store Marketplace partnered with Stater Bros. Markets to launch a retail media network. Inventory for the audio network is sold through Vibenomics, with future phases planned to include digital screens.
• Mood Media (Hardware)coreTechnology or Integration · 27 August 2024Vibenomics leverages Mood Media's existing hardware infrastructure (audio systems and digital displays) for in-store deployment. This enables rapid scaling across retail locations using Mood Media's established technical foundation.
• Microsoft AdvertisingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2024Vibenomics partnered with Microsoft Advertising to transform the retail media landscape by combining Vibenomics' in-store network (170M+ monthly shoppers) with Microsoft Retail Media's measurement and attribution capabilities. The partnership enables programmatic deployment of digital and in-store media with unified reporting across channels. Pilot programs demonstrated significant results including 50% increase in share of category and 40% increase in spending per household.
• Suzy Market ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Ongoing research partnership with Suzy Market Research for consumer insights on in-store advertising effectiveness. Multiple studies conducted including audio effectiveness reports, product adoption surveys, and generational shopping behavior research with sample sizes ranging from 480 to 1,160 respondents.
• Mood MediaflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 21 March 2023Mood Media, the world's premiere on-premise experiential technology and media company, acquired Vibenomics in March 2023. The combination leverages Mood Media's global scale (500,000+ business locations in 140+ countries) with Vibenomics' programmatic in-store advertising technology, creating a comprehensive on-premise media platform.
• Hy-VeecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 January 2022Multi-year partnership with Hy-Vee, an employee-owned supermarket operating across eight Midwestern states. Vibenomics deployed its Audio Out-of-Home (AOOH) technology to more than 400 Hy-Vee locations, enabling programmatic audio ad buying and enriching customer experience. Partnership began February 15, 2022.
• Vistar MediacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Partnership with Vistar Media to announce expansion of The Trade Desk's omnichannel DSP to support Audio Out-of-Home (AOOH) advertising, enabling programmatic ad buying across Vibenomics' retail network.
• The Trade DeskcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Omnichannel DSP partnership via Vistar Media integration, enabling advertisers to programmatically access Vibenomics' in-store audio inventory alongside other retail media channels.
• KrogercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Ongoing relationship with Kroger at more than 2,500 locations nationwide. Vibenomics provides in-store audio advertising deployment across the grocery chain.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Place Exchange: Programmatic platform for out-of-home advertising, including audio and digital place-based media. Comparable as an emerging programmatic DOOH player competing for the same omnichannel media budgets and DSP integrations that Vibenomics pursues.

Others

• Vistar Media: Programmatic DOOH SSP and a Vibenomics partner. Comparable as enabling infrastructure for audio and DOOH programmatic buying, shaping the demand-side ecosystem Vibenomics relies on for automated ad sales.

Regional players

• Ahold Delhaize Media: Retail media network of Ahold Delhaize, operating across European and U.S. grocery banners. Comparable because Ahold is an existing Vibenomics customer and the network represents the retailer-owned alternative for in-store media in those banners.

Broad incumbents

• Quotient (Neptune Retail Solutions): Retail media and digital couponing platform serving major CPG brands and retailers with targeted digital promotions and in-store activations. Comparable as a broad retail media incumbent competing for omnichannel CPG budgets that overlap with Vibenomics' advertiser base.
• Roundel (Target): Target's owned retail media business operating across display, video, and in-store channels. Comparable as a broad incumbent retail media network competing for the same CPG advertiser budgets that Vibenomics monetizes in-store.
• Instacart Carrot: Instacart's retail media platform monetizing grocery e-commerce and increasingly in-store advertising through retailer partnerships. Comparable as a broad retail media incumbent that competes for the same CPG budgets flowing through grocery channels.
• Walmart Connect: Walmart's owned retail media platform spanning onsite, offsite, and in-store advertising. A scale incumbent whose omnichannel measurement and audience reach compete with Vibenomics' in-store audio proposition for national CPG media dollars.

Direct peers

• Kroger Precision Marketing: Kroger's owned retail media network monetizing shopper data across onsite, offsite, and increasingly in-store channels. Competes with Vibenomics for CPG audio/media budgets inside the same Kroger footprint where Vibenomics currently deploys, and represents the most direct retailer-owned disintermediation risk.
• Cooler Screens: Operates digital screens on grocery cooler doors to deliver in-store advertising and shopper engagement at the point of purchase. Directly comparable to Vibenomics' in-store digital advertising proposition, especially in grocery, and competes for the same retailer media-network budgets.
• CVmedia (CVS Media Exchange): CVS Health's retail media network monetizing the CVS retail footprint and shopper data. Comparable to Vibenomics because CVS is an existing Vibenomics customer, creating both a partnership and a competitive dynamic as the retailer expands its own in-store media capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vibenomics
• Facebookfacebook.com/vibenomics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vibenomics
• Instagraminstagram.com/vibenomics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vibenomics