NEW YORK — Nielsen’s latest Diverse Intelligence Series report, “Amplifying Black voices in media: Creating informed, thoughtful and authentic experiences,” explores why 2022 saw a 10-percentage point decline in Black viewers who are more likely to buy from brands that advertise in inclusive content compared to 2021.
The report delves into the reasons behind this decline, examining the relationship between authenticity and engagement and the impact of inclusion beyond what’s on screen.
Black audiences are seeking more authenticity and nuance in media content and ad campaigns. Nielsen’s Attitudes on Representation on TV study found that 59% of Black viewers are more likely to buy from brands that feature someone from their identity group in advertisements, while Nielsen’s Branded Content Outcomes studies show significantly higher performance for campaigns that feature Black talent.
Brands attempting to reach Black consumers through ad placements in inclusive content are investing heavily with over $1.2 billion spent in Black and African American targeted traditional media in the first half of 2022 alone. However, Black audiences prefer streaming: 63% report streaming content as their most watched platform and 62% indicated streaming as the most relevant platform.
Nielsen’s report underscores that Black audiences also care about how they are represented in media content and where their images and experiences are presented. Only 32% of Black audiences feel industry representation of their identity group is accurate, and the growing intersectional identities within the Black community make nuanced representation more important than ever.
The report also highlights the power of partnering with Black talent at every stage of the marketing funnel—from campaign creators and media owners, to on-screen talent and social media influencers.
“The media industry has an opportunity to better serve the needs of Black audiences through inclusive and equitable representation on screen, behind the scenes, in advertising, and on other platforms where they come into contact with brands and content creators” says Charlene Polite Corley, Vice President, Diverse Insights & Partnerships at Nielsen. “Black audiences wield cultural influence and growing buying power and serving the needs of this community is not only good business, but it is also the right thing to do.”
FILE - The TikTok app logo is pictured in Tokyo, Sept. 28, 2020. TikTok is planning to operate its own warehouses in the U.S., a move that will deepen the social media company's foray into e-commerce. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
For more details and insights, download the full report here. Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook (Nielsen Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and Twitter (@Nielsen_DEI).