Audio has been around since, I suppose, the spoken language. The difference now is distribution and availability. Audiobooks, podcasts, smart phones, voice controlled home speaker systems, connected cars, and who knows what will come next.
Maybe it's a personal preference but I'm into the atmosphere. [ https://youtu.be/IInkT6n-NiM ]
I got introduced to audiobooks because of having a baby. -- Susie Bright
Maybe I just lived in the city too long but I can't get enough of the birds. "You'd think I live in the bird...