<2> Americans Listen to Podcasts More Than Talk Radio Now, Study Shows
<3> The Rise of Podcasts: A New Era in Spoken-Word Audio
<4> According to TechCrunch, a recent study by Edison Research has revealed that podcasts have overtaken AM/FM talk radio as the more popular medium for spoken-word audio in the United States. This milestone marks a significant shift in the way Americans consume audio content.
<5> The researchers have tracked these statistics over the last decade, and the data shows a consistent trend: the percentage of time people spent listening to podcasts increased, while their time with spoken radio broadcasts decreased. For the first time this year, podcasts eclipsed spoken-word radio with 40% of listening time, as opposed to 39% for radio.
<6> The study also highlights the growing prevalence of video podcasts, hosted on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. This trend is further supported by YouTube’s announcement that viewers watched 700 million hours of podcasts each month in 2025 on living room devices, like TVs, up from 400 million the previous year.
<7> As the popularity of podcasts continues to grow, it’s essential to consider the implications for the audio industry. With more people turning to podcasts