Key Takeaways
- For the primary time, podcasts now account for a barely bigger share of U.S. spoken-word listening than AM/FM speak radio, with 40% of listening time versus 39% for radio.
- This crossover caps a decade-long shift wherein radio’s spoken-word share fell from about 75% in 2015 whereas podcasts climbed from round 10%, steadily narrowing the hole 12 months after 12 months.
- Podcasts have grow to be mainstream, with Edison estimating there are about 115 million weekly podcast listeners within the U.S. alone.
For the primary time ever, podcasts have formally pulled forward of speak radio within the U.S. A brand new Edison Analysis “Share of Ear” research discovered that podcasts now account for 2 in 5 minutes of spoken-word listening time, edging out AM/FM speak codecs.
Edison’s newest information appeared solely at spoken-word audio, stripping out music to concentrate on information, speak and conversational codecs. Inside that realm, podcasts claimed 40% of listening within the fourth quarter of 2025 amongst Individuals 13 years and older, whereas AM/FM spoken-word radio completed at 39%. A decade in the past, radio dominated this class, with 75% of spoken-word listening versus simply 10% for podcasts in 2015.
The milestone is significant as a result of podcasts have been steadily narrowing the hole 12 months after 12 months, and the newest report exhibits that they’re lastly inching forward for the primary time. The brand new numbers additionally sit alongside estimates that about 115 million Individuals now take heed to podcasts weekly, highlighting simply how mainstream the medium has grow to be.
The research counted video podcasts within the whole, reflecting how content material distributed on YouTube, Spotify and related platforms are actually integral to what listeners take into account podcasts to be.
Why podcasts are profitable shoppers
A number of benefits are pushing podcasts previous broadcast speak radio, in keeping with iHeartMedia’s 2026 State of Podcasting Report. The primary is on-demand comfort: listeners can begin, cease and binge exhibits on their very own schedule, and take heed to podcasts on their telephones, good audio system and automobile dashboards.
Second is the sheer vary of niches supplied by podcasts, from enterprise and true-crime exhibits to personality-driven comedy and sports activities. It’s simpler for listeners to search out one thing that feels tailor-made to their pursuits.
Distribution has leveled out as nicely. Practically each main radio group now repurposes its exhibits into podcast type.
The tip result’s extra podcast listeners than ever earlier than. In accordance with iHeartMedia, 55% of Individuals take heed to podcasts often each month.
What it means for radio
The brand new rankings, nonetheless, don’t imply speak radio is lifeless; a 39% share signifies a remarkably resilient medium. AM/FM nonetheless owns key use instances, similar to reside, time-sensitive data like breaking information, visitors and climate.
For podcasters, surpassing speak radio in share of listening is each validation and stress, in keeping with the Edison report. With greater than half of Individuals now listening to podcasts month-to-month and consumption rising throughout all ages group, competitors for consideration is intensifying. There are about 4.7 million podcasts accessible in the present day, for a complete of 190 million episodes.
Firms are additionally investing in podcasts. Netflix signed offers with iHeartMedia and Barstool Sports activities in December to convey podcasts to its platform.
“Now folks get to have a podcast enjoying within the background whereas they’re doing issues, and if Netflix may be the place the place they go to do this, then I believe it’s a win for the corporate,” Mikah Sargent, a podcast producer and host at TWiT.television, informed TechCrunch on the time.
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Key Takeaways
- For the primary time, podcasts now account for a barely bigger share of U.S. spoken-word listening than AM/FM speak radio, with 40% of listening time versus 39% for radio.
- This crossover caps a decade-long shift wherein radio’s spoken-word share fell from about 75% in 2015 whereas podcasts climbed from round 10%, steadily narrowing the hole 12 months after 12 months.
- Podcasts have grow to be mainstream, with Edison estimating there are about 115 million weekly podcast listeners within the U.S. alone.
For the primary time ever, podcasts have formally pulled forward of speak radio within the U.S. A brand new Edison Analysis “Share of Ear” research discovered that podcasts now account for 2 in 5 minutes of spoken-word listening time, edging out AM/FM speak codecs.
Edison’s newest information appeared solely at spoken-word audio, stripping out music to concentrate on information, speak and conversational codecs. Inside that realm, podcasts claimed 40% of listening within the fourth quarter of 2025 amongst Individuals 13 years and older, whereas AM/FM spoken-word radio completed at 39%. A decade in the past, radio dominated this class, with 75% of spoken-word listening versus simply 10% for podcasts in 2015.
