Americans now listen to podcasts more often than talk radio, study shows

Podcasts have surpassed AM/FM talk radio in popularity in the U.S., accounting for 40% of spoken word audio listening time compared to 39% for radio, as reported by Edison Research. This milestone highlights the shift in audio consumption habits, with video podcasts becoming increasingly prevalent and contributing to overall growth in the medium.

Key Points

• Podcasts have emerged as the leading medium for spoken word audio, overtaking AM/FM talk radio for the first time.
• Edison Research's Share of Ear survey shows that 40% of listening time is attributed to podcasts, while radio accounts for 39%.
• The enduring appeal of traditional radio indicates a transition rather than a complete replacement by podcasts.
• The rise of video podcasts adds another dimension, with significant viewership numbers reported, such as 700 million hours watched monthly on TVs by 2025.
• Eighty percent of podcast consumers engage with both audio and video formats; preferences vary across different genres.

Relevance

• The growth of podcasts aligns with shifting media consumption trends towards on-demand content.
• Historically, radio has been a dominant medium, yet this data reflects changes in user preferences over the past decade.
• In 2025, the integration of video into podcasts continues to transform the landscape, as seen in Netflix's partnerships to introduce audio content.
• The popularity of podcast genres varies, with entertainment content being more suited to video formats than educational or narrative-focused podcasts.

The surpassing of AM/FM talk radio by podcasts marks a pivotal shift in audio entertainment, driven by changing listener preferences and the integration of video content across platforms.