In a groundbreaking shift in audio consumption, podcasts have officially surpassed AM/FM talk radio as the preferred medium for spoken word content in the United States, as revealed by Edison Research's Share of Ear survey.
This research, conducted over the past decade, highlights a consistent trend: the time Americans dedicate to podcasts has steadily increased, while their engagement with traditional radio broadcasts has declined. For the first time this year, podcasts accounted for 40% of listening time, compared to 39% for radio.
The transition to podcasts as a dominant medium may come as a surprise to some, considering the enduring appeal of traditional radio. However, this shift underscores the evolving landscape of audio entertainment.
Edison Research confirmed that these statistics encompass video podcasts as well, indicating a significant rise in this format's popularity. Platforms like Spotify and YouTube are leading this trend, with Netflix also exploring podcast partnerships, aiming to create a modern twist on the classic daytime talk show. This approach seems promising, as YouTube reported that viewers engaged with 700 million hours of podcasts monthly on TV devices in 2025, a notable increase from 400 million the previous year.
Interestingly, the rise of video podcasts does not appear to hinder the growth of audio-first podcast listening. According to Triton Digital's U.S. Podcast Report for 2025, 80% of consumers aged 18 and over enjoy both audio and video podcasts. In contrast, only 13% exclusively listen to audio, while 7% focus solely on video content. Listener preferences vary significantly by genre; for instance, music, sports, comedy, and news podcasts tend to attract more viewers in video format, whereas genres like science, history, arts, fiction, and true crime are more commonly consumed through audio.
Edison's findings further reveal that 85% of weekly podcast listeners in the U.S. aged 13 and above engage with podcasts that include some video element, reflecting a 7% increase from 2023. Currently, there are approximately 115 million weekly podcast listeners in the U.S., with only 5% reporting that they watch podcasts without listening.