Podcasts have officially become the most popular medium for spoken-word audio in the United States, surpassing traditional AM/FM talk radio for the first time. The shift was documented in the latest quarterly Share of Ear survey from Edison Research, which has tracked audio consumption habits for over a decade. The findings indicate a sustained, long-term trend where podcast listening time has consistently grown while time spent with spoken radio broadcasts has declined.
According to the data, podcasts now account for 40% of listening time for spoken-word audio, compared to 39% for AM/FM talk radio. The survey measures the share of time Americans aged 13 and older spend listening to audio content. This milestone excludes music listening on radio stations, focusing solely on spoken-word formats like news, talk shows, and narrative content.
Video Podcasts Drive Growth
The research includes video podcasts, highlighting their significant role in the medium's expansion. Platforms like Spotify and YouTube have become major hubs for video podcast consumption. In a related development, streaming giant Netflix has begun signing deals with audio companies like iHeartMedia and Barstool Sports to bring podcasts to its platform, signalling the format's mainstream appeal.
YouTube reported that viewers watched 700 million hours of podcasts monthly on living room devices like TVs in 2025, a substantial increase from 400 million hours the previous year. Despite the rise of video, audio-first consumption remains robust. Triton Digital's 2025 U.S. Podcast Report found that 80% of listeners over 18 consume both audio and video podcasts.
Listener Preferences by Genre
Consumer habits vary significantly by content genre. Podcasts about music, sports, comedy, and news tend to be more popular in video format. Conversely, genres like science, history, arts, fiction, and true crime are more frequently consumed via audio-only. Edison's data supports this, showing that 85% of weekly U.S. podcast listeners consume content with some video component, a figure that has risen 7% since 2023.
The same research estimates there are 115 million weekly podcast listeners in the U.S. Only 5% of this audience reports exclusively watching podcasts without listening to the audio. The data suggests video is largely complementary, enhancing rather than replacing traditional audio podcast consumption.
Industry Implications and Future Trends
The overtaking of talk radio represents a pivotal moment for the media landscape, reflecting broader shifts in how audiences access news and entertainment. The integration of podcasts into major streaming services and the growth of video formats point to continued evolution and investment in the sector. Analysts suggest the durability of traditional radio delayed this crossover, but the adaptable, on-demand nature of podcasts has steadily captured greater audience share.
Edison Research will continue to monitor these trends in its ongoing Share of Ear studies, providing key metrics for advertisers and content creators navigating the changing audio market.