"For the first time ever, podcasts have officially pulled ahead of talk radio in the U.S. A new Edison Research "Share of Ear" study found that podcasts now account for two in five minutes of spoken-word listening time, edging out AM/FM talk formats. Within that realm, podcasts claimed 40% of listening in the fourth quarter of 2025 among Americans 13 years and older, while AM/FM spoken-word radio finished at 39%."
"A decade ago, radio dominated this category, with 75% of spoken-word listening versus just 10% for podcasts in 2015. The milestone is meaningful because podcasts have been steadily narrowing the gap year after year, and the latest report shows that they are finally inching ahead for the first time."
"The new numbers also sit alongside estimates that about 115 million Americans now listen to podcasts weekly, highlighting just how mainstream the medium has become. The study counted video podcasts in the total, reflecting how content distributed on YouTube, Spotify and similar platforms are now integral to what listeners consider podcasts to be."
Podcasts have achieved a historic milestone by overtaking AM/FM talk radio in U.S. spoken-word listening for the first time. According to Edison Research's latest data, podcasts account for 40% of spoken-word listening time in the fourth quarter of 2025, edging out radio's 39%. This represents a dramatic shift from 2015, when radio dominated with 75% of spoken-word listening while podcasts held only 10%. The crossover reflects a decade-long trend of steady growth for podcasts and decline for traditional radio. With approximately 115 million weekly podcast listeners in the U.S., the medium has achieved mainstream status. The study includes video podcasts distributed on platforms like YouTube and Spotify, reflecting how listeners now define the podcast format.
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