US Podcast and Online Audio Consumption Reach Record Highs

The latest Infinite Dial 2026 report from Edison Research shows podcasting and online audio continuing to hit record highs:

• 58% of Americans (167 million) now consume podcasts monthly — an all-time high

• 80% of Americans have listened to or watched a podcast at some point

• Weekly podcast listening has climbed to about 45% of Americans

• Online audio overall is booming, with 81% of Americans listening monthly

Key trends shaping the industry:

• Growth is being driven strongly by ages 35–54 and 55+, showing podcasting’s expanding mainstream reach

• Podcasting is now a dual-format medium (audio + video), with platforms like YouTube playing a major role

• Generative AI adoption is surging, with over 90% of Americans aware of AI tools

Bottom line: Podcasting isn’t just growing — it’s becoming a dominant, multi-format media channel with massive reach and continued momentum.

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