Audio Listening Trends Return to Pre-Pandemic Normalcy

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, January 22, 2025 | 11:23am CT

Edison Research

A recent study by Edison Research reveals that while the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered audio listening habits, with a marked increase in at-home audio consumption, trends are now showing a return to pre-pandemic norms.

According to Edison Research's Share of Ear report, which tracks audio consumption of Americans aged 13 and older, the majority of listening has historically occurred at home. This trend saw a sharp increase during the early months of the pandemic in 2020, with at-home listening surpassing all other locations by an additional 50 minutes per day at its peak.

The report details that at-home audio consumption did not reach its zenith until the fourth quarter of 2022, two and a half years after the initial lockdowns, where daily listening at home averaged over two and a half hours. However, as restrictions eased and normal activities resumed, audio consumption began to shift back toward a more balanced distribution across different locations.

As 2024 draws to a close, Edison's research indicates that audio listening habits are stabilizing, resembling the patterns observed before the pandemic. This shift suggests a reversion to the norm in how and where Americans consume audio content, despite initial speculations that the pandemic might have permanently changed listening behaviors.

This normalization in audio consumption patterns reflects broader societal adjustments as Americans gradually return to their pre-pandemic lifestyles, balancing at-home and out-of-home activities.