Podcast Listening Matches AM/FM Among 18-29s for First Time

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 1:25pm CT

Edison Research

According to the latest findings from Edison Research's Share of Ear study, podcast listening has reached a major milestone among 18- to 29-year-olds. For the first time since the study began in 2014, podcasts now account for an equal share of daily listening time as AM/FM radio in this age group, with each capturing 14% of total audio time.

This marks a dramatic shift from 2014, when AM/FM listening had more than a 7-to-1 advantage over podcasts among younger listeners. Edison notes that while podcast consumption has grown across all age demographics, the most significant gains have been among younger audiences.

Despite the tie between AM/FM and podcast listening, both formats trail behind streaming music services and YouTube, which continue to dominate daily listening time among 18-29s. AM/FM still maintains a slightly higher daily reach in this demographic, but from an advertiser's perspective, Edison highlights that podcasts and radio now offer equal value in the ad-supported audio space.

Share of Ear is Edison Research's ongoing study tracking how Americans 13 and older allocate their audio listening across platforms.