Podcast Listening Climbs 386% Since 2016

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | 5:06pm CT

Edison Research at SSRS

Americans are spending more time with podcasts than ever before, with total weekly podcast consumption increasing 386% over the past decade, according to new data from Edison Research's Share of Ear study conducted with SSRS.

The research shows U.S. consumers age 13 and older now spend 812 million hours per week listening to podcasts, up from 167 million hours in 2016. The dramatic growth reflects both an increase in the number of daily podcast listeners and the amount of time they spend with the medium.

In 2016, podcasts such as "My Favorite Murder" and "Revisionist History" were just beginning to gain widespread popularity. Since then, the industry has experienced rapid expansion fueled by a surge in new content, broader distribution, and the emergence of video podcasts.

The latest figures also show podcast consumption continues to grow year-over-year. Total weekly listening time increased by 39 million hours compared to 2025, underscoring the medium's ongoing momentum among consumers and advertisers.

Share of Ear measures how Americans spend their daily audio time across platforms and combines audience reach with listening duration to calculate total consumption. The study's latest findings highlight podcasting's evolution from a niche format into a major force in the audio landscape.

The 2026 total podcast consumption figures were first featured by Podnews and demonstrate the continuing strength of the podcast industry as it expands its reach across audio and video platforms.