New Study Finds Most Podcast Listening is At Home

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Edison Research

A recent study by Edison Research challenges the common belief that most podcast listening occurs in cars, revealing that the majority actually takes place at home. According to the latest findings from their Share of Ear study, which tracks audio consumption locations across various platforms in the U.S., an overwhelming 67% of daily podcast listening time is spent at home.

The study highlights that home environments provide a variety of listening devices such as smart speakers, internet-connected TVs, and computers, enhancing the listening experience beyond the limitations of mobile phones. The prevalence of video components in modern podcasts also supports at-home listening, as audiences can enjoy visual content on larger screens.

Contrary to popular perception, the car accounts for just 11% of daily podcast consumption. The study suggests that the brevity of most car trips-often just quick jaunts to the store or school-may prevent listeners from fully engaging with podcast content during these short durations.

Workplaces rank as the second most popular location, contributing 16% to the total daily listening time, while other locations like gyms and grocery stores make up the remaining 6%.

This insight from Edison Research not only shifts the narrative around podcast listening habits but also highlights the significant role of home settings in media consumption.