AM/FM Radio Still Dominates Daily Audio Time

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | 12:00pm CT

Edison Research

A new update from Edison Research reveals that traditional AM/FM radio continues to hold the largest share of Americans' daily audio time -- even in an increasingly digital landscape. According to the Q2 2025 edition of Edison's long-running Share of Ear study, AM/FM radio (including both over-the-air and streamed content) accounts for just over one-third of all audio listening among those age 13 and up. That makes it the single largest source of audio consumption in the U.S.

Meanwhile, digital audio formats collectively represent a majority of total listening time. Edison notes that when combining streaming music platforms, podcasts, YouTube music and videos, as well as streamed versions of radio and SiriusXM, internet-delivered audio now claims well over 50% of Americans' listening hours.

The findings are illustrated in the latest Share of Ear Audio Dial, which shows the relative percentages of time spent with each format. For instance, streaming music alone makes up 23% of total daily audio use.

Edison Research launched Share of Ear in 2014 to track how Americans allocate their audio listening across platforms and sources. Over the past eleven years, the study has documented major shifts in behavior, spurred by new technology, mobile devices, and streaming services.