Edison: Over Half of Americans Pay for Music Subscriptions

The latest from Edison Research shows that 51% of Americans aged 13 and older paid for at least one audio subscription service in Q1 2025, according to the Share of Ear study. 

However, the number of people subscribing to multiple services is dropping. The data indicates 35% subscribe to one service, 10% to two, and only 6% to more than two, signaling a trend toward consolidating audio spending on a single platform.

This marks a shift from Q4 2022, when 28% paid for one service and 13% for more than two. While the overall percentage of audio subscribers has held steady around 50%, the proportion opting for a single service has risen from 28% to 35%. Edison attributes this to economic pressures, noting, “Talks of an ‘imminent recession’ have been circulating for years now and many might regard audio subscriptions as a less-than-necessary expense.” The decline in multi-service subscriptions suggests consumers are “tightening their belts” amid financial concerns.

The report also highlights the evolution of audio consumption, from an era of owning music via physical formats like CDs to “renting” audio through subscriptions, a shift that began with the phonograph and continues to shape how Americans engage with audio today.