Streaming Fatigue Boosts Opportunities For Radio

After years of booming growth, the subscription-based media model is hitting roadblocks, with “streaming fatigue” surging among audio users amid economic pressures. New research indicates this trend could spell opportunity for traditional radio.

A December 2024 survey revealed that 27.8% of Americans feel overwhelmed by the proliferation of paid platforms, driving noticeable behavioral shifts. The average monthly spend on streaming services dropped 23% to $42.38 in 2025 from $55.04 the previous year.

Edison Research’s Share of Ear Q1 2025 report shows that 51% of Americans aged 13 and older pay for at least one audio subscription, a figure unchanged since 2022. However, the trend masks a significant shift: the proportion paying for just one audio service rose from 28% in 2022 to 35% in 2025, while those subscribing to more than two services plummeted from 13% to 6%.

While Americans aren’t abandoning audio subscriptions entirely, they’re clearly cutting back. Digital Music News reported a 5% decline in Spotify’s U.S. paid subscribers since early 2025, though Spotify disputes this, citing 12% global subscriber growth year-over-year in Q1.

Meanwhile, traditional radio continues to dominate ad-supported audio. Nielsen and Edison Research’s The Record Q1 2025 analysis found that radio captures 66% of time spent with ad-supported audio among adults 18+, far ahead of podcasts at 19%. Despite the rise of digital audio, free broadcast radio remains the go-to ad-supported medium.

This shift toward simpler listening habits highlights radio’s enduring appeal: free, seamless access to reliable content without subscriptions, logins, or limits. As listeners pare down streaming services or grow frustrated with complex interfaces, radio is poised to reclaim ground in the audio landscape.