The News genre has solidified its position as the second most popular podcast category since 2021, according to Signal Hill Insights’ annual survey of 12,000 U.S. adult podcast consumers for Triton Digital’s Podcast Metrics Demos+.
In Q2 2025, 27.3% of monthly podcast listeners engaged with news podcasts, a two-point increase from the 25.3% average across Q2 2024 to Q1 2025. With the overall monthly podcast audience growing, news podcast listenership among Americans aged 18+ jumped from 11.6% in Q2 2024 to 14.6% in Q2 2025.
Wealthier, Educated, Influential
News podcast listeners stand out from the broader podcast audience, offering a prime target for advertisers. They are 36% more likely to have a household income exceeding $150,000, 40% more likely to have investable assets of $500,000 or more, and 52% more likely to have $1 million invested, making them ideal for financial services and luxury brands.
These listeners seek knowledge, with 28% more citing a desire to “become more knowledgeable,” 41% more valuing unique perspectives not found in other media, and 52% more seeking deeper insights into news and current events.
Political Shift in Audience
The political makeup of the news podcast audience has shifted significantly. In Q2 2024, 41% identified as Democrats and 30% as Republicans, consistent with trends since 2021. By Q2 2025, Republicans took the lead at 39%, with Democrats at 32% and Independents rising from 11% in Q1 2025 to 13% in Q2. The broader podcast audience saw a less dramatic shift, with Democrats (34%) and Republicans (32%) nearly tied in Q2 2025, and Independents steady at 16%.