Podcasts have surpassed AM/FM radio as the leading platform for spoken-word audio listening among Americans, driven largely by strong adoption among younger audiences, according to new Share of Ear analysis.
Among people age 13 and older, podcasts now account for 40% of daily spoken-word listening time, just ahead of AM/FM radio at 39%, marking a significant shift from radio’s long-standing dominance.
The gap is far more pronounced among younger listeners. For ages 13–34, podcasts command 53% of spoken-word listening time compared to 23% for radio. Among adults 35–54, podcasts also lead with 47%, versus 35% for AM/FM radio.
Radio, however, remains dominant with older audiences. Adults 55 and older still spend the majority of their spoken-word listening time—55%—with AM/FM radio, while podcasts account for 22%, underscoring a clear generational divide.
The rise in podcast consumption is largely tied to demand for on-demand and often multimedia content, contrasting with radio’s traditional linear format. Meanwhile, AM/FM radio continues to offer a wide range of programming, including news, sports, talk and public radio.
The analysis focuses on podcasts and AM/FM radio, but Share of Ear also tracks other spoken-word formats such as satellite radio and audiobooks, across both audio and video consumption.