The 55+ demographic is showing real and surprising growth in adopting online music streaming services like Spotify and YouTube Music, according Radio Futurist James Cridland, writing in his Radioland newsletter.
Recent data highlights this shift: In the US, 63% of Americans aged 55+ listened to digital audio in the past month as of 2025, up 11% from 52% the year before. This includes streaming music platforms, where older listeners are increasingly turning to services for on-demand access.
YouTube Music stands out as particularly strong in this group, often leading adoption trends among older demographics according to reports on entertainment-on-demand data. While overall market leaders like Spotify hold larger shares globally (around 35% in recent figures), YTM's appeal—tied to familiar YouTube integration—helps drive uptake among 55+ users who may prefer video-linked music discovery.
This trend makes sense historically. Today's 55-year-olds grew up with early personal computers in their late teens during the 1980s/early 1990s, then embraced file-sharing via Napster and Limewire in their late 20s/early 30s around the turn of the millennium. By the time smartphones and Spotify launched in the late 2000s/2010s, many were in prime earning years and could easily afford subscriptions, debunking outdated stereotypes about older adults shunning tech.
Radio remains the stronghold for 55+ listeners overall, especially for live, local, and spoken-word content. However, the notable rise in online music streaming among this age group signals that radio must sharpen its unique value—such as community connection, curated live programming, personalities, and immediacy—to stay competitive.
In cars, AM/FM (mostly FM) still leads as the top audio source overall—accounting for around 83% of ad-supported in-car listening time in recent 2025 data, with in-car share of AM/FM listening hitting new highs (53% of all AM/FM occurs in vehicles, up significantly over the past decade).
But broader trends show erosion: AM/FM use has declined notably over the last 10 years in some metrics, accelerated by digital alternatives.
For younger listeners, the shift is clearer. Among those under 35 (especially 18-34), online audio (Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.) has overtaken AM/FM as the primary choice in many contexts, including the car—where 73% report streaming online audio while driving. Podcasts are huge here too: Around 55% of 18-34s listen to podcasts in the vehicle, contributing to spoken-word audio surpassing traditional talk radio in total time spent for the first time in recent studies.