The latest 2026 FMR/Eastlan Ratings National Radio Listening Survey reveals that 84% of U.S. adults aged 25-64 listen to AM/FM radio on a weekly basis.
This figure underscores radio's enduring dominance in the audio landscape, with weekly reach holding remarkably steady over the past five years—hovering around 84-86% (86% in 2024, 85% in 2025, and 84% in 2026). The consistency spans both large markets (top 30) and smaller ones (31+), where traditional broadcast radio remains the primary listening method, accounting for about two-thirds of primary radio time.
Podcast listening, meanwhile, has stabilized at 40% weekly among the same demographic in 2026. This follows a notable surge during the 2025 election year, when it climbed from around 24% in 2024 to 39% in 2025.
The post-election leveling off (a slight uptick to 40%) did not come at the expense of traditional radio, streaming audio (which reaches 63% weekly), or satellite services. Instead, the growth in podcasts appears to reflect additional overall audio consumption—listeners expanding their total time with spoken-word and entertainment options rather than shifting away from established platforms.
Other audio habits in the survey include personal music listening at 60% weekly, reinforcing that Americans are engaging with a broader mix of audio sources without abandoning radio's core role. Conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 demographically balanced adults aged 25-64, the study highlights radio's resilience amid evolving digital alternatives, positioning it as a stable leader in reach for advertisers and audiences alike.