Online audio and podcast listening in the United States reached new peaks in 2026, according to Edison Research’s annual “The Infinite Dial” study, conducted with SSRS and supported by SiriusXM Media.
The report found that 81% of Americans age 12 and older (roughly 233 million people) listened to online audio in the past month, while 76% did so in the past week. Weekly engagement among monthly listeners surged from 57% in 2006 to 94% this year. Adults 55 and older drove much of the growth, with monthly listening jumping from 52% in 2024 to 70% in 2026.
Podcast consumption also set records: 80% of Americans 12+ have now listened to or watched a podcast, 58% in the past month, and 45% in the past week.
Monthly listening hit 68% among adults 35-54.
“Video isn’t replacing podcast audio. It’s expanding the tent,” said Megan Lazovick, Vice President of Edison Research at SSRS. “This is a dual-format medium now.”
The study also tracked generative AI for the first time: 93% of Americans recognize at least one AI brand and 57% have used one. AI users are significantly heavier audio consumers, with 87% listening to online audio weekly versus 61% of non-users.
YouTube led platforms with 84% monthly usage, while social media preferences split by age — TikTok among younger users and Facebook among those 55+.