Edison Research’s Share of Ear® data continues to show a sustained 12-year shift in U.S. audio consumption from linear broadcasts to on-demand platforms, with on-demand audio now accounting for 56% of all listening time in 2026.
The latest Share of Ear® report documents on-demand sources — primarily streaming music services and podcasts — pulling clearly ahead of traditional linear audio such as AM/FM radio and satellite radio.
The crossover occurred in 2023, when the two categories tied after eight years of steady gains by on-demand platforms. On-demand has continued to widen its lead, reaching 56% of total audio time in 2026.The trend has been remarkably consistent. In 2020, three years before the tie, linear audio held a 12-percentage-point advantage over on-demand. That same 12-point margin now favors on-demand, but in the opposite direction. Edison Research notes this steady, predictable migration as one of the clearest megatrends tracked since Share of Ear® began.
When the study launched, linear audio (AM/FM and satellite radio) dominated American listening habits by a wide margin.
Over the following years, listeners gradually moved time to more flexible, user-controlled options. The data illustrate a fundamental change in how people discover, select, and consume audio content, moving from scheduled programming to personalized, on-demand experiences.
This long-term pattern underscores broader shifts in media behavior driven by smartphone adoption, unlimited data plans, and the proliferation of streaming services. Edison Research continues to monitor the trend as on-demand platforms maintain their forward momentum.