Edison Research, the leading podcast research company, producing the only survey-based data on podcast listening in the US., reflected on a 2024 year filled with groundbreaking discoveries, rich connections, and collaborative achievements and shared the top insights from their work this year.

Over the past decade, Americans’ audio habits have shifted significantly. Those aged 13+ now spend 20% of their audio day streaming music on platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify. YouTube accounts for 14% of their music listening time, while podcasts comprise 10%. Despite these changes, AM/FM radio remains the most significant slice of the audio day at 36%, primarily fueled by in-car listening. Here are the key findings shaping the audio, podcast, and media landscape:

1. Smart Devices Dominate Daily Life

Smartphones, Smart TVs, and Smart Speakers are essential to modern living. An impressive 93% of the U.S. population aged 12+—an estimated 267 million Americans—own at least one smart device (Source: The Infinite Dial 2024).

2. Post-Roe Changing Views

The 2024 U.S. election exit polls reveal a significant shift in attitudes toward abortion since 2020. Support for the two “legal” positions increased from 51% to 65%, reflecting changing societal perspectives (Source: NEP-Edison Research Exit Polls).

3. The Global Value of Exit Polls

Exit polling remains critical for fair elections worldwide. Findings from Venezuela and Georgia highlight its role in validating election results in politically unstable regions (Source: Georgia and Venezuela Exit Polls).

4. YouTube Leads in Podcast Listening

YouTube is now the most-used platform for podcast listening in the U.S., with 30% of weekly podcast listeners aged 13+ choosing it over traditional audio apps (Source: Edison Podcast Metrics).

5. Podcast Habits Differ Across the U.K. and U.S.

Podcast preferences reflect cultural differences. For example, 6% of U.K. listeners use public transport for podcasts versus 2% in the U.S. True Crime remains a favorite genre, with 19% of U.S. listeners tuning in compared to 11% in the U.K. (Source: Edison Podcast Metrics).

6. Untapped Opportunity in True Crime Podcasts

True Crime podcasts have room to grow: 48 million Americans who listen to podcasts have yet to explore True Crime shows, presenting creators with a promising new audience (Source: True Crime Consumer Report).

7. Latino Gen Z and Millennials Share Podcasts

Latino podcast listeners aged 18-44 are more likely to listen with others. Nearly half of listeners in this age group share their podcast experiences, fostering communal engagement (Source: Latino Podcast Listener Report).

8. Women Love Sports and Sports Audio

Fifty-seven percent of U.S. women aged 13+ identify as sports fans, with one-third listening to sports audio weekly. Notably, 37% of these listeners spend over five hours on sports audio each week. (Source: Sports Audio Report: Female Fans).

9. Spotify Becomes the Go-To for New Music Discovery

Spotify is now the primary source for music discovery, with 18% of listeners identifying it as their top choice—up from just 4% in 2016 (Source: The Infinite Dial 2024).

10. Podcasts for Kids Are Thriving

Kids are embracing podcasts tailored to them. The top five podcasts for children under 12 include:
• Story Pirates;
• Brains On! Science Podcast for Kids;
• Wow in the World;
• Circle Round;
• What if World – Stories for Kids (Source: Edison Podcast Metrics).

Bonus Insights

• Audio Consumption Shifts: Americans now spend 20% of their audio day streaming music, 14% on YouTube for music, and 10% on podcasts. AM/FM radio remains dominant at 36%, driven by in-car listening.
• X (formerly Twitter) Declines: Only 19% of Americans aged 12+ use X, a 30% drop from 2023. (Source: Share of Ear & The Infinite Dial 2024).

Looking Ahead

These findings paint a vibrant picture of the evolving media landscape. From podcasts and smart devices to changing cultural trends, 2024 showcased the dynamic ways we connect and consume content. We highly recommend watching the series of webinars discussing the above research findings and reports on Edison Research website. Here’s to 2025, filled with more insights, innovation, and growth!

Source: The Infinite Dial 2024 sponsored by Audacy, Cumulus Media, and SiriusXM Media, Edison Research website.