Podcasting Statistics (2026): U.S. Listeners, Platforms, Ad Revenue

Podcasting is on-demand audio (and increasingly video) distributed primarily via RSS and consumed across apps and platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This page compiles recent, source-backed podcast statistics on U.S. listening behavior, platform usage, and advertising revenue—plus a short history timeline.

On this page:

• Podcasting statistics (U.S. audience & platforms)
• Podcast advertising revenue
• Podcasting history timeline
• Methodology
• FAQ
• Sources & references

Podcasting statistics (2026)

Monthly podcast consumption (U.S.):

48% of Americans age 12+ listened to or watched a podcast in the last month (estimated 158 million). (The Infinite Dial 2025 (Edison Research))

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Weekly podcast consumption (U.S.):

40% of Americans age 12+ listened to or watched a podcast in the last week (estimated 115 million). (The Infinite Dial 2025 (Edison Research))

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Service used most often for podcasts (U.S. weekly listeners age 13+):

• YouTube: 33%
• Spotify: 26%
• Apple Podcasts: 14%

Source: Edison Podcast Metrics (Q4 2024), as presented in The Infinite Dial 2025.

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Video is now a major part of podcast consumption:

Spotify reported 250,000+ video podcasts on Spotify and 170 million+ users who have watched a video podcast on Spotify (as of June 2024). (Spotify Newsroom)

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Podcast advertising revenue

U.S. podcast advertising revenue (actual):

The IAB / PwC revenue study reports $1.9 billion in U.S. podcast ad revenue for 2023. (IAB U.S. Podcast Advertising Revenue Study (FY 2023))

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Note: This page intentionally excludes projections and forecasts. When a source includes forward-looking estimates, only the confirmed historical figures are used.

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Podcasting history timeline

• 2004: The term “podcasting” is widely credited to journalist Ben Hammersley (The Guardian). (Reference overview)
• June 2005: Apple adds built-in podcast support to iTunes (iTunes 4.9), helping mainstream discovery and subscriptions. (Apple Newsroom (June 28, 2005))
• June 2005: Apple reports iTunes users subscribed to 1 million+ podcasts in the first two days of the iTunes Podcast Directory. (Apple Newsroom (June 30, 2005))
• October 2014: Serial debuts and becomes a breakout hit that accelerates mainstream awareness of podcasts. (HISTORY.com)
• November 2014: Apple says Serial was the fastest podcast to reach 5 million downloads/streams in iTunes at the time. (The Verge)
• 2020s: Podcasts expand beyond audio-only distribution, with video podcast consumption rising across major platforms. (Spotify Newsroom)

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Methodology

• Authority-first sourcing: Audience/listening metrics use Edison Research (Infinite Dial). Advertising revenue uses IAB / PwC.
• No forecasts: Forward-looking “projected” numbers were removed to keep this page strictly factual.

FAQ

What percent of Americans listen to podcasts monthly?

Edison Research reports that 48% of Americans age 12+ listened to or watched a podcast in the last month (estimated 158 million). (The Infinite Dial 2025)

Which platform do weekly podcast listeners use most often?

In Edison Podcast Metrics (Q4 2024), YouTube is the service used most often by 33% of U.S. weekly podcast listeners age 13+, followed by Spotify (26%) and Apple Podcasts (14%). (Infinite Dial 2025 deck)

How big is podcast advertising revenue in the U.S.?

The IAB / PwC study reports $1.9 billion in U.S. podcast ad revenue for 2023. (IAB U.S. Podcast Advertising Revenue Study (FY 2023))

Sources & references

• Edison Research — The Infinite Dial 2025 (monthly/weekly podcast consumption, platform “most often used”)
• IAB / PwC — U.S. Podcast Advertising Revenue Study (FY 2023)
• Apple Newsroom — Apple takes podcasting mainstream (June 28, 2005)
• Apple Newsroom — iTunes podcast subscriptions top one million in first two days (June 30, 2005)
• Spotify Newsroom — 250,000+ video podcasts and 170M+ viewers on Spotify (June 28, 2024)
• HISTORY.com — Serial debuts (Oct 3, 2014)
• The Verge — Apple statement on Serial reaching 5 million fastest (Nov 18, 2014)