Are podcasts replacing radio?

In 2024, Edison Research found that weekly podcast listeners in the US outnumbered weekly AM/FM radio listeners aged 13-34 for the first time. That's a milestone worth paying attention to, even if the full picture is more complicated than "podcasts win, radio loses."

What the numbers say

Radio still reaches more total Americans than podcasts. Nielsen's latest data shows approximately 82% of US adults listen to AM/FM radio each week, compared to roughly 42% who listen to podcasts weekly (Edison Infinite Dial, 2025).

But the trajectory matters more than the snapshot. Radio's weekly reach has slowly declined from approximately 89% a decade ago. Podcast listenership has roughly doubled in the same period. Among listeners under 35, podcasts have already overtaken radio as the primary audio source outside of music streaming.

The average podcast listener also spends more concentrated time with each show. Radio listening tends to be passive background audio. Podcast listening skews active and intentional.

Where podcasts beat radio

On-demand vs. scheduled. You listen to a podcast when you want, not when it airs. This is the same shift that streaming brought to TV, and it's just as powerful in audio. If you miss a radio segment, it's gone. Miss a podcast episode, and it's waiting for you.

No geographic limits. Radio is local by nature. Podcasts are global by default. You can follow a show from London, Sydney, or Tokyo without needing a special app or stream.

Depth of content. Radio segments run 3-5 minutes between songs or news breaks. Podcasts can spend 45 minutes (or 4+ hours) on a single topic. For listeners who want real depth, podcasts deliver what radio can't.

Fewer interruptions. Radio ad loads run 15-20 minutes per hour. Podcasts average around 6 minutes, and smart podcast players like Podtastic make the listening experience even better with Smart Summaries, Smart Topics, and Smart Playback.

Where radio still wins

Live, breaking news. When something happens right now, radio stations can interrupt programming and go live. Podcasts are produced and published, not broadcast in real time.

Discoverability without effort. You turn on the radio and it plays. No subscriptions, no queues, no decisions. For listeners who want background audio without curating a library, radio's simplicity is a feature.

Cars. Despite the growth of CarPlay and Android Auto, many drivers still default to FM. Roughly 40% of all radio listening happens in vehicles, and the habit is deeply ingrained.

Local content. Local news, traffic, weather, community events. Podcasts tend to serve niche interests rather than geographic communities. Your city's podcast scene probably can't replace your local morning show.

Our take

Podcasts aren't replacing radio, but they are replacing the reasons many people used to turn on the radio. If you listened to radio for in-depth interviews, you've probably switched to podcasts. If you listened for music discovery, you've probably moved to Spotify or Apple Music. What's left for radio is live news, habit, and in-car convenience.

For younger listeners, the shift is already complete. Under-35 audiences overwhelmingly prefer on-demand audio. As that demographic ages, radio's total reach numbers will follow the trend line downward.

The two formats will coexist for years, but the momentum is entirely on podcasting's side. If you're still discovering what podcasts have to offer, our guide on what podcasts to listen to is a good place to start.

What you can do

If you're ready to make the switch from radio to podcasts (or just add podcasts to your routine):

• Pick a podcast app that fits your platform. Our best podcasting apps guide covers the top options for iPhone and Android.
• Start with 3-5 shows in genres you already enjoy. True crime listener? We have picks for that. Comedy fan? Those too.
• Download episodes for your commute so you're not relying on a data connection.

Try Podtastic — Podcast Listening Magic

Love podcasts? Podtastic is a podcast player for iOS and Android powered by Pod-telligence:

• Smart Summaries — AI summaries for every podcast and episode, always evolving
• Smart Topics — Key topics highlighted so you can jump to what matters
• Smart Playback — A queue that fills itself based on your listening habits

Plus sleep timer, playback speed, offline downloads, and everything you'd expect.

Join the waitlist at podtastic.app to get early access.