Edison Research’s Share of Ear Q2 2025 report highlights the formats with the heaviest daily listening while also clarifying why some genres saw smaller gains under Nielsen’s revised PPM methodology. Hip-Hop and R&B lead all categories, with listeners aged 13 and older averaging 228 minutes of daily music time. Alternative Rock follows at 199 minutes, then Country at 165, Top 40 at 161, and Classic Rock at 159. Christian formats recorded the lowest listening totals.
Nielsen’s Winter 2025 data shows the impact of its new three-minute inclusion rule for Average Quarter Hour measurement. Formats such as News/Talk, Sports, and Religious programming posted sharp gains, with Religious formats jumping 36% among adults 18–49, according to Research Director, Inc. By contrast, Urban formats grew just 13.1% in the same demo, while Country gained 14.2%. Analysts note these smaller increases reflect pre-existing strength rather than weakness, since high time-spent listening and solid AQH performance left less room for growth.
The key factor is not new audience inflow but recognition of listening that previously went uncounted. Spoken-word formats were often disadvantaged under the old rules, where sessions shorter than five minutes were excluded. The new three-minute threshold corrects that gap, giving formats built on long-form content more accurate credit.
Taken together, Edison’s Share of Ear and Nielsen’s revised PPM results provide complementary insights. Share of Ear highlights where listener loyalty is strongest, while AQH growth demonstrates where methodology changes reveal hidden strength. For programmers, the combined message is clear: sustained listening is now more valuable than ever, and growth may reflect improved credit for existing fans rather than expansion into new audiences.