A new report finds more than half of US adults now listen to podcasts monthly, with many citing on-demand access to radio programs as a key benefit. The Podcast Landscape 2025 study from Sounds Profitable and Signal Hill Insights shows 75% of Americans have tried a podcast, with 55% listening monthly and 38% weekly. Weekly listeners average 6.3 hours, and one in five devote more than 10 hours.
Demographics highlight expanding reach. Adults 18–34 account for 35% of monthly listeners, ages 35–54 make up 37%, and those 55+ comprise 28%. Growth is especially strong among multicultural audiences: 66% of Asian Americans, 65% of Hispanics, and 62% of Black listeners report monthly listening, compared with 52% of White listeners.
Four in ten listeners value podcasts for letting them hear radio programs on their own schedule, a benefit consistently ranked alongside entertainment, news, and companionship. Still, radio apps lag far behind major digital platforms. YouTube dominates with 40% citing it as their primary podcast platform, followed by Spotify at 18% and Apple Podcasts at 11%. iHeartRadio registered 4% and NPR just 2%, despite both investing heavily in podcasting.
Comedy, political talk, and true crime led listening in the past month, with news and sports also strong categories. The Joe Rogan Experience remained the most frequently named “favorite” podcast, though its dominance is gradually eroding. Radio-linked shows such as The Ramsey Show, The Breakfast Club, and Sean Hannity also ranked highly among audience favorites.
The study underscores the growing role of podcasts as both a complement and competitor to radio, offering reach across demographics while shifting listener loyalty toward digital-first platforms.