Audio is not one habit. It is a mix of broadcast radio, station streams, podcasts, and music services. These figures bring the latest public research together in one place, with a source attached to every number.
This page focuses on U.S. listening behavior. It is designed for writers, researchers, media planners, and anyone looking for a clear, current starting point. Check each linked source for its full study definitions and methodology.
The Listening Day
How Americans divide their time with audio.
Nearly 4 hours
of daily audio listening
U.S. consumers spent nearly four hours each day with audio in the first quarter of 2026, across radio, podcasts, streaming music, and satellite radio.
Source: Nielsen, The Record: Q1 U.S. audio listening trends, June 202682%
of ad-supported audio time
Radio and podcasts together accounted for 82% of all daily ad-supported audio time in the first quarter of 2026.
Source: Nielsen, The Record: Q1 U.S. audio listening trends, June 2026Online Audio
Digital listening keeps widening the audience.
81%
listen to online audio monthly
An estimated 233 million Americans age 12 and older listened to online audio in the last month in Edison Research’s 2026 study.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, March 202676%
listen to online audio weekly
An estimated 219 million Americans age 12 and older listened to online audio in the last week in Edison Research’s 2026 study.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, March 202670%
of adults 55+ listen online monthly
Monthly online audio listening among Americans age 55 and older rose from 52% in 2024 to 70% in 2026.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, March 202645%
listen to podcasts weekly
An estimated 130 million Americans age 12 and older had consumed a podcast in the last week, an all-time high in The Infinite Dial.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, March 2026Music Format Snapshot
Classic Hits reached a larger share of adults 18-34 in early 2026.
Nielsen reported that Classic Hits grew from a 5.1% to a 5.4% share among adults 18-34 between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. It is one useful signal inside a much bigger and constantly changing radio landscape.
5.4%
Classic Hits share among adults 18-34
Classic Hits grew from a 5.1% to a 5.4% share among adults 18-34 from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026, according to Nielsen’s format snapshot.
Source: Nielsen, The Record: Q1 U.S. audio listening trends, June 2026Sources & Method
Where these numbers come from.
Every figure above is taken directly from a named public report. The page does not combine incompatible studies or estimate missing numbers. Where a source uses a specific age range or time period, that context is included alongside the statistic.
- Nielsen, The Record: Q1 U.S. audio listening trendsJune 2026
- Nielsen, The Record: Q4 U.S. audio listening trendsFebruary 2026
- Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026March 2026
Cite This Page
The Heat. “U.S. Radio & Audio Listening Statistics, 2026.” Updated August 21, 2026. https://theheat.online/radio-listening-statistics/