Podcast Statistics 2026: Listeners, Age, Platforms and Video
58% of Americans aged 12 and over listened to or watched a podcast in the last month in 2026, about 167 million people, according to Edison Research at SSRS. That is a record, up 3 points on 2025 by our calculation. 45% consumed a podcast in the last week and 80% have ever done so. Podcasting is now a video medium as well as audio. YouTube is the platform US weekly podcast consumers use most, at 39% in Q4 2025, nearly twice Spotify's share. In the UK, 27% of adults listen weekly, according to Ofcom. US podcast ad revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025, according to IAB and PwC.
Key statistics
- Americans aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last month made up 58% of that population in 2026, about 167 million people, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
- Americans aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last week made up 45% of that population in 2026, about 130 million people, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
- Monthly podcast reach among Americans aged 12 and over rose 3 percentage points between 2025 and 2026, from 55% to 58%, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
- US weekly podcast consumers who use YouTube most often for podcasts made up 39% of that group in Q4 2025, against 20% for Spotify and 11% for Apple Podcasts, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
- US podcast advertising revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025, up 17.6% year on year, according to IAB and PwC.
Podcast statistics 2026
Edison Research's Infinite Dial is the longest-running survey of US podcast use. It has tracked awareness since 2006, monthly use since 2008 and weekly use since 2013. From 2025 it counts people who listened to or watched a podcast, not only listeners.
58% of Americans aged 12 and over listened to or watched a podcast in the last month in 2026, according to Edison Research at SSRS. That is about 167 million people and the highest level Edison has recorded. The share rose 3 points from 55% in 2025, by our calculation. 45% consumed a podcast in the last week, about 130 million people, up from 40%.
80% of Americans have now ever listened to or watched a podcast, against 73% in 2025. By our calculation that is about 20 million more people in a year. 86% are aware of podcasting. Weekly reach is 3.5 times its 2016 level. Most monthly consumers are regular. By our calculation 78% of them also consumed a podcast in the last week.
Part of the 2025 jump comes from a change in the question. Until 2024 Edison asked about listening only. From 2025 it asks about listening or watching, which counts people who only watch podcasts on video platforms. The 2026 sample (2,050 people) is also smaller than in 2025 (5,020), so a 3-point change is close to the margin of error. Generative AI users are heavier podcast users. 55% of them consumed a podcast in the last week, against 33% of non-users.
- Last month
- Last week
Source: Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 12 and over who have ever listened to or watched a podcast made up 80% of that population in 2026, about 230 million people, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last month made up 58% of that population in 2026, about 167 million people, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last week made up 45% of that population in 2026, about 130 million people, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 12 and over who are aware of podcasting made up 86% of that population in 2026, about 248 million people, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 12 and over who had ever listened to or watched a podcast made up 73% of that population in 2025, about 210 million people, according to Edison Research.
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Americans aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last month made up 55% of that population in 2025, according to Edison Research.
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Americans aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last week made up 40% of that population in 2025, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Monthly podcast reach among Americans aged 12 and over rose 3 percentage points between 2025 and 2026, from 55% to 58%, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 58% (Infinite Dial 2026) minus 55% (Infinite Dial 2025) = 3 points. The 2025 survey had 5,020 respondents and the 2026 survey 2,050, so small changes are within normal survey noise.
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Americans aged 12 and over who have ever consumed a podcast grew by about 20 million people between 2025 and 2026, a rise of 9.5%, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 230 million (2026) minus 210 million (2025) = 20 million. 230 / 210 = 1.095, a rise of 9.5%. Both are Edison estimates of the US 12+ population that has ever listened to or watched a podcast.
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Weekly podcast reach among Americans aged 12 and over was 3.5 times higher in 2026 than in 2016, 45% against 13%, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 45% (2026) / 13% (2016) = 3.46, rounded to 3.5. From the weekly podcast consumption chart in The Infinite Dial 2026. Before 2025 the question asked about listening only; from 2025 it covers listening or watching.
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Weekly podcast consumers made up 78% of monthly podcast consumers in the US in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 130 million weekly consumers / 167 million monthly consumers = 0.778, rounded to 78%. Both are Edison estimates for Americans aged 12 and over.
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Americans who use generative AI were more likely to consume podcasts weekly in 2026, 55% against 33% of non-users, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
| Year | Last month | Last week |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21% | 13% |
| 2017 | 24% | 15% |
| 2018 | 26% | 17% |
| 2019 | 32% | 22% |
| 2020 | 37% | 24% |
| 2021 | 41% | 28% |
| 2022 | 38% | 26% |
| 2023 | 42% | 31% |
| 2024 | 47% | 34% |
| 2025 | 55% | 40% |
| 2026 | 58% | 45% |
Podcast listeners by age and gender
Edison breaks monthly podcast use down by age and gender. Men still lead, and the fastest growth is now among older Americans.
62% of American men aged 12 and over consumed a podcast in the last month in 2026, against 54% of women, according to Edison Research at SSRS. The gender gap widened to 8 points from 5 points in 2025, by our calculation. Both groups have grown fast. Men were at 46% and women at 39% in 2023.
Middle-aged Americans are now the core audience. 68% of 35 to 54 year olds consumed a podcast in the last month in 2026, 4 points more than 12 to 34 year olds by our calculation. The younger group led in each year from 2023 to 2025, and its share slipped from 66% to 64% in 2026.
The 55 and over group grew fastest. Its monthly reach rose from 21% in 2023 to 44% in 2026, more than doubling. Video may be part of the reason. For more on how video platforms reach different ages, see our short-form video statistics.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS.
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American men aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last month made up 62% of that group in 2026, up from 46% in 2023, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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American women aged 12 and over who listened to or watched a podcast in the last month made up 54% of that group in 2026, up from 39% in 2023, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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The gap in monthly podcast reach between US men and women widened to 8 percentage points in 2026, from 5 points in 2025, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 2026: men 62% minus women 54% = 8 points. 2025: men 57% minus women 52% = 5 points. Americans aged 12 and over, last-month podcast consumption.
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Americans aged 35 to 54 who consumed a podcast in the last month made up 68% of that age group in 2026, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 12 to 34 who consumed a podcast in the last month made up 64% of that age group in 2026, down from 66% in 2025, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 55 and over who consumed a podcast in the last month made up 44% of that age group in 2026, up from 21% in 2023, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Monthly podcast reach among Americans aged 55 and over more than doubled between 2023 and 2026, rising 23 percentage points, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 44% (2026) minus 21% (2023) = 23 points. 44 / 21 = 2.1 times. Before 2025 the question asked about listening only.
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Americans aged 35 to 54 were 4 percentage points more likely than 12 to 34 year olds to consume podcasts monthly in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 68% (age 35 to 54) minus 64% (age 12 to 34) = 4 points. In 2023 to 2025 the 12 to 34 group led (55% v 51%, 59% v 55%, 66% v 61%).
| Group | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 46% | 48% | 57% | 62% |
| Women | 39% | 45% | 52% | 54% |
| Age 12 to 34 | 55% | 59% | 66% | 64% |
| Age 35 to 54 | 51% | 55% | 61% | 68% |
| Age 55 and over | 21% | 27% | 38% | 44% |
Video podcasts vs audio podcasts
Podcasts are now both listened to and watched. Edison measures both formats in the US. Ofcom asks UK listeners which format they prefer.
57% of Americans aged 12 and over have both listened to and watched a podcast, according to Edison Research at SSRS. That is up 9 points from 48% in 2025, by our calculation. Very few people only watch. In the last week, 6% only watched a podcast, against 13% who only listened and 26% who did both. Video is adding to audio, not replacing it.
In the UK, 27% of adults listen to podcasts weekly, according to Ofcom. That is 18 points below the US weekly figure of 45%, by our calculation. The two surveys use different questions and age ranges, and Edison counts watching as well as listening. So the real gap is likely smaller than it looks.
UK listeners still lean to audio. 39% prefer audio-only podcasts and 27% prefer video podcasts, a 12-point gap by our calculation. Another 26% let the video play in the background. Video podcasts linked to TV shows are popular. 59% of people who use them say they have improved their TV viewing.
Source: Ofcom, audio listening research, May 2026.
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Americans aged 12 and over who have both listened to and watched a podcast made up 57% of that population in 2026, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Americans aged 12 and over who had both listened to and watched a podcast made up 48% of that population in 2025, according to Edison Research.
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The share of Americans aged 12 and over who have both listened to and watched a podcast rose 9 percentage points between 2025 and 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 57% (Infinite Dial 2026) minus 48% (Infinite Dial 2025) = 9 points.
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Americans aged 12 and over who had ever listened to a podcast made up 70% of that population in 2025, while 51% had watched one, according to Edison Research.
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Americans aged 12 and over who only watched podcasts in the last week made up 6% of that population in 2026, against 13% who only listened and 26% who did both, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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UK adults who listen to podcasts weekly made up 27% of adults in 2026, according to Ofcom.
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Weekly podcast reach in the US was 18 percentage points higher than in the UK in 2026, 45% against 27%, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research and Ofcom data.
How we calculated it: 45% of Americans aged 12 and over (Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026) minus 27% of UK adults (Ofcom, May 2026) = 18 points. Different surveys, questions and age ranges, so treat the gap as indicative.
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UK podcast listeners who prefer video podcasts made up 27% of listeners in 2026, against 39% who prefer audio-only podcasts, according to Ofcom.
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UK podcast listeners who let the video play in the background made up 26% of listeners in 2026, according to Ofcom.
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UK podcast listeners who prefer audio-only podcasts outnumbered those who prefer video podcasts by 12 percentage points in 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Ofcom data.
How we calculated it: 39% prefer audio-only minus 27% prefer video = 12 points.
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UK listeners to podcasts linked to TV programmes who said video podcasts improved their TV viewing made up 59% of that group in 2026, according to Ofcom.
| Period | Listened only | Listened and watched | Watched only | Neither |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ever | 21% | 57% | 2% | 20% |
| Last month | 15% | 36% | 7% | 42% |
| Last week | 13% | 26% | 6% | 55% |
Most popular podcast platforms
Edison Podcast Metrics asks US weekly podcast consumers which service they use most often. Edison's Share of Ear study measures the share of daily podcast time spent on each source.
YouTube is the top podcast platform in the US. 39% of weekly podcast consumers used it most often in Q4 2025, according to Edison Research at SSRS. That is nearly twice Spotify's 20%, by our calculation, and more than three times Apple Podcasts' 11%. In 2025 Edison put YouTube at 33%.
Share of time tells a closer story. YouTube took 32% of daily podcast listening and viewing time in Q4 2025, against 25% for Spotify and 20% for Apple. Spotify and Apple users may listen for longer per session, even though fewer people pick them first.
The older apps are losing ground. By Q3 2026 Spotify had fallen to 17% and Apple Podcasts to 9%. That is a drop of 3 and 2 points since Q4 2025, by our calculation. Edison did not publish YouTube's Q3 share, only that it stayed first. Netflix ranked seventh at 3%. Spotify says it hosts 8 million podcast titles. For how many US adults use YouTube and other apps, see our TikTok statistics.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS.
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US weekly podcast consumers who use YouTube most often for podcasts made up 39% of that group in Q4 2025, against 20% for Spotify and 11% for Apple Podcasts, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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YouTube was used most often for podcasts by nearly twice as many US weekly podcast consumers as Spotify in Q4 2025, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: 39% YouTube / 20% Spotify = 1.95. Edison Podcast Metrics, US weekly podcast consumers aged 13 and over, Q4 2025.
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YouTube took 32% of daily podcast consumption time among Americans aged 13 and over in Q4 2025, against 25% for Spotify and 20% for Apple, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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US weekly podcast consumers who use Spotify most often for podcasts made up 17% of that group in Q3 2026, against 9% for Apple Podcasts, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Spotify and Apple Podcasts each lost 2 to 3 percentage points as the most-used podcast platform among US weekly consumers between Q4 2025 and Q3 2026, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from Edison Research data.
How we calculated it: Spotify 20% (Q4 2025, The Infinite Dial 2026) to 17% (Q3 2026) = minus 3 points. Apple Podcasts 11% to 9% = minus 2 points. Both from Edison Podcast Metrics, same question.
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US weekly podcast consumers who use Netflix most often for podcasts made up 3% of that group in Q3 2026, ranking it seventh, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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US weekly podcast listeners who use YouTube most often for podcasts made up 33% of that group in 2025, according to Edison Research.
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Spotify offered 8 million podcast titles in 2026, according to Spotify.
| Platform | Q4 2025 | Q3 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 39% | Highest (share not published) |
| Spotify | 20% | 17% |
| Apple Podcasts | 11% | 9% |
| Netflix | Not shown | 3% |
Podcast genres, news podcasts and ad revenue
Edison tracks which topics weekly podcast consumers listen to, and ranks the top shows each quarter. The Reuters Institute measures news podcast use across 48 markets. IAB and PwC measure US podcast ad revenue.
True crime overtook comedy as the topic US weekly podcast consumers listen to most in the first half of 2026, according to Edison Research at SSRS. Comedy had led since Edison began tracking in 2019, when true crime ranked fifth. In Edison's Q2 2026 ranking by weekly reach, Crime Junkie was second and The Daily third.
News podcasts have stopped growing. 11% of people across 48 markets used them in 2026, unchanged on 2025, according to the Reuters Institute. Use rose 4 points in Australia and 3 points in Peru, the only significant increases. The Reuters Institute notes that many podcasts are now video-led, so some use shows up in its online video data instead.
Money is following the audience. US podcast ad revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025, up 17.6%, according to IAB and PwC. By our calculation that implies about $2.5 billion in 2024. Podcasts are still small next to the wider market, at about 1% of $294.6 billion in US internet ad revenue. See our digital advertising statistics for the other channels.
Source: IAB and PwC. 2024 calculated by StatisticsGlobal.
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True crime ranked first among podcast topics US weekly podcast consumers listen to in the first half of 2026, up from fifth in 2019, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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Crime Junkie ranked second and The Daily third among US podcasts by weekly reach in Q2 2026, the same places as in Q1 2026, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
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People who used news podcasts made up 11% of online respondents across 48 markets in 2026, unchanged on 2025, according to the Reuters Institute.
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Use of news podcasts rose 4 percentage points in Australia in 2026, one of only two significant increases among 48 markets, according to the Reuters Institute.
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US podcast advertising revenue reached $2.9 billion in 2025, up 17.6% year on year, according to IAB and PwC.
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US podcast advertising revenue was about $2.5 billion in 2024, calculated by StatisticsGlobal from IAB and PwC data.
How we calculated it: $2.9 billion (2025) / 1.176 = $2.47 billion, rounded to $2.5 billion. Uses the 17.6% growth rate in the IAB/PwC full-year 2025 report. The $2.9 billion is itself rounded.
| Year | Revenue | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | About $2.5 billion | Calculated by StatisticsGlobal from the 2025 total and growth rate |
| 2025 | $2.9 billion | Up 17.6% year on year, about 1% of US internet ad revenue |
How the sources measure podcast use
Each source asks a different question of a different group. Read each figure with its own scope, period and sample.
The Infinite Dial is a weighted national survey. About half the 2026 sample came from the SSRS Opinion Panel, which is recruited by phone and address sampling. The 2025 survey used phone and online interviews. The change in method and sample size means small year-on-year moves should be read with care. From 2025 the podcast questions cover watching as well as listening, which lifts the numbers.
Edison Podcast Metrics only surveys people who already consume podcasts weekly, so its platform and topic shares describe that group, not all Americans. Edison publishes headline figures for free and sells the full data, so some shares, such as YouTube's Q3 2026 figure, are not public.
Ofcom's release does not give its fieldwork dates or sample size. The Reuters Institute uses online YouGov panels, which under-represent older and less affluent people. IAB and PwC figures come from company-reported revenue that PwC does not audit. Spotify's title count is self-reported. We left out Edison's UK Podcast Consumer 2026 figures because we could not archive the report in this update.
| Source | Population | Measure | Fieldwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026 | 2,050 Americans aged 12 and over | Ever, monthly and weekly podcast use, by format | January 2026 |
| Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2025 | 5,020 Americans aged 12 and over | Ever and monthly podcast use, by format | January 2025 |
| Edison Podcast Metrics | US weekly podcast consumers aged 13 and over (5,006 in Q2 2026) | Platform used most often, topics, top shows | Continuous, quarterly |
| Ofcom, audio listening research | UK adults | Weekly podcast listening, format preference | Not stated in the release (published May 2026) |
| Reuters Institute, Digital News Report 2026 | 97,520 online respondents in 48 markets | News podcast use | January to February 2026 |
| IAB and PwC, Internet Advertising Revenue Report | Companies selling US online advertising | Podcast advertising revenue | Full year 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
How many people listen to podcasts in 2026?
In the US, 58% of people aged 12 and over listened to or watched a podcast in the last month in 2026, about 167 million, according to Edison Research at SSRS. 45%, about 130 million, did so in the last week. In the UK, 27% of adults listen weekly, according to Ofcom.
Is podcast listening growing compared with last year?
Yes, in the US. Monthly reach rose from 55% in 2025 to 58% in 2026, and weekly reach from 40% to 45%, according to Edison Research. Part of the recent rise comes from counting people who watch podcasts. News podcast use was flat at 11% across 48 markets, according to the Reuters Institute.
What age group listens to podcasts the most?
Americans aged 35 to 54. 68% of them consumed a podcast in the last month in 2026, against 64% of 12 to 34 year olds and 44% of those 55 and over, according to Edison Research at SSRS.
Is YouTube or Spotify bigger for podcasts?
YouTube. 39% of US weekly podcast consumers used YouTube most often in Q4 2025, against 20% for Spotify and 11% for Apple Podcasts, according to Edison Research at SSRS. By Q3 2026 Spotify had fallen to 17%.
Do more people watch or listen to podcasts?
Most do both. 57% of Americans aged 12 and over have both listened to and watched a podcast. Only 2% have watched without listening, according to Edison Research at SSRS. In the UK, 39% of listeners prefer audio-only and 27% prefer video, according to Ofcom.
How much money do podcasts make from advertising?
US podcast ad revenue was $2.9 billion in 2025, up 17.6% on 2024, according to IAB and PwC. That is about 1% of all US internet ad revenue.
Sources
- Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, 12 March 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026 (presentation PDF), 12 March 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- IAB and PwC, Digital Ad Revenue Climbs to Nearly $300B as IAB Celebrates 30 Year Anniversary (IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report: Full Year 2025), 16 April 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2025, 20 March 2025, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Ofcom, Top trends from our latest audio listening research, 20 May 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Edison Research at SSRS, The Number 1 Podcast Platform (Weekly Insights), 7 October 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Spotify, About Spotify (company info), Company page, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Edison Research at SSRS, Crime Pays? (Weekly Insights), 2 September 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Edison Research at SSRS, The Top 50 Podcasts in the U.S. Q2 2026, 17 July 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
- Reuters Institute (University of Oxford), Digital News Report 2026: executive summary and key findings, 16 June 2026, accessed 7 November 2026. Link · Saved data copy
Changes to this page
- : Page published with Edison Research Infinite Dial 2025 and 2026 data, Edison Podcast Metrics to Q3 2026, Ofcom May 2026, Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026, IAB/PwC full-year 2025 and Spotify data.