The percentage of Americans who have consumed a podcast has reached an all-time high, according to The Infinite Dial 2025, released by Edison Research with support from Audacy, Cumulus Media, and SiriusXM Media. This latest installment is part of the longest-running annual survey of digital media consumption in the United States.
Now in its 27th year, The Infinite Dial is widely recognized as a trusted industry benchmark for media consumption habits. Presented by Megan Lazovick, Edison Research Vice President, alongside James Cridland, Editor of Podnews, the study highlights critical insights into podcast consumption, online audio trends, in-car audio usage, smart speaker usage, social media behaviors, and other digital media habits.
Key findings from The Infinite Dial 2025:
Podcast Consumption Reaches An All-Time High
70% of Americans age 12+ have listened to a podcast.
51% of those Americans age 12+ have watched a podcast.
73% of Americans age 12+ have consumed a podcast in either audio or video format, representing an estimated 210 million people.
Podcasting achieves new heights with 55% of Americans 12+ now being monthly consumers.
Video Integration is Expanding Podcast Reach
48% of Americans age 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast.
According to Edison Podcast Metrics, YouTube is the service most often to listen to podcasts with 33% of U.S. weekly podcast listeners using the service.
A strong male video podcast audience drives higher monthly podcast consumption among men (57%) compared to women (52%).
Public Opinion Supports Social Media Regulation
Social media reacts 86% of Americans, an estimated 248 million Americans.
Nearly half (48%) of Americans express support for banning social media access for anyone under the age of 16.
Online Audio Reaches All-Time High
79% of Americans age 12+ listen to online audio monthly, an estimated 228 million people.
Among American aged 55+, listening preferences for the online audio brands they use most often are more evenly distributed across multiple brands.
Car Audio Continues It’s Digital Shift
Among Americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month (88%), 40% have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and 33% actively use one of these systems.
Among Americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month (88%), 28% have Apple CarPlay, with 22% actively using it.
Among Americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month, (88%), 19% have Android Auto, with 13% actively using it.
“As someone who has been using Infinite Dial since I was working at the original Virgin Radio in London, I’ve watched digital audio evolve from a niche to mainstream,” says Cridland. “These numbers don’t just inform strategy — they validate the direction our industry has been moving.”