Podcasts have experienced explosive growth in the last few years, showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With more people than ever before streaming their favorite shows from top podcast hosts, creators, and sponsors on a monthly basis, there’s never been a better time to explore the potential of podcasting for your business or brand.
Digital media surveys are conducted annually by various media organizations like Triton Digital, Statistica, and Edison Research to monitor trends, identify listener behavior, and follow the growth of podcasts worldwide.
With more and more people tuning in daily to different podcast episodes, now is the time to get into the podcast scene. To help you get started, we’ll look at some of the latest trends and numbers in podcast statistics. Keep reading to learn more!
General Podcast Statistics
Podcasts are all the rage these days, with estimates from Edison Research suggesting that 78% of Americans have heard one at least once. An impressive 57% have listened to or watched one regularly, with most people citing the need to learn new things as their primary motivation for tuning in.
If you’re looking for a platform to listen on, Apple Podcast is the most popular option, with a 43% market share. It’s worth noting that South Korea is also a big podcast consumer, and in this market, comedy is the most popular genre. There are plenty of options if you want something to tune into!
Demographics of Podcast Listeners
Podcasts have been increasing in popularity worldwide, and there are more than 3.02 million podcasts with over 66 million episodes. The United States has the most monthly podcast listeners, with an estimated 100 million people tuning in regularly.
There are about 424.2 million podcast listeners worldwide. According to statistics, over 79% of people aged 12 and older are familiar with podcasts, and 62% have listened to one. Listeners over 35 made up most of this gain, as their monthly podcast listening climbed by 13% yearly. Additionally, weekly online audio listening increased to 67% of US 12-year-olds and older, up from 62% in 2021.
However, the adoption of podcasts is strongest in the Scandinavian countries. Podcasts are most frequently enjoyed by one-third of the U.S. population, and sales of smart speakers have increased by 22% due to the popularity of podcasts.
It is estimated that around 78% of Americans have heard of podcasts, and 28% are weekly podcast listeners. In the United States, it is estimated that 160 million people have tried podcasts, and 91% of Australians have heard of them.
Podcast Playing Time Statistics
In recent years, podcasts have become more popular because they are easy to find and listen to online. While there are various podcast lengths, an analysis revealed that around 31% of popular podcasts are between 20 and 40 minutes long.
This indicates that podcast audiences and podcast hosts prefer concise yet detailed content for listening during commutes or breaks. Additionally, this neatly ties in with many modern lifestyles where time management is a priority and longer forms of entertainment, such as movies, are not readily available on demand.
As such, shows that last less than an hour are more convenient, as listeners can easily fit them into their schedules.
Gender Statistics of Podcast Listeners
While it might seem like podcasting use is evenly split between genders, there are some small discrepancies in the gender statistics. 43% of males and only 39% of women actively listen to podcasts in America. More work must be done to boost representation and engage more women with this content.
Ethnicity of Podcast Listeners
With audiences moving from traditional media to online platforms, the growing podcast industry has given new opportunities to people all over the world. Recent data reveals that 57% of those who listen to podcasts are of a white ethnic background, followed by 13% African Americans, 16% Hispanics, 4% Asians, and 10% from other ethnic backgrounds.
This is significant as it reflects a changing landscape in the media industry and embraces diversity among content creators and active podcast listeners. With these numbers growing rapidly over time, this could be an interesting way to start further conversations on expanding reach within the many various minority groups that are becoming more vocal about having their stories told!
Podcasting Marketing Statistics
Podcasting has become a major moneymaker for media companies and businesses over the past few years; in 2021, it generated more than $1.3 billion in advertising revenue. Many people find podcast ads intriguing compared to other forms of media, as 81% of podcast listeners pay attention to ads when they are listening—that’s significantly higher than the 62% of individuals polled across all TV advertisements.
Even more impressive is the number of people converting into paying customers, with 60% having already purchased something because of a product advertised on a podcast and 72% of regular podcast listeners (those who have been listening for four years or longer) making purchases through an advertisement.
Podcasting Growth and Trends Statistics
Podcasting is one of the fastest-rising trends in digital content media. A startling 2000% increase in live podcasting events over the previous five years is proof that podcast listenership has truly taken off.
As podcasts become an increasingly popular platform for creators and consumers, it’s estimated that over 100 million people will be tuning into various podcasts in the United States by 2024.
This rapid surge in popularity reflects the quality and availability of podcast content- from news to sports and comic books. There are now podcasts on almost any topic imaginable. Listeners are taking advantage of this variety in droves. Podcasting has undoubtedly seen exponential growth in recent years and looks to continue increasing in popularity for many years.
Podcast Device Statistics
With the evolution of smartphones and smart speakers, it’s no surprise that mobile devices have become the preferred devices for podcast listeners. Research from 2019 found that 65 percent of podcast users utilized their phones rather than computers or laptops to tune in, while almost 10 percent said they listen through voice-activated devices such as Google Nest (formerly Google Home) and Amazon Echo.
This shows an even greater preference towards using mobile devices; compared to just five years ago, 73% of podcast listeners now favor a mobile device instead of a personal computer.
Podcast Platform Statistics
The world of podcasting has seen tremendous growth in the past few years, with more and more people listening to shows daily. As a result, various platforms have emerged to help listeners find their favorite content.
With such a wide array of choices between podcast apps and platforms like Anchor FM, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Apple Podcast, listeners have an abundance of content to choose from, from lifestyle topics to deep dives into sports teams and politics. According to a 2020 Statista analysis, the two most popular podcast platforms are Spotify (25% of all podcast users) and Apple Podcasts (20%).
Popular Podcast Genres Statistics
Podcasts are a popular form of audio entertainment among serious and casual listeners. According to Nielsen’s recent study, music, arts, and health & fitness podcasts were the top choices for casual listeners. In contrast, die-hard podcast fans preferred history, news, true crime, and science podcasts.
These statistics show that podcasting provides something for everyone, regardless of whether it is a passing hobby or an intense passion. There are many different types of podcasts, and the number of passionate fans who listen to them regularly is growing.
Video Podcast Statistics
The burgeoning trend of video podcasting has many people considering what type of content to produce. November 2021 saw an impressive 39,194 video podcasts listed on Podcast Index, and statistics showed that by June 2022, the amount had increased by more than 25%.
As many consider their options for video podcasting, it’s worth considering different demographic trends; for example, Black listeners are 69% more likely to use YouTube for listening to a podcast than the general population, and Latinos are 25% more likely to use the video site.
Podcast Discovery Statistics
Podcasts have been gaining popularity among many people over the last few years, but different methods of discovering new shows can take time to gauge. Recent stats suggest that out of all new podcast listeners, 30% look to the Internet for shows that fit their interests.
Additionally, 19% of these newcomers seek recommendations from friends and family. Of course, social media is just a little behind with 17%. Traditional sources are still at play; 6% of people take recommendations from the host itself, and 7% are influenced by commercials on other audio programs.
Conclusion
In short, the podcasting industry is continuing to grow rapidly. Over 3.02 million active podcasts and over 30 million episodes are available online. This presents a huge opportunity for businesses in all industries to reach a new audience with their products and services.
If you’re not already incorporating podcasts into your marketing strategy, And if you need help getting started, we’re here to assist you every step of the way.
