Podcasts are overtaking radio in the United States: a historic shift in audio

The American audio landscape has just experienced a symbolic turning point, as after years of continuous growth, podcasts have finally overtaken radio in the realm of spoken-word content. This shift illustrates a broader transformation in listening habits, at a time when on-demand listening is becoming the standard. According to a study by Edison Research, in the last quarter of 2025, podcasts accounted for 40% of the time Americans over the age of 13 spent listening to spoken-word content, compared to 39% for traditional radio. A seemingly tiny difference, but highly symbolic for the industry…

A Decade of Continuous Growth

For nearly ten years, audience figures have been gradually converging. In 2015, radio still captured 75% of listening time for spoken content, while podcasts were capped at 10%. But ten years later, the balance has shifted.

This shift can be explained by several structural factors, as podcasts offer total flexibility with on-demand listening, precise topic selection, and the absence of time constraints. Where radio imposes a program schedule, podcasts allow users to create their own programming.

However, radio long resisted thanks to its cultural roots and the loyalty of its listeners. But faced with the rise of digital platforms, the audio ecosystem has fragmented and become more personalized, benefiting both independent creators and large media groups.

Video podcasts accelerate the transformation

The rise of video podcasts is another element that explains this shift, so much so that even Apple has evolved its Apple Podcasts app towards this format. More and more programs are being broadcast simultaneously in audio and video, in a hybrid format that blurs the lines between talk shows, streaming, and podcasts. In 2025, hundreds of millions of hours of podcasts were watched each month on screens, including connected TVs, according to the study. However, the core of the experience remains audio, and approximately eight out of ten listeners consume both audio and video formats.

Nevertheless, preferences vary depending on the subject matter: sports, humor, or current events lend themselves well to video, while science, history, or true crime are still predominantly listened to in audio format.

A trend also visible in France

The trend isn't limited to the United States, because in France, the figures published by Médiamétrie demonstrate sustained enthusiasm. In January, 182 million French podcasts were listened to or downloaded worldwide, including 152 million from within France alone.

While podcasts have historically benefited from high visibility on the iPhone thanks to the Apple ecosystem, Google, Spotify, and even players like Netflix have also invested in this format in recent years. Today, the result is undeniable: podcasting is no longer an alternative channel, but one of the central pillars of contemporary audio consumption…