According to a survey held in early 2025 in the United States, ** percent of respondents aged 12 to 34 years old had listened to a podcast within the preceding month, compared to ** percent of those aged 55 or above. Adults in the latter age category have been increasing their podcast listening consistently for years, to a point where respondents aged 35-54 almost caught up on the younger age category. Podcasts are gaining popularity This increased monthly podcast consumption shows the growing prevalence of the format in the United States. A survey on podcast consumption found that in 2012 only ** percent of U.S. respondents had ever listened to an audio podcast, but this figure increased annually and reached ** percent in 2025, by then also including video podcast consumption. Although this rise in popularity is significant, it might also reflect the generational gap in podcast consumption, with younger consumers tuning in more regularly than their older counterparts. In 2021, the share of Millennial podcast consumers in Canada and the U.S. amounted to ** percent, with Boomers only making up ** percent. Video podcasts The recently rising popularity of video podcasts also led to changes in platform usage among podcast consumers. YouTube has taken over the lead from Spotify as the main platform used to access podcasts in the United States as of April 2024, when the streaming platform attracted ** percent of podcast consumers, compared to ** percent for the Swedish competitor. YouTube's newly achieved competitive position in podcasting becomes even more obvious, when considering that almost two in three weekly podcast consumers associated the platform the most with watching and listening to podcasts. Only ** percent said the same about Spotify.

The device most commonly used to listen to podcasts in spring 2024 in the United Kingdom (UK) was the smartphone as ** percent of podcast listening time was via smartphones. Laptops were the second most used device, with ** percent of podcast listening time. What do people do while listening to podcasts? Podcasts have become extremely popular in the UK in recent years. But what are people doing while they listen? Most people listen to podcasts while driving/travelling, and many also just listen while relaxing or doing nothing in particular.   Podcasts still not the most listened to audio Although podcasts have gained popularity, they’re still not the most listened to audio. Live radio and TV viewing are the most common types of audio that people listen to weekly. The most positively rated radio and podcasts in the UK include Desert Island Discs and Ken Bruce on BBC Radio 2.

According to data from February 2022, **** million people in the United States were said to listen to podcasts on Spotify that year, while Apple had **** million podcast listeners. Spotify's and Apple's figures were projected to add up to **** million and **** million by 2025, respectively.

According to a survey conducted in Japan in December 2022, **** percent of people listen to podcasts. The value referred to the share of people who listen to podcasts at least once a month or more often. Those who stated to listen to podcasts rarely or not at all were regarded as non-users.

According to a survey from May 2023, most people in Czechia listened to podcasts at home when relaxing or before going to sleep. This share amounted to ** percent of the respondents. Over a third listened to podcasts while doing housework.

This SPSS dataset is from a 2019 survey conducted via . There are 323 participants in the file, 306 with complete data for the key measures. Measures include the Big Five Inventory, the Interest/Deprivation Curiosity Scale, the Need for Cognition Scale, the Need to Belong Scale, the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale, the General Belongingness Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Smartphone Addiction Scale, and some questions about listening to podcasts.

In relation to podcasts, participants were first asked if they had ever listened to a podcast. Those who said yes (N = 240) were asked questions related to amount of listening, categories and format of podcasts, setting of listening, device used, social engagement around podcasts, and parasocial relationships with their favourite podcast host. Participants also indicated their age, gender, and country of residence.

The datafile contains item ratings and scale scores for all measures. Item wording and response labels are provided in the variable view tab of the downloaded file. Other files available on the OSF site include a syntax file related to the analyses reported in a published paper and a copy of the survey.

During the latest annual survey in 2025, it was found that ** percent of US consumers listened to audio podcasts or watched video podcasts. For the first time, the study covered both audio and video podcast consumption, in contrast to previous studies which only surveyed audio consumption. Format aside, podcasts have grown increasingly popular in recent years, with the percentage of U.S. consumers saying that they had ever consumed a podcast more than ******** over the last decade.

Sommar & Vinter i P1 was the podcast which had most weekly listens in Sweden as of August 2024, by around 2.9 million Swedes. Sommar i i P1 has existed in Sweden since 1959, and invited people in to discuss their stories and to play music. It is particularly popular in the summers. Second in the ranking came P3 Dokumentär was also the podcast with the highest weekly reach that year with over 560 weekly reaches. Podcast influencers       Podcasts are an influencing platform and a study conducted in 2019 categorized the number of listeners and unique reaches per week for podcast influencers. If a podcast had up to 150 listeners per week it was categorized as micro influencer, while if it had over 150 listeners it was considered a macro influencer. The minimum unique reaches per week for a macro podcast influencer were 150. A macro influencer had income of at least 15 thousand Swedish kronor in 2019. Podcasts throughout the years       Listening to podcasts became popular in Sweden over the past years. While there were under 700 thousand weekly podcast listeners in Sweden at the beginning of 2015, this number grew to over 1.6 million listeners as of August 2018.

There are currently more than 4 million podcast titles on the platform today.

In 2020, the most commonly used app for listening to podcasts in the United States was Spotify, with ** percent of podcast listeners aged 18 or above saying that they used Spotify to listen to podcasts. Meanwhile, Apple Podcasts was used by ** percent of adults, down from ** percent in the previous year.

Growing market for podcasts

The term podcast, the name being a merge of the words “play on demand” and “broadcast”, refers to audio or video content in episodic formats that can be streamed or downloaded digitally. Topics cover a huge range of interests such as politics, health, or true crime; however, a study found that the most popular podcast genre in the United States was comedy. With **** million podcast listeners in the United States alone, podcasting has become a large market within the audio sector.

Podcast consumption

Despite the growing podcast audience, the consumption among listeners is relatively low with ** percent of consumers stating that they listen to podcasts less often than once a month. The relatively new audio format is preferred by younger generations, with ** percent of the age group of 18 to 34 years having paid to access podcasts.

Podcast Player Market Outlook

The global podcast player market size is projected to witness substantial growth from 2023 to 2032, expanding from USD 1.5 billion in 2023 to an estimated USD 8.2 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5%. The surge in market size can be attributed to the rising popularity of podcasts as a medium for entertainment, education, and news, coupled with the increasing penetration of smartphones and internet connectivity.

The growth of the podcast player market is significantly influenced by the changing consumer preferences towards on-demand content consumption. Unlike traditional radio, podcasts offer the flexibility to listen to content at any time, which has appealed to a broad audience base globally. Furthermore, the plethora of content available across various genres, such as true crime, business, technology, and self-help, ensures that there is something for everyone, contributing to a broader adoption of podcast players. Additionally, advancements in audio streaming technology have enhanced user experience by providing high-quality sound and personalized recommendations, which further drives market growth.

Another critical growth factor is the increasing investment by major tech companies in podcasting. Companies like Spotify, Apple, and Google are not only enhancing their podcast player platforms but also investing in exclusive content and podcast production. This investment has fueled the growth of the market as it attracts more users to their platforms. Moreover, the trend of podcasts being integrated into smart home devices and car infotainment systems is expanding the accessibility of podcasts, thereby driving the demand for podcast players. The integration of artificial intelligence to provide personalized content and improve user experience is also expected to boost market growth.

The rise of remote working and online learning, especially catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has also played a significant role in the growth of the podcast player market. With more people spending time at home, the consumption of digital content, including podcasts, has seen a substantial increase. Podcasts have become a popular medium for professionals to stay informed and for students to supplement their learning. This shift in content consumption patterns is anticipated to sustain even post-pandemic, thereby continuing to drive the growth of the podcast player market.

Regionally, North America currently holds the largest share of the podcast player market, with a significant number of podcast listeners and a mature digital content ecosystem. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate, driven by the increasing smartphone penetration, growing internet accessibility, and a large, young population inclined towards digital content. Europe and Latin America are also anticipated to experience healthy growth due to rising awareness and adoption of podcasts.

Platform Analysis

In terms of platform, the podcast player market is segmented into iOS, Android, Windows, and others. iOS and Android dominate the market due to their widespread use and extensive app ecosystems. iOS podcast players, such as Apple Podcasts, benefit from the large user base of iPhone and iPad users. Apple’s ecosystem offers seamless integration and user-friendly interfaces, making it a preferred choice for many podcast listeners. Additionally, Apple's significant investments in original podcast content have further strengthened its position in the market.

Android podcast players hold a substantial share of the market due to the global popularity of Android devices. Apps like Google Podcasts and Spotify cater to the diverse user base of Android, providing a wide range of features and functionalities. The open nature of the Android platform also allows for significant customization and third-party integrations, appealing to a broad audience. The increasing adoption of affordable Android smartphones in emerging markets is expected to drive the segment's growth further.

Windows-based podcast players occupy a smaller market share compared to iOS and Android. However, they are still relevant, especially among users who prefer a desktop or laptop experience. Applications like Grover Podcast and other Microsoft Store offerings cater to this niche segment. The integration of podcast players in Windows operating systems provides convenience and accessibility, particularly for business and enterprise users.

The 'Others' category

90 percent of Finnish respondents answer our survey on "Most used media services" with "TV". The survey was conducted in 2025, among 678 consumers.

Batch export all podcasts or episodes by full-text keyword search, e.g., people, brands, topics...

According to a study conducted in late March 2020, Gen Z adults were the most likely group to listen to podcasts more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, with ** percent saying that their podcast consumption would likely increase, compared to ** percent of Gen X respondents.

Here are the full list of the 10 most popular artists on Spotify and how many total song streams they have.

These are the top 20 most followed playlists on Spotify right now.

Spotify has about 80 million individual tracks on the platform.

Headset Market Outlook 2032

The global headset market size was USD 79.95 Billion in 2023 and is likely to reach USD 901.52 Billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 30.89 % during 2024–2032. The market growth is attributed to the rising popularity of professional gaming and the increasing number of music streaming services.



Increasing number of music streaming services is expected to boost the demand for headsets. Music streaming services enable users to listen to music on the go, whether they are commuting, exercising, or working. Headsets offer mobility and convenience, allowing users to enjoy music wirelessly and hands-free. Therefore, the rising number of music streaming services is propelling the market.



Headset is becoming widely popular across the world as it delivers high-quality audio with clear sound reproduction and immersive listening experiences. Additionally, many headsets feature noise isolation or active noise cancellation technology, which helps block out external sounds and distractions. This feature enhances the listening experience by providing a quieter environment and allowing users to focus on their audio content without interference from background noise. These benefits associated with headsets are estimated to boost their demand among people especially youth who love to listen to music and podcasts.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Headset Market

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making a significant impact on the headset market. AI's integration into these devices is transforming the user experience by

34% of Spotify’s monthly active users live in Europe. That means that Spotify has 147.22 million users in the EU regions alone. Here’s the breakdown of regions that contribute the most users to Spotify:

North American Spotify users spend the most time on the platform steaming an average of 140 minutes of content on the Spotify app daily.