Audio audiences do not sit in one place. They move between broadcast radio, streaming, and podcasts, often in the same day. These figures put that listening behavior in one reference, with source links close to every statistic so the context is easy to check.
Audience and advertising facts
Monthly online audio listening
233 million Americans age 12 and older listened to online audio in the last month.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, March 2026Weekly online audio listening
219 million Americans age 12 and older listened to online audio in the last week.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, March 2026Monthly podcast use
167 million Americans age 12 and older consumed a podcast in the last month.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, March 2026Podcast ad action
Weekly podcast consumers said they took an action after hearing a podcast ad, such as visiting a website or making a purchase.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, June 2026Daily audio time
U.S. consumers spent nearly four hours a day with audio in Q1 2026.
Source: Nielsen, Q1 2026Weekly online-audio habit
Share of monthly online-audio listeners who also listened weekly in 2026.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, May 2026What the numbers show
Nielsen's Q1 2026 view shows that radio and podcasts account for most daily ad-supported audio time, while online audio remains a regular weekly habit for most monthly listeners. For advertisers, the useful takeaway is not to treat these as separate worlds: one campaign can need a clear broadcast spot, a streaming cut, and a podcast-ready version that all carry the same core offer.
How to use this page
Each statistic has a stable link so it can be cited directly. Check the reporting period beside the source before comparing it with another study, since audience definitions and survey timing differ across publishers.
Sources and methodology
This page uses publicly available U.S. industry studies. It reports source figures as published and does not combine them into a new estimate.
- Edison Research at SSRS: The Infinite Dial 2026
National estimates for Americans age 12 and older, including online audio and podcast use.
- Edison Research at SSRS: The Podcast Consumer 2026
Consumer behavior findings for weekly podcast consumers, including reported action after podcast advertising.
- Nielsen: The Record: Q1 U.S. Audio Listening Trends
A quarterly look at U.S. listening across radio, podcasts, streaming music, and satellite radio.
- Edison Research at SSRS: Online Audio Audience Engagement Over Time
A look at how often monthly online-audio listeners also listen weekly, based on The Infinite Dial 2026.
Cite this page
Suggested citation for articles, presentations, or research notes:
Advertising Production Experts, A.P.E. LLC. "U.S. Audio Advertising Statistics: Radio, Podcast & Streaming." Updated October 2, 2026. https://aperadiotv.com/audio-advertising-statistics