Is podcasting still growing?
For a while, podcasting seemed to be on an explosive trajectory: hits like Serial, Joe Rogan, and The Daily dominated the public narrative. Then, the pandemic came and drove even more listenership. But what's happening today? Is podcasting still a growing medium? Let's dive into the latest numbers.
As of 2024, 47% of Americans aged 12 and older report listening to a podcast at least once a month. During the heigh of the pandemic in 2021, the number was 41%, so podcasting is still growing. According to the Infinite Dial Report this constitutes some 135 million Americans.
Contrary to the popular narrative, podcasting growth has never been sudden or explosive; instead, it reflects a steady, sustainable increase. On average, the percentage of people listening to a podcast in the last month has grown by 2.44% per year between 2008 and 2024.
As I’ve said before, “I like this gradual growth curve. It’s sustainable and shows that podcasting isn’t a flash-in-the-pan”. And that’s a good thing! A stable, steady audience makes it easier for podcasters to build a long-lasting relationship with their listeners.
