Key stat: YouTube/YouTube Music is the most-used digital audio platform, reaching 51% of US digital audio listeners and standing alone as the only option to clear the halfway mark, according to a March 2026 Harris Poll and EMARKETER survey.

Beyond the chart:

• YouTube's audio lead is part of a much bigger viewing story. The platform captured 12.9% of all US streaming time in November, more than any other streamer and up 19.4% year over year, according to Nielsen.
• In fact, much of that pull comes from podcasts, where YouTube has become the top destination. Viewers streamed more than 700 million hours of video podcasts on their TVs in a single month, nearly double a year earlier, according to Bloomberg data.

Use this chart: Drop this into an audio or media planning deck to argue that YouTube belongs at the center of any audio buy, not just video. Use it alongside Spotify benchmarks to show clients where listeners actually are and to justify shifting audio dollars toward the reach leader.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• Radio and Digital Audio Ad Spending Benchmarks: Q2 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)
• YouTube for Social Media Teams 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)

Methodology: Data is from the April 2026 Harris Poll and EMARKETER Survey titled "Digital Audio" conducted by Harris Poll. 2,039 US adults ages 18+, including 1,639 who listen to digital audio at least monthly, were surveyed during March 12-28, 2026. Data is weighted to be representative of the US adult population.