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EMARKETER

US Digital Audio Forecast Overview 2026

New Projections for Total Listenership, Podcasts, Ad Spending, Time Spent, Spotify, YouTube, and More

Report by Ethan Cramer-Flood  |  Dec 8, 2025
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Digital audio is incredibly popular, and podcasts are the key conduit for marketers
Digital audio ad spending remains a small piece of the ad ecosystem, though podcast spend is trending up
The average adult spends nearly an hour and half per day with digital audio
Media Gallery
About This Report
Digital audio commands massive attention, and podcasts keep most listeners within reach. As viewing blurs with listening, marketers face an opportunity—but also a widening gap between consumer time spent and the ad investment flowing into audio.
Topics
Media Consumption
Podcasts
US
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Digital audio is incredibly popular, and podcasts are the key conduit for marketers
Digital audio ad spending remains a small piece of the ad ecosystem, though podcast spend is trending up
The average adult spends nearly an hour and half per day with digital audio
Media Gallery

Digital audio is tremendously popular in all its formats, yet ad spend lags compared with most other formats. Podcasts keep audiences highly reachable, but shifting formats and uneven investment reveal a tension between listener engagement and marketer commitment. This report sets the stage for the entire ecosystem in 2026.

Key Question: What is the 2026 outlook for digital audio and podcasts across various metrics, channels, and platforms?

Key Stat: In 2026, 183.3 million of the total 239.6 million digital audio listeners will be accessible to advertisers. Much of that access will come via podcasts, which can always carry ads, even on ad-free subscription tiers.

Nearly 240 Million People Will Listen to Digital Audio in the US in 2026, and Most Will Still Be Accessible to Advertisers
E-Mail ChartDownload

authors

Ethan Cramer-Flood

Contributors

Ross Benes
Senior Analyst
Kyndall Krist
Senior Copy Editor
Penelope Lin
Director, Data Visualization
Cindy Liu
Senior Forecasting Analyst
Oscar Orozco
Senior Director, Forecasting
Chuck Rawlings
Senior Researcher
Johann Valderrama
Chart Editor
Jherr Daven Velasco
Researcher
Emman Velasco
Chart Editor
Julia Woolever
Yoram Wurmser
Principal Analyst
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