The story of podcasting began with a mashup of two worlds: “iPod” and “broadcast.” Back then, it hinted at a future of on-demand audio few people could imagine. From a niche corner of the internet, podcasting has become a global habit, reshaping how millions consume stories, news, and entertainment.
The podcasting market was valued at USD 32.48 billion in 2025, with projections soaring to USD 362.99 billion by 2035, growing at 27.6% CAGR. By then, North America is expected to hold 38.5% of the share; a sign of how deeply the medium has embedded itself in digital culture in the U.S. Across the world, podcasting momentum is remarkable. Statistics show that there are now 4.61 million podcasts, up from 4.4 million in May 2024. Global listenership hit 584.1 million, a 6.84% climb from 2024. In the US alone, 129.9 million people now listen monthly, with 55% of Americans aged 12+ tuning in every month. The cultural explosion is equally matched by economic growth as global podcast ad spending is estimated to reach $4.46 billion in 2025, with the US contributing $2.55 billion.
A Universe of Shows
Podcast platforms have grown into ecosystems of their own; today Apple Podcasts hosts 2,800,138 shows, a 20% increase from 2021. One reason is the universal appeal of the format. A YouTube clip or social post demands your eyes; podcasts only need your ears. Comedy currently dominates the charts, making up 41% of global listening hours. Podcasting’s audience now looks as varied as the shows themselves. Young listeners still lead the way, and 61.6% of US podcast fans are Gen Z or Millennials. About 66% tune in every month.
Listeners aged 35–54 are not far behind as monthly listening in this group sits at 61%. Older adults are joining in as well with Edison’s latest report revealing that 27% of Americans aged 55 and above listened to a podcast, up from 19% in 2024. Perhaps mostly driven by the familiar comfort of audio formats they grew up with, the radio for example. For the youngest listeners, podcasts have become more than entertainment. About 45% of Gen Z consumers said audio helps them stay positive and focus on personal growth.
Gender balance is nearly even across the board, which shows how broad the medium’s reach has become. Podcasting now moves cleanly across age, gender, and lifestyle, and that is a major reason it has settled into place as a cultural default.
What Keeps Podcasts in Play?
Smartphones and streaming apps have put an entire audio universe within reach, but the real hook is how personal podcasts feel. The format mimics a one-to-one conversation, the kind that follows you through commutes, errands, and the quiet parts of the day. And there is a show for nearly every corner of human interest. True crime, finance, pop culture, physics and self-help dominate the charts, while micro-niche series cater to everything. Listeners now stretch across ages and genders, bound less by demographics than by a shared appetite for insight and good storytelling.
Podcasts have surged partly because they avoid the fight for full attention. Video needs your eyes, and social media demands constant engagement, but audio fits into the spaces people already occupy. It moves with them rather than competing for another slice of their day.
That flexibility has become a serious advantage. In an economy where attention is scarce and every platform is vying for minutes, the simple act of keeping people company has helped podcasts carve out a durable place in global culture. And for millions of listeners, that may be reason enough to keep pressing play.