Edison Research has released new data from its Infinite Dial study, and it shows how prevalent streaming and online audio listening have become.
According to the data, 81% of respondents said they had listened to online audio in the past month. That figure rose from 79% in 2025. It also marked an increase in the past decade from 57% in 2016.
Edison Research defined online audio as AM/FM radio stations streaming content online or streamed audio content only made available on the internet.
Surprisingly, that uptick in listenership to online audio does not come from the younger demographic
Data from Edison Research shows that those aged 55+ helped drive the overall percentage increase in the level of online audio listenership. In 2024, only 52% of adults aged 55+ reported listening to online audio in the past month. In 2026, that figure has risen to 70%.
“55-plus has been radio’s core audience for a while,” said Podnews Editor James Cridland, who helped lead the Infinite Dial webinar. “They’re the people who listen longest and most often, but every year a new set of people move into the 55-plus age group.
“Your core audience is more comfortable with technology than it’s ever been before. You can see that as a threat or you can see that as an opportunity … People already trust your station. Radio is incredibly well-trusted. But your opportunity is to provide a human connection and a shared experience across all of the platforms that your audience uses.”
87% of those between the ages of 35-54 were monthly online audio users. That figure remained steady from 2025 and only grew two percentage points since 2024.
Those aged 12-34 actually reported a 2% decline in streaming audio usage, from 90% in both 2024 and 2025 to 88% in 2026.
Furthermore, 45% of Americans aged 12+ have consumed a podcast in the past week. That set a new all-time high for podcast consumption in the Infinite Dial study. Additionally, 58% of respondents said they had listened to a podcast in the past month, also reaching an all-time record.
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