October 2023 Local Sales Insight

AM/FM Radio Represents The Vast Majority Of Time On The “U.S. Ad-Supported Audio Clock”

Edison Research’s quarterly “Share of Ear” study is the authoritative examination of time spent with audio in America. Edison Research surveys 4,000 Americans annually to measure daily reach and time spent for all forms of audio.

The U.S. ad-supported audio clock: AM/FM radio represents the most tuning minutes

Over the years, the visual created by social media guru Lori Lewis “What Happens in an Internet Minute” has been seen and quoted all the time. In the spirit of that visual, we created the “U.S. Ad-Supported Audio Clock.”

The concept was designed to answer the question, “What happens in an hour of U.S. ad-supported audio?” The clock represents time spent in an hour of ad-supported audio in the U.S. The clock was determined by multiplying “Share of Ear” share of ad-supported audio time spent by 60 minutes.

In an hour of U.S. ad-supported audio:

  • AM/FM radio represents 41.4 minutes of listening
  • Podcasts are 11.4 minutes of listening
  • Ad-Supported Spotify is 2.4 minutes
  • Ad-Supported Pandora is 2.4 minutes
  • Ad-Supported SiriusXM is 2.4 minutes

Podcasts and AM/FM radio represent 52.8 minutes, or 88% of an hour, of ad-supported audio in the U.S.

The in-car ad-supported audio clock: AM/FM radio represents the majority of tuning minutes in the car

Now our focus turns to ad-supported listening in the car. This graphic was designed to answer the question, “What happens in an hour of U.S. ad-supported audio in the car?”

This visual represents time spent with audio platforms in an hour of in-car ad-supported audio. The clock was determined by multiplying “Share of Ear” in-car shares of ad-supported audio time spent by 60 minutes.

In an hour of in-car ad-supported audio in the U.S.:

  • AM/FM radio represents 51 minutes of listening
  • Podcasts are 4.2 minutes of listening
  • Ad-Supported SiriusXM is 2.4 minutes
  • Ad-Supported Spotify is 1.2 minutes
  • Ad-Supported Pandora is 1.2 minutes

AM/FM radio represent 51 minutes, or 85% of an hour, of ad-supported audio in the U.S.

AM/FM radio dominates ad-supported audio shares; Podcasts soar to represent a stunning 19% share

From the Q2 2023 “Share of Ear,” here are the overall shares of ad-supported audio platforms:

  • AM/FM radio: 69%
  • Podcasts: 19%
  • Ad-supported Pandora, ad-supported SiriusXM, and ad-supported Spotify: All at 4%

In the car, AM/FM radio is the queen of ad-supported audio at an 85% share

Here are the shares of in-car ad-supported audio:

  • AM/FM radio: 85%
  • Podcasts: 7%
  • Ad-supported SiriusXM: 4%
  • Ad-supported Pandora and ad-supported Spotify: Both at 2%

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