Edison Research's “Share of Ear” report reveals evolving trends in audio listening from 2015 to 2024, highlighting how habits have shifted in recent years. The report notes that the majority of audio consumption still happens at home, a trend that saw significant growth during the early 2020s and has since begun to adjust to more balanced levels.
“While many aspects of listening have changed dramatically—from the platforms consumers are using to the content they listen to—it has consistently held true that the majority of listening takes place in the home,” Edison states. “During the 2020 pandemic, at-home listening rose significantly, with a notable increase of 50 minutes per day at its peak.”
Before the pandemic in 2019, at-home and out-of-home listening were nearly equal, with daily averages of 116 minutes and 114 minutes, respectively. During the pandemic, at-home audio listening surged, reaching its highest level in late 2022. Even as listening in other locations began to recover, Americans continued to spend over two and a half hours daily consuming audio at home.
The pandemic years also saw a rebound in total audio consumption, which climbed 15% from its lowest point in 2020 to a high of 257 minutes per day in 2022. This growth was fueled by a variety of audio options, including podcasts, on-demand streaming, AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Spotify, and Pandora.
“What we couldn’t have predicted was how long the trend of elevated at-home listening would persist,” the report explains. “At-home listening didn’t peak until late 2022, more than two years after lockdowns began.”
As of 2024, audio consumption is returning to more familiar patterns. The gap between at-home and out-of-home listening has narrowed, moving from a 50-minute difference in 2021 to just 20 minutes in 2024. These changes highlight the resilience of audio consumption, adapting as lifestyles evolve and new platforms emerge to meet listener preferences.