For plenty of drivers, it is getting easier to plug and play digital audio. Yet the latest Infinite Dial study from Edison Research shows the endurance of AM/FM radio. The just-released report says that even as four in ten Americans have a dashboard integration with their mobile phones, more people report using broadcast radio than a year ago.
Edison says three-quarters (74%) of Americans aged 18 and older currently use AM/FM radio as an audio source in their primary vehicle. That is up four points from 2023, with the strongest in-car usage numbers since 2020 when the COVID pandemic disrupted work and commuting patterns. Edison’s latest numbers suggest that as even more Americans make their morning and afternoon trips to and from work, they are once again taking AM/FM radio with them.
The best numbers for broadcast radio are among older listeners. Edison says 84% of people surveyed over the age of 55 use AM/FM while in the car. But the report says even among Gen Z and Millennials, over-the-air radio still dominates in the car. A majority, 54% of 18- to 34-year-olds, listen while in a vehicle, and 78% of 35 to 54-year-olds do the same.
“While AM/FM radio in the car is heavier among the older generations, well over half of those 18 to 34 are also listening to radio in the car,” Edison VP Megan Lazovick said. “Of course, the younger generation is more likely to listen to any of the digital sources.”
A majority, 55% of Americans age 18 and older, say they have listened to online audio in their car during the past month either via a phone or directly through the vehicle system. And nearly a third (31%) listened to podcasts. Both are bigger than roughly one in four that listened to either SiriusXM or CDs.
“Car ownership turns over quite slowly in the U.S.,” Lazovick said. “Only about 5% of cars on the road in any given year will be one of the newest models, so it shouldn't be surprising that there are car CD players still around, and 24% of drivers reported using them.” Unsurprisingly, the data shows older drivers are most likely to use CDs.
The Infinite Dial also reveals which dashboard integration is making a bigger impact on drivers. Edison says 28% of people it surveyed say they have Apple CarPlay, while 19% have Android Auto. Speaking on a webinar detailing the finding Thursday, Lazovick noted there was considerable growth in the number of vehicles that have either media system in their vehicle. Only 16% of drivers had an Apple CarPlay last year, while Android Auto grew by three points year-to-year. “This represents a fundamental shift in how Americans access audio in their vehicles,” she said.
But Lazovick also noted just because someone has the system, that doesn’t mean they are using it. Edison says 22% reported they currently use Apple CarPlay, and 13% reported they use Android Auto. The big story is that there are gains overall, however, as just under a quarter of drivers and riders used an integrated phone system in the car last year. In 2025, that number has reached a third.
The report is based on data collected in January from a national survey of 5,020 individuals aged 12 and older. The survey was conducted in both English and Spanish using 1,006 telephone surveys and 4,014 online interviews. The data was weighted to national 12+ U.S. population figures.
Download the 2025 Infinite Dial report HERE.