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US Digital Audio Forecast Overview 2026
New Projections for Total Listenership, Podcasts, Ad Spending, Time Spent, Spotify, YouTube, and More
Digital audio is tremendously popular in all its formats, yet ad spend lags compared with most other formats. Podcasts keep audiences highly reachable, but shifting formats and uneven investment reveal a tension between listener engagement and marketer commitment. This report sets the stage for the entire ecosystem in 2026.
Key Question: What is the 2026 outlook for digital audio and podcasts across various metrics, channels, and platforms?
Key Stat: In 2026, 183.3 million of the total 239.6 million digital audio listeners will be accessible to advertisers. Much of that access will come via podcasts, which can always carry ads, even on ad-free subscription tiers.
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authors
Ethan Cramer-Flood
Contributors
- Ross Benes
- Senior Analyst
- Kyndall Krist
- Senior Copy Editor
- Penelope Lin
- Director, Data Visualization
- Cindy Liu
- Senior Forecasting Analyst
- Oscar Orozco
- Senior Director, Forecasting
- Chuck Rawlings
- Senior Researcher
- Johann Valderrama
- Chart Editor
- Jherr Daven Velasco
- Researcher
- Emman Velasco
- Chart Editor
- Julia Woolever
- Yoram Wurmser
- Principal Analyst
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