Americans who listen to podcasts mostly do it for entertainment
Core finding
Entertainment is the biggest draw to podcasts: 37% of Americans say it best describes why they listen, ahead of any other reason, according to a Verasight survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted Sept. 22-29, 2025.
Smaller shares listen mainly to learn about current events (18%) or to receive information not available in legacy media (13%). Another 31% say they don't listen to podcasts at all.
Topline distribution
Americans who listen to podcasts mostly do it for entertainment.
Which of the following best describes why do you listen to podcasts?
n = 1,000 · Sep 22–29, 2025 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 22–29, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025
Which of the following best describes why do you listen to podcasts?
Cite this question
Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119, fielded September 22-29, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.