Edison Research’s Q2 2026 ‘Share of Ear’ report, based on an annual survey of 4,000 Americans, reveals a stark disparity in non-subscription audio consumption. Broadcast radio currently captures 62% of all ad-supported audio time for listeners aged 18 and older, compared to roughly 6% for Spotify’s free tier. Furthermore, this dominance persists evenly across all household income brackets, with radio maintaining over 60% share whether listeners earn under $50,000 or over $100,000. Meanwhile, Spotify’s ad-supported listening time among 25-54 year olds has collapsed from 53% in 2017 to just 22% today.
These metrics expose a significant blind spot in audio advertising strategies that overly index on digital streaming platforms. While premium streaming dominates the paid subscription market, the ad-supported landscape remains fundamentally anchored by terrestrial radio’s unmatched geographic reach and habitual listenership. Consequently, brands and rightsholders targeting broad consumer bases must balance their investments rather than prematurely abandoning legacy broadcast networks.
Curated by MusicResearch.com from Digital Music News. Read the full article at: AM/FM Radio Refuses to Die: Even in 2026, Broadcast Radio Audience Share Is 10X Larger Than Spotify’s Ad-Supported Tier, Report Finds
