US Digital Audio Users 2022

After a Growth Bonanza, Free-Premium Balance Comes Into Focus

Report by Max Willens  | Dec 21, 2022
Download
Report
The One-Pager
Deck
Share
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Key Points
How Big Is This Market?
Who’s Shaping This Ecosystem?
What Are the Trends Worth Watching?
Sources
Media Gallery
About This Report
After strong growth, digital audio subscriber numbers will slow. And a handful of companies will shape what US digital audio users will listen to—and how they will listen—in the coming years.
Topics
Digital Music
Digital Radio
Media Consumption
US
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Key Points
How Big Is This Market?
Who’s Shaping This Ecosystem?
What Are the Trends Worth Watching?
Sources
Media Gallery

Executive Summary

Most US adults listen to some digital audio today, and time spent with it is growing. But most consumers regard paid audio subscriptions as a luxury rather than a necessity—that will remain the case in the near term.

3 KEY QUESTIONS THIS REPORT WILL ANSWER

  1. How has the digital audio audience grown?
  2. Which companies have the strongest positions among ad-supported and paying listeners?
  3. How are platforms including YouTube and TikTok shaping this market?

WHAT’S IN THIS REPORT? Our forecast for US digital audio user growth by device, demographic, and company; our forecast for paid digital audio subscriber growth; and insights on who is listening to digital audio.

US Paid Digital Audio Subscribers, 2022-2026 (millions and % change)
E-Mail ChartDownload

KEY STAT: Growth in paid digital audio subscribers will slow considerably following strong gains during the pandemic. Subscribers rose 80.6% from 2018 through 2022 but will rise only 14.8% through 2026.

Here’s what’s in the full report

3files

Exportable files for easy reading, analysis and sharing.

5charts

Reliable data in simple displays for presentations and quick decision making.

Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Key Points
  3. How Big Is This Market?
  1. Who’s Shaping This Ecosystem?
  2. What Are the Trends Worth Watching?
  3. Sources
  1. Media Gallery

Charts in This Report

US Paid Digital Audio Subscribers, 2022-2026 (millions and % change)US Digital Audio Listeners, 2022-2026 (millions and % change)
US Paid Digital Audio Subscriber Market Share, by Company, 2022-2026 (% of paid digital audio subscribers)US Spotify Listeners, Paid vs. Ad-Supported, 2022-2026 (millions)
US Pandora Listeners, Paid vs. Ad-Supported, 2022-2026 (millions)

Access full deck

View a slide-show representation of this report’s key insights, where carefully vetted data is combined with industry trend analysis, included at no extra cost.
Gain Access to EMARKETER →
Log in to EMARKETER
Download PPTX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Access All Charts and Data

Gain access to reliable data presented in clear and intelligible displays for quick understanding and decision making on the most important topics related to your industry, included at no extra cost.
Gain Access to EMARKETER →
Log in to EMARKETER
Download
Report
The One-Pager
Deck
Share
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Key Points
How Big Is This Market?
Who’s Shaping This Ecosystem?
What Are the Trends Worth Watching?
Sources
Media Gallery
About This Report
After strong growth, digital audio subscriber numbers will slow. And a handful of companies will shape what US digital audio users will listen to—and how they will listen—in the coming years.
Topics
Digital Music
Digital Radio
Media Consumption
US
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Key Points
How Big Is This Market?
Who’s Shaping This Ecosystem?
What Are the Trends Worth Watching?
Sources
Media Gallery
Download PDF

authors

Max Willens

Contributors

Jade Appel
Associate Forecasting Analyst
Ross Benes
Senior Analyst
Andrew Spink
Forecasting Analyst
Paul Verna
Principal Analyst