The Podcaster Plus Show

6 – Is Podcast Listenership in Decline?

Released March 31, 2025

Episode # 6

Welcome to Podcaster Plus, the show dedicated to helping you navigate the podcasting journey with ease, offering you the best tips and tricks to simplify and automate your podcast process. In today’s episode, we’re delving into a question: Is podcast listenership on the decline?

We’ll start by unpacking what podcast listenership really means, looking beyond the easily manipulated download numbers to focus on metrics like unique listeners, engagement rates, and overall time spent listening. These metrics paint a clearer picture of audience behavior and are often reported in insights from resources like Edison Research’s “Infinite Dial Report” and Pew Research Center’s “Media Landscape Analysis”.

Some segments, such as NPR’s podcast downloads, have indicated a slight dip in numbers, sparking conversation about a potential decline. However, the podcasting world is vast and varied, with millions of shows and topics, which means a decrease in one area doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the entire industry.

We also explore how discovery and consumption of podcasts are shifting, traditional platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify remain popular, yet newer platforms, such as YouTube, are gaining importance, especially for video podcasts. This shift requires us to think about how we track and measure listenership with outdated metrics.

And don’t overlook your podcast’s visual appeal. The cover image on platforms is often the first impression a listener gets. A well-crafted design can attract and retain listener interest, serving as an element of your show’s identity.

So, is podcast listenership declining? The answer isn’t black and white. While some areas see a slowdown, the industry as a whole remains vibrant and ever-changing. The key to riding these waves is focusing on high-quality content, engaging your audience, and staying adaptable.

Links:

Audio and Podcasting Fact Sheet – Pew Research Center

Podcast Statistics and Trends for 2025 (& Why They Matter) – Riverside.fm

16 Tips for Creating Effective Podcast Artwork (w/ Examples) – matchmaker.fm

Key topics:

Introduction to the Podcast

Overview of Podcaster Plus and its focus on tips and tricks for podcasting.
Mention of the podcast’s availability at a specific URL.

Main Question: Is Podcast Listenership in Decline?

Discussion on whether the golden age of podcasting is over.
Questions about listeners tuning out and the future of the podcasting format.

Understanding Podcast Listenership and Measurement

Explanation of what podcast listenership entails.
The importance of unique listeners, engagement metrics, and time spent listening.
Mention of resources like Edison Research’s “Infinite Dial Report” and Pew Research Center’s Analysis.

Trends in Podcast Listenership

Discussion of overall online audio consumption growth.
Mention of a slight dip in podcast listenership in certain segments.
Example of NPR’s podcast download decline.

Diversity in the Podcast Landscape

Explanation that decline in one podcast or network doesn’t indicate an industry-wide decline.
The diversity of the podcast landscape with various topics.

Evolution of Podcast Consumption

Changes in how people discover and listen to podcasts.
Dominance of traditional platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Rise of platforms like YouTube, particularly for video podcasts.
Challenges in tracking overall listenership due to platform shifts.

Importance of Podcast Artwork

Role of podcast artwork in attracting listeners.
Design principles for podcast and episode artwork.
Suggestion to improve artwork to potentially address declining listenership.

Conclusion: The Complexity of Declining Listenership

No simple answer to the decline question; the situation is nuanced.
The dynamic nature of the podcasting industry with new platforms and habits.
Emphasis on the importance of high-quality content and audience engagement.

Closing Remarks

Recap and farewell from the host, Nathan Wrigley.
Reminder of the podcast’s website for more tips and tricks.

Transcript

Hello there and welcome to Podcaster Plus, the podcast offering tips and tricks to simplify and automate your podcast. Find all the episodes at podcasterplus.com/show.

Today we’re tackling a question that’s been buzzing around the podcast industry, is the golden age of podcasting over? Are listeners tuning out, or is there a bright future for the podcasting format?

So let’s start with the basics. What exactly is podcast listenership, and how do we measure it? We’re not just talking about raw download numbers, which honestly can be easily manipulated. We need to consider unique listeners, engagement metrics, and the overall time spent listening. Several online resources provide data on podcast consumption, including Edison Research’s Infinite Dial report, and the links for any of the things mentioned in this podcast will be added to the show notes. And Pew Research Centers Analysis of the Media Landscape. These reports offer insights into trends and listener demographics.

Now let’s discuss the elephant in the room, the numbers. While overall online audio consumption continues to grow, some reports suggest a slight dip in podcasts listenership in certain segments. For example, NPRs podcast downloads have shown a decline in recent years. However, it’s crucial to remember that this doesn’t necessarily indicate widespread decline. The podcast landscape is really rather diverse, with millions of shows covering huge range of topics. A decrease in listenership for one specific podcast, or network, doesn’t automatically translate to a decline across the entire podcasting industry.

Another factor to consider is the evolution of podcast consumption. The way people discover and listen to podcasts is constantly changing. Whilst traditional podcasts apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify remain dominant, platforms like YouTube are increasingly becoming significant players in the podcasting world, particularly for video podcasts. This shift in platforms makes it challenging to accurately track overall listenership using traditional metrics. It’s a

bit of an aside, but for a moment, let’s talk about podcast artwork. The image that accompanies your podcast on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts is pretty crucial to attracting listeners. A well-designed cover image is the first impression a potential listener will have of your show. It needs to be visually appealing, representative of your content and memorable.

Similarly episode artwork, while not always used, can enhance the listening experience, and provide visual context for each episode. The design principles for both are similar, clear, concise, and relevant to the content. Online resources offer many tips and examples of effective podcast artwork. So if you are worried about declining listenership, maybe fix the podcast artwork as your first task.

So to summarize, is podcasts listenership in decline? The answer, as always, is not a simple yes or no. While some segments might be experiencing a slowdown, the overall picture is more nuanced. The podcasting industry is dynamic and constantly evolving. New platforms, formats, listening habits are emerging, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions based solely on download numbers. What’s more important is focusing on creating high quality content, engaging your audience, and adapting to the changing landscape. This will always be true.

So there you go, that’s what I’ve got for you this time around. Thank you very much for tuning in to the Podcaster Plus Podcast. You can find it at podcasterplus.com/show, and we’ll see you next time for some more tips and tricks to simplify and automate your podcast.

Filed under:

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