Podcasts
Since When is Everyone Listening to Podcasts?
As of 2022, 62% of Americans age 12 and up have listened to a podcast at some point in their life, up from the 57% increase of the same statistic in the previous year. This number is expected to only go up as more podcasts are being produced and more users tune in, creating a community.
The increase in podcast consumption can also be attributed to the overall increase in time that users spend online. Technology is incorporated into the lives of most Americans and this upward trend will only continue, especially as we see the shift from generation to generation
Easy to multi-task
When’s the last time you listened to a podcast? Last week? Yesterday? Or even this morning? Because you only need to listen, podcasts make it easy for people to tune in at almost any time.
It’s common for listeners to play an episode in the morning while they get ready, are in the car during their morning commute, or are doing chores around the house. In addition, users can pause an episode and pick it back up at any time, making it non-committal and easy to incorporate into the average hectic day-to-day.
Easy to access
Chances are you have a smart phone and/or laptop, so accessing a podcast is made easy. There are multiple free podcast apps available, such as Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and more, and your phone or tablet likely already has an app built into it already. Each option boasts a wide library of series to choose from, so the right podcast is at your fingertips.
There’s a podcast for everyone
With over 45 million podcast episodes out there, everyone is able to find a podcast that peaks their interests.3 There are countless genres to choose from that cater to people who are looking to further their learning in a career field, escape to a fictional world, or get into the psychology behind a true-crime case.
Content creation drives our market and our world today. People expect content they are interested in to be delivered to them. With this in mind, it is no surprise that new podcast series keep popping up and more people explore content creation through podcasts.
Connecting with a community
All forms of media are able to connect with viewers and bring the audience together through shared experience and interests; however, they’re not all alike. With movies and TV series, you may feel a connection to the characters, but they’re fictional and played by actors.
In contrast, podcasts, especially those that are non-fiction, create an intimate setting where listeners are able to connect with the host, or hosts, without filters. They discuss topics relevant to the episode and break it down using their own thoughts and ideas, allowing listeners to get to know them personally. It may even feel like talking to an old friend while tuning into an episode!
In addition, podcasts tend to be on a smaller-scale compared to many movies and TV series, making the personalities more easily accessible through social media channels or email. People long for bonds with people with similar tastes, and podcasts make it easy for everyone to find their community.
