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What platform does Gen Z use most often to listen to podcasts? A recent report has thrust this question into the spotlight, claiming that Spotify is the most popular platform among people 13-29. We can turn to Edison Podcast Metrics to answer this question using a nationally representative sample that speaks to consumption habits across platforms and providers.
According to Transistor, a podcast hosting company, Gen Z listeners are twice as likely to engage with podcasts on Spotify than YouTube. Edison Podcast Metrics, on the other hand, shows that YouTube actually has a small edge over Spotify as the service Gen Z uses most often to listen to podcasts.
Why the discrepancy between Transistor’s report and Edison Podcast Metrics? Using different data collection methodologies often yields vastly different results. Transistor’s conclusions are based off data collected through 100+ interviews distributed through advertisements on Reddit, Tumblr, newsletters, and social media sites. Comparatively, Edison Podcast Metrics collects over 5,000 surveys from a nationally representative sample of U.S. weekly podcast listeners every quarter. Isolating Gen Z respondents leaves us with a sample size of 1,568 listeners age 13-29 in Q4 of 2024. Our data is also weighted to reflect the total population of Gen Z by using The Infinite Dial®, a ‘gold standard’ establishment survey.
How audiences engage with podcasts will continue to change over time and vary among different populations. Two things remain certain. First, platforms will have to evolve and adapt to meet consumer needs. Second, Edison Research will employ rigorous and sound research methods to keep you informed.
