Edison: Younger Listeners Over-Index For Daily Audio Consumption.

The age group that claims the highest share of daily audio media consumption, relative to its cut of the U.S. population age 13+ may surprise you.

According to Q2 2026 “Share of Ear” data as reported by Edison Research’s Weekly Insights, it’s the 13-29 age segment – also known as Gen Z, or Zoomers – who account for 25% of the 13-and-up population, yet show a 28% share of daily audio listening for a 112 index, ahead of the three older generations.

Right behind are Millennials (ages 30-45), who also over-index, as they represent 27% of the population with a 30% share of daily listening, giving them a 109 index.

Both the remaining two age groups under-index compared to population. Gen X, covering ages 46-61, make up 23% of persons 13+ with a 22% share of daily audio listening, for a 97 index, while age 62+ Boomers index at just 80, with a 20% daily listening share relative to their 25% of the population.

Edison notes that daily audio listening has held steady at close to four hours per day for several years, with Americans ages 13+ currently spending an average of 3 hours and 57 minutes listening each day.

A recent iHeartMedia study noted that much of Gen Z’s audio listening comes from traditional radio. According to Nielsen data cited by iHeartMedia, broadcast radio reaches 90% of teenagers 13-19 monthly. Edison Research’s Share of Ear data shows radio also accounts for 47% of Gen Z’s ad-supported audio time vs. 31% for streaming music and 21% for podcasts.