Podcasts have moved firmly into the mainstream, with 71% of UK adults aged 16-plus having tried one, 51% listening in the past month and 33% in the past week, according to Edison Research’s UK Podcast Consumer 2025.
Presenting the study, senior director of research Gabriel Soto said the figures show both broad reach and “further adoption potential,” making the medium ripe for greater advertiser investment.
The data points to shifting listening habits. Smartphones remain the dominant device, used most often by two-thirds of weekly listeners, but smart TVs are growing fast — their share doubling from 4% in early 2023 to 8% in Q1 2025. In-car listening is also on the rise, with 38% of adults who travelled by car in the past month having Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in their primary vehicle.
Platform preferences are led by Spotify, used most often by 33% of weekly listeners, followed by YouTube (20%), BBC Sounds (15%) and Apple Podcasts (13%). The growing role of YouTube and smart-TV listening reflects the wider rise of video podcasts, which can increase discoverability but risk diluting audio’s intimacy if quality slips.
For advertisers, Edison reports high commercial receptivity — 83% of weekly listeners say hearing ads is a fair price for free content. UK podcasts also reach beyond domestic borders, with the ten biggest UK-based shows drawing about 2.3 million weekly listeners in the US.
Other surveys show smaller reach figures. Ofcom’s 2025 Audio Listening report puts weekly podcast listening at just over one in five adults, with analysts attributing the gap to differences in methodology and sampling.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is based on Edison Research’s ‘The UK Podcast Consumer 2025’ report, released on August 7, 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is August 10, 2025, on Podcaster News. The report is recent and has been covered by reputable sources, indicating high freshness. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The report is not a press release; it is an original research publication. No recycled content or clickbait networks were identified. The narrative includes updated data and original material, justifying a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Gabriel Soto, Senior Director of Research at Edison Research, are unique to this report and have not been found in earlier material. No identical quotes appear elsewhere, indicating originality.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Edison Research, a reputable organisation known for its comprehensive studies on digital media consumption. The report is based on original research and is not a press release. The findings are consistent with other reputable sources, such as Podnews and RAIN News, which have covered similar data from the report.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are consistent with the data presented in the ‘The UK Podcast Consumer 2025’ report. The statistics on podcast consumption, device usage, and demographic insights align with the findings of the report. The language and tone are appropriate for the subject matter and region, and there are no signs of disinformation or inconsistencies.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on a recent and original research report from a reputable organisation, with no signs of recycled content or disinformation. The quotes are unique, and the claims are consistent with the data presented, indicating high reliability and freshness.
