Over the history of Share of Ear® we have documented many megatrends that show how audio consumption has changed. One of the most consistent megatrends has been the conversion in time spent with “linear” forms of audio to “on-demand” platforms.
As the nearby graph shows, when we began Share of Ear, the clear majority of time was spent with linear audio choices such as AM/FM radio and satellite radio. It took eight years for time spent with on-demand platforms, such as streaming music services and podcasts, to tie linear choices, which occurred in 2023. Time spent with on-demand sources continues to march ahead of linear – with 56% of time spent with audio being spent with on-demand platforms in 2026.
The consistency of this pattern is noteworthy. The margin of twelve points that occurred in 2020, three years before the crossing point, is the same margin we see today, albeit in the opposite direction. Share of Ear subscribers have access to these trends as they emerge and the ability to look among different demographic groups.
