Edison: Radio Still Dominates In-Car Listening

Citing data from its Q1 2026 Share of Ear, Edison Research says that even though consumers have more audio options than ever before in their cars, AM/FM radio takes up the majority of time spent listening to audio in the car among Americans 13+. Edison adds, “As of Q1 2026, 55% of in-car audio time is spent listening to AM/FM radio. The next closest platform in the car is streaming audio. Time with streaming audio has grown over the 12-year history of Share of Ear but remains a distant competitor to AM/FM radio among the total population ages 13+, with 16% of in-car audio time going to streaming platforms… Among Americans 13-34, 46% of their in-car audio time is spent listening to AM/FM radio and 30% with streaming audio sources.”