Podtrac Data Reveals iHeart Remains Top Podcast Publisher
In the competitive world of podcasting, iHeartPodcasts secured its position as the leading publisher in December, according to the latest report from Podtrac. The report highlights that iHeart maintained a significant lead over other measured publishers, boasting 148 million downloads and streams across its 827 active shows. The platform also attracted a unique U.S. audience of 27.9 million listeners.
Disney Holds Strong as Second-Largest Publisher
The Walt Disney Company, which produces shows under brands like ABC News and ESPN, retained its place as the second-largest podcast publisher. Disney recorded 6.8 million unique listeners and amassed 23.1 million downloads during December.
Vox Media Ranks Third in Podcast Downloads and Listeners
Vox Media secured the third spot with 5.5 million unique listeners and 17.2 million downloads, showcasing steady engagement with its podcasting content.
Holiday Season Impact on Podcast Listening Trends
December’s holiday season brought noticeable shifts in podcast consumption. Podtrac reports that nearly all U.S. publishers experienced a dip in unique listeners, except for one standout. ‘This American Life’ defied the trend by achieving a modest 1% month-over-month increase in listenership. Despite this growth, the single-show format of ‘This American Life’ sets it apart from typical large-scale publishers.
iHeart Audience Network Dominates Sales Networks
When it comes to podcast sales networks, the iHeart Audience Network led the U.S. market with 316.2 million downloads across over 20,000 shows. This robust performance attracted a remarkable 61.2 million unique listeners.
Acast followed in second place, registering 21.2 million unique listeners, while Libsyn claimed third with 20.3 million listeners. NPR trailed closely behind with 17.9 million unique listeners. Notably, Wondery, a consistent contender, did not appear in the December rankings after holding third place in November.
Global Podcast Trends Reflect Seasonal Dips
The holiday slowdown affected global podcast numbers as well. Podtrac’s data shows a consistent dip in audience engagement across international publishers and ad networks. Despite the overall decline, the iHeart Audience Network continued to lead globally with 627.9 million streams, downloads, and video views in December.
A significant portion of this came from YouTube, where 75 podcasts under the iHeart umbrella achieved approximately 109 million views. Acast maintained second place internationally with 406.3 million streams and downloads, while Libsyn took third place globally with 159.4 million downloads, streams, and views.
Top Five Global Podcast Networks
Fourth place in the global rankings went to Sonora Global Media, which recorded 96 million downloads, and Paramount rounded out the top five with 57.2 million downloads and views.
Most Popular Podcasts of December
Among individual shows, NPR’s hourly newscast topped the charts as the most-listened-to podcast, pushing The New York Times’ ‘The Daily’ to second place. NPR’s ‘Up First’ claimed the third spot, while ‘Dateline NBC’ and Fox News’ hourly newscast filled out the remaining top five positions.
Key Takeaways
The podcasting landscape in December reflected seasonal fluctuations but reinforced the dominance of iHeartPodcasts and its vast network. Disney and Vox Media continued to command strong audiences, while NPR’s programming remained a significant force in the most popular podcast rankings. As 2025 approaches, podcast publishers may need to adapt strategies to counteract seasonal disruptions and sustain listener engagement.
Also Read:Â Scott Wolf Diagnoses Family to Their Dismay After Playing 4 TV Doctors
My Name is M Anas. I am a passionate blogger with a knack for sharing insights on technology, autos, Mobile Phone, etc. With a creative flair and a commitment to delivering engaging content, Anas aims to inspire and inform readers with unique perspectives and well-researched articles.