So what are podcasts like today
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2025 7:01 am
As Google Trends suggests, podcast popularity took off worldwide after 2004.
That year, the world got its first podcast service provider: libsyn.com. Then, in 2005, the word “podcast” was the New Oxford American Dictionary’s word of the year .
In 2009, 43% of Americans had heard of podcasts, and by 2019, that number had risen to 70% . That same year, an estimated 144 million Americans listened to podcasts, with 90 million of those listeners doing so on a monthly basis.
Types of podcasts
In 2021 there are many different types of australia phone number data podcasts, including
Conversational podcasts where hosts present
Podcasts that tell fictional stories
Podcasts that tell nonfiction stories or recount historical events
Lecture-style podcasts that teach you about a topic
Investigative journalism-type podcasts that present objective reports
Game show-style podcasts where contestants compete against each other or the host
Call-in podcasts where participants contribute to the discussion
Because podcasting is such a flexible medium, many shows mix elements of each of these different “types.” For example, some episodes of the popular podcast Reply All combine interviews with guests, while other episodes are introduced by the hosts through narration.
Naturally, the flexibility of podcasting means that people can use it to produce content across a whole range of genres. In October 2020, the most popular genres were comedy, news, true crime, sports, and health and fitness.
Most popular podcast genres
Most popular podcast genres (Source: Statista )
If you're interested in the media industry, these genres may remind you of another popular entertainment medium: radio. But while radio and podcasts may cover similar genres, they're not the same thing.
That year, the world got its first podcast service provider: libsyn.com. Then, in 2005, the word “podcast” was the New Oxford American Dictionary’s word of the year .
In 2009, 43% of Americans had heard of podcasts, and by 2019, that number had risen to 70% . That same year, an estimated 144 million Americans listened to podcasts, with 90 million of those listeners doing so on a monthly basis.
Types of podcasts
In 2021 there are many different types of australia phone number data podcasts, including
Conversational podcasts where hosts present
Podcasts that tell fictional stories
Podcasts that tell nonfiction stories or recount historical events
Lecture-style podcasts that teach you about a topic
Investigative journalism-type podcasts that present objective reports
Game show-style podcasts where contestants compete against each other or the host
Call-in podcasts where participants contribute to the discussion
Because podcasting is such a flexible medium, many shows mix elements of each of these different “types.” For example, some episodes of the popular podcast Reply All combine interviews with guests, while other episodes are introduced by the hosts through narration.
Naturally, the flexibility of podcasting means that people can use it to produce content across a whole range of genres. In October 2020, the most popular genres were comedy, news, true crime, sports, and health and fitness.
Most popular podcast genres
Most popular podcast genres (Source: Statista )
If you're interested in the media industry, these genres may remind you of another popular entertainment medium: radio. But while radio and podcasts may cover similar genres, they're not the same thing.