RAJAR MIDAS Autumn 2025: UK Audio Listening Grows Across Radio, Podcasts & Streaming
The UK’s love affair with audio shows no sign of slowing down. The Autumn 2025 Audio MIDAS report from RAJAR paints a detailed and optimistic picture of how people across the country are listening to radio, podcasts, and on-demand music — and how those habits are continuing to evolve in a digitally connected age.
Drawing on in-depth behavioural analysis rather than traditional radio metrics alone, MIDAS offers the audio and advertising industries a crucial lens into when, where, how, and why people engage with sound. The latest wave confirms one clear message: audio remains a powerful, habitual, and growing part of everyday life in the UK.
The Audio MIDAS (Measurement of Internet and Digital Audio Survey) is designed to complement RAJAR’s core radio audience measurement by capturing total audio consumption.
Unlike legacy listening surveys, MIDAS explores:
Live radio listening
Catch-up and on-demand radio
Podcasts
Music streaming services
Device usage (smartphones, speakers, cars, and more)
Location and activity-based listening
Demographic and generational trends
For broadcasters, streaming platforms, advertisers, and content creators, MIDAS has become a strategic planning tool, helping the industry respond to audience behaviour rather than assumptions.
UK Audio Consumption at a Glance: Key Highlights
The Autumn 2025 MIDAS wave shows a stable but expanding audio ecosystem, underpinned by impressive scale and reach.
Headline Findings
95% of UK adults — approximately 55 million people — listen to some form of audio every week
Total weekly audio consumption:1.6 billion hours, up 10% since Autumn 2023
Average listening time:29.3 hours per person per week
Audio remains deeply embedded in daily routines at home, at work, in transit, and during leisure activities
These figures confirm that while platforms and devices may change, audio itself is more relevant than ever.
Live Radio: Still the Backbone of UK Audio
Despite the growth of digital platforms, live radio continues to dominate.
Live Radio’s Share of Listening
64% of all audio listening hours are still attributed to live radio
Radio remains a trusted, habitual medium for news, music, companionship, and live events
Strong performance across breakfast, daytime, and drive-time slots
This enduring dominance highlights radio’s unique strengths: immediacy, locality, trust, and shared national moments.
On-Demand Audio: Convenience Fuels Growth
While live radio leads overall, on-demand audio continues to carve out a growing share of listening time.
On-Demand Music
Reaches 38% of the UK population weekly
Average listening time: 13 hours per listener per week
Particularly strong among younger audiences
67% of 15–24-year-olds use on-demand music platforms
Music streaming has become a default soundtrack for studying, commuting, exercising, and socialising.
Podcast Listening Continues Its Steady Rise
Podcasting remains one of the fastest-evolving areas of the UK audio market.
Podcast Consumption in Autumn 2025
24% weekly reach among UK adults
Average listening time:9 hours per listener per week
127 million total podcast hours consumed weekly across the UK
Rather than explosive growth, MIDAS shows consistent, sustainable expansion, indicating that podcasts are now a mainstream habit rather than a niche interest.
Why Podcasts Are Resonating with Audiences
Podcasts succeed because they fit modern lifestyles:
On-demand and flexible
Highly personalised content
Deep engagement and long listening sessions
Strong host-listener relationships
MIDAS data reinforces that podcasts are not background noise — they are intentional, focused listening experiences.
Genre Preferences: What the UK Is Listening To
Podcast genre analysis reveals notable patterns across audiences.
Most Popular Podcast Genres
Comedy remains the most popular genre overall
True crime shows significantly higher engagement among women
News and politics content skews more heavily male
Lifestyle, wellness, and education continue to gain traction
These distinctions are increasingly valuable for advertisers and content commissioners seeking targeted engagement.
The Rise of Connected Devices
How people access audio is changing just as much as what they listen to.
Device Usage Trends
Smartphones dominate podcast listening, accounting for 82% of usage
Smartphones also lead on-demand music listening, with a 66% share
Smart speakers, connected cars, and portable speakers continue to grow steadily
The smartphone’s central role reinforces its position as the primary audio hub for modern audiences.
Listening Contexts: Where and How Audio Fits In
MIDAS goes beyond devices to examine listening environments and behaviour.
Key Contextual Insights
More than half of on-demand music listening now happens outside the home
Podcasts are overwhelmingly a solo experience
93% of podcast listening hours are consumed alone
Radio remains strong in shared environments such as homes, workplaces, and cars
These insights underline the personal nature of on-demand audio compared with radio’s communal appeal.
Generational Differences in Audio Behaviour
Age continues to shape how audiences interact with audio.
Younger Audiences (15–24)
Heavy users of music streaming platforms
High smartphone dependency
Strong engagement with podcasts tied to culture, comedy, and identity
Older Audiences
Greater loyalty to live radio
Increasing adoption of smart speakers
Growing interest in spoken-word content
This generational crossover suggests audio habits are diversifying rather than fragmenting.
Why MIDAS Matters for Advertisers and Broadcasters
For brands and broadcasters, the Autumn 2025 MIDAS findings offer clarity in a crowded media environment.
Key Strategic Takeaways
Audio delivers scale and frequency unmatched by many digital formats
Podcasts offer deep engagement and trusted environments
Live radio provides reach, immediacy, and credibility
Multi-platform strategies are now essential
MIDAS enables smarter planning by aligning content, context, and commercial messaging.
Audio’s Role in Daily Life Remains Strong
One of the most consistent messages from MIDAS is audio’s emotional and practical role.
Morning routines start with radio
Commutes are filled with music and podcasts
Workdays are accompanied by streaming playlists
Evenings wind down with spoken-word content
Despite competition from video and social media, audio continues to fit seamlessly into multitasking lives.
The Bigger Picture: A Resilient Audio Economy
The Autumn 2025 MIDAS results arrive at a time of rapid technological change and shifting media consumption. Yet the findings point to resilience rather than disruption.
Growth is incremental and sustainable
Traditional and digital platforms coexist rather than compete
Audiences are expanding their audio diets, not abandoning old habits
This balance positions audio as one of the most adaptable and trusted media sectors in the UK.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next for UK Audio
Based on MIDAS trends, industry experts anticipate:
Continued podcast growth driven by genre diversification
Increased in-car and smart speaker listening
Greater personalisation through AI-driven recommendations
Stronger advertiser confidence in audio ROI
Audio’s future appears less about replacement and more about integration across platforms and moments.
Conclusion: Audio’s Growth Story Continues
The RAJAR MIDAS Autumn 2025 report confirms that audio is not just surviving — it is thriving.
With 95% weekly reach, rising listening hours, and evolving consumption habits, audio remains one of the most powerful ways to connect with audiences across the UK. As platforms innovate and listeners diversify their choices, one thing is clear: sound still matters.
