Irish Audio Report 2025 Highlights Near-Universal Audio Engagement and Strong Daily Connection with Radio

Radio remains the core daily audio habit for most adults, delivering both scale and sustained listening

Irish Audio Report 2025 Highlights Near-Universal Audio Engagement and Strong Daily Connection with Radio

The Irish Audio Report 2025, drawn from the latest JNLR data, reveals an exceptionally vibrant audio market in Ireland, with almost universal weekly listening and strong engagement across live radio, streaming, podcasts and YouTube Music. The findings show that while digital formats continue to grow, radio remains the core daily audio habit for most adults, delivering both scale and sustained listening.

Key Findings

Audio Engagement

• 96% of adults listen to audio weekly, representing more than 4.2 million people.
• Live radio continues to be the most widely consumed format, with 89% weekly reach.
• 56% listen to online on-demand audio weekly, reflecting the broader growth of streaming and podcasts.

Technology & Access

• 91% smartphone ownership, enabling widespread mobile listening.
• 44% of households now own a smart speaker, a significant rise from 10% in 2018.
• Wireless headphone ownership stands at 56%, supporting audio on the move—especially among under-45s.

Subscriptions & Digital Behaviour

• 38% of adults have at least one paid audio subscription.
• Music streaming remains the leading subscription format (34%).
• Subscription levels among 15–24-year-olds have softened slightly year-on-year.

Time Spent Listening

• Across all audio consumed yesterday, live radio accounts for 73.8% of total listening time, reflecting its ability to hold listeners for longer periods.
• Music streaming accounts for 13.5%, with podcasts steady at 3.5%.
• The report shows that listeners tend to engage with on-demand content for shorter periods compared with live radio — most likely reflecting the curated or episodic nature of on-demand podcasts and clips.
• Younger listeners divide their time more evenly across formats, yet radio still captures the largest share (46.4%).

Listening Locations

• Home remains the top setting, with 67% listening yesterday.
• In-car listening has grown to 49%, driven by commuting and family routines, with radio the dominant in-car format.
• 12% listen at work, school or college, while 10% listen while walking, running or cycling.

Devices

• Two-thirds (67%) use a radio or music system daily, demonstrating the continued role of traditional devices.
• 32% listen via smartphone—rising to 43% among 15–24s.
• 11% use a smart speaker daily, continuing steady growth.

 Ciarán Cunningham, CEO, Radiocentre Ireland

“The 2025 Irish Audio Report shows a dynamic audio ecosystem, but it also underlines the central role radio continues to play in people’s everyday lives. Radio’s combination of scale, trust, and consistently high time spent listening sets it apart, even as audiences embrace a wider mix of digital formats. For advertisers and content creators alike, radio remains a powerful and deeply valued part of Ireland’s audio landscape.”

***Radiocentre Ireland was established by RTE and IBI. It is managed by a Board which comprises of 3 representatives of RTE and 3 representatives from Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, the organisation representing Ireland’s 34 independent radio stations operating at local, regional and national level.