Sounds Profitable 2026 Ambies Winners, Podcasts Top Spoken Word Share of Ear, & More
Feb 25, 2026
Industry research shows audio-only listening still leads even as video helps discovery. Winners from the Ambies are announced, with notable names and ad categories celebrated. New data reveals podcasts now edge AM/FM in daily spoken word share of ear. CMOs reveal pressure points around spend and AI. Upcoming festivals, launches, and leadership moves round out the headlines.
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Video Discovery Is Powering New Listener Adoption
- Video is driving podcast discovery for many newcomers even though audio-only still dominates overall consumption.
- Triton and Edison data show ~80% consume both formats, 13% audio-only vs 7% video-only, and 77% of first-year listeners used video to discover shows.
Wisecrack Wins Ambies Podcast Of The Year
- The 2026 Ambies honored Wisecrack as Podcast of the Year and recognized industry figures across categories.
- Kara Swisher got the Governor's Award, Reginald Osei received the Impact Award posthumously, and Pablo Torre won Vanguard Podcaster.
Podcasts Surpass AMFM Radio In Share Of Ear
- Podcasts have overtaken AM/FM radio in daily spoken-word share of ear for ages 13+, reaching 40% vs radio's 39% in Q4 2025.
- That marks a dramatic shift from 2015 when radio held 75% and podcasts 10% of spoken-word time.