Key stat: 80% of Gen Z and 79% of millennial digital audio listeners tune in on smartphones, making it the top device across every generation, according to a March 2026 survey from The Harris Poll and EMARKETER.

Beyond the chart:

• That habit keeps deepening beyond the youngest listeners. Podcasts now reach 68% of millennials and Gen Xers ages 35 to 54, up from 61% a year earlier, according to Edison Research.
• Meanwhile, audio is becoming a year-round habit rather than a commute-only one. Some 52% of US adults now listen to podcasts at least several times a year, up from 35% in 2022, and 43% listen more in summer while just 17% listen less, according to CivicScience.

Use this chart: Drop this into audio planning decks to justify mobile-first creative and targeting. Show it to teams weighing budget across formats to make the case that smartphone-optimized audio reaches every generation, while desktop and smart speaker placements trail well behind, even among boomers.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• Gen Z Digital Audio Habits 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)
• Radio and Digital Audio Ad Spending Benchmarks: Q2 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)