YouTube has go the apical podcast level successful the UK, surpassing Spotify for the first clip connected record, according to Edison Research. Among play podcast listeners aged 15 and over, 29% now mention YouTube arsenic their preferred service, compared to 28% for Spotify.
The one-point spread is rather small, and Edison describes the result arsenic a first “on record” alternatively than a confirmed caller trend. Edison Research astatine SSRS previewed YouTube’s accelerated emergence to go the apical podcast work successful the UK, up of a much elaborate study expected later this month.
What the Data Shows
Edison’s inclination data shows YouTube’s maturation successful the UK complete 4 cardinal periods. In 2023, YouTube held 19% of the superior level share, expanding modestly to 20% successful 2024, past rising to 25% successful 2025, and reaching 29% successful the first 4th of 2026. Meanwhile, Spotify’s stock declined complete the aforesaid timeframe, starting astatine 33% successful 2023, somewhat expanding to 34% successful 2024, past dropping to 30% successful 2025, and yet down to 28% currently.
BBC Sounds is the 3rd most-used service, pinch 15% successful the existent reading, maintaining that stock from 2024 and 2025, aft 13% successful 2023. Apple Podcasts holds 10%, a alteration from 12% successful 2023. The remaining apps are grouped into an “Other” category, which makes up 18%.
Edison Podcast Metrics UK is based connected interviews pinch 8,000 UK podcast listeners aged 15 and complete each year. Edison did not disclose the sample size down the Q1 2026 reading.
The US Crossover Came First
YouTube reached the apical of the US podcast rankings astir 2 years earlier the UK. In Edison’s US reference from October 2024, YouTube took 31% of primary-platform stock among play podcast listeners aged 13 and over, against Spotify’s 27% and Apple Podcasts’ 15%. Edison tied overmuch of the US move to younger listeners and video, reporting that 84% of Gen Z monthly podcast listeners ever perceive to aliases watch podcasts pinch a video component.
SEJ has covered really YouTube reported more than 1 cardinal monthly progressive viewers of podcast content and became the level Americans usage most. The UK reference extends that aforesaid video-native shape to a 2nd awesome market.
Why Edison Says the UK Trailed the US
Edison points to the UK’s public-media beingness arsenic a imaginable logic YouTube climbed much slow successful the UK than successful the US. BBC Sounds draws 15% of UK podcast consumers arsenic their main service, a level Edison says has nary adjacent among US public-media podcast offerings. A UK listener choosing among YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and BBC Sounds weighs a different group of options than a US listener choosing among the first three, which Edison gives arsenic portion of why the 2 markets moved astatine different speeds.
Why This Matters
The UK now looks for illustration the US did 2 years ago, and the guidance of Edison’s inclination statement matters much than the one-point margin. For a show deciding wherever to make its main home, YouTube is now the level the largest stock of UK play listeners name.
BBC Sounds is the caveat erstwhile you comparison the UK pinch the US. A UK scheme built connected American platform-share assumptions understates really overmuch of the home assemblage sits pinch a public-service action the US marketplace doesn’t have. The Edison information gives a UK-focused show a logic to put successful video, arsenic agelong arsenic that BBC Sounds stock stays successful the model.
Looking Ahead
Edison will big a webinar connected July 16, 2026, astatine 2pm BST and 9am EDT to coming the afloat UK Podcast Consumer 2026 report. The convention will besides research UK assemblage opinions connected AI successful podcasting, which will beryllium of liking erstwhile the information is publically available.
The lead is 1 point, and Spotify has slipped from 34% successful 2024 to 28% now while YouTube’s gains person held crossed the series. The adjacent reference will show whether the bid holds beyond this first crossover.
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