Is Podcasting Dead?

Is Podcasting Dead?: RSS.com surveyed 195 active podcast creators about how they're growing, publishing, using AI, experimenting with video, and trying to make money. The respondents are RSS.com users, so it's not a picture of every podcaster alive. But the patterns are hard to ignore, especially if you're running a show as part of your business, ministry, or brand.

Here's what stood out to me, and what I think it means.

The Numbers First

• 62% publish weekly or more
• 70% say growing their audience is one of their biggest challenges
• 51% record video in some form
• 63% of those who publish video say it has helped grow their audience
• 56% are using or experimenting with AI tools
• 39% are currently monetizing their podcast
• 72% are already paying for podcast-related tools or services

Consistency Is the Floor, Not the Finish Line

Sixty-two percent of podcasters publish weekly or more often. That used to mean something. Now it's just the minimum.

The problem is that many creators still treat consistency as the prize. They show up every week, stay on schedule, and then wait for the audience to arrive. When it doesn't grow the way they hoped, they get discouraged.

Seventy percent of podcasters in this survey said audience growth is one of their biggest challenges. If 62% are already publishing consistently and 70% still can't crack growth, that tells you the real work isn't in showing up. It's in what happens after you publish.

Your Audience Isn't Finding You in the Podcast App

When RSS.com asked where new listeners come from, the results split across podcast apps (31%), social media (29%), word of mouth (20%), guests and collaborations (8%), and YouTube (6%).

No single channel does more than a third of the work. And when creators were asked which platform matters most for future growth, social media came in at 35%, YouTube at 15%, and Apple Podcasts at 14%.

The podcast app is where your episode lives. It's not where most people discovered you.

On video specifically: 51% of respondents record video in some form, and 63% of those say it has helped grow their audience. Industry data also show that YouTube has now surpassed Spotify and Apple Podcasts as the top platform for weekly podcast listeners in the US.

If you're audio-only, that's a real choice you can make. Just make it on purpose, not by default.

AI Is Handling the Work Around the Show

Fifty-six percent of respondents are using or testing AI tools. The top use cases were transcripts (35%), show notes and descriptions (33%), research and brainstorming (32%), cover art (24%), editing and production (22%), and social clips (21%).

What I notice is that none of those replace the host. Creators are using AI to absorb friction, not to do the show for them.

From a business standpoint, that friction costs real money. Every hour spent writing show notes by hand or manually cutting clips is an hour not spent building an audience, creating content, or talking to clients. If AI handles those tasks faster without sacrificing quality, that's a genuine advantage. The question is whether you're using it on purpose or just dabbling.

Most Podcasters Aren't Earning Yet, and Here's Why

Only 39% of respondents are currently monetizing. Among those who aren't, the top reason was simple: 48% said their audience feels too small.

I hear this constantly. Creators want sponsorships, affiliate income, and paid offers. But they feel like they need a massive audience before any of it becomes realistic.

Here's what I know from working with creators: monetization follows trust, not a specific listener count. A loyal audience of 500 engaged people will often convert better than a passive audience of 5,000. The path from publishing to earning isn't about hitting a number. It's about building a relationship with the people already listening.

That said, 72% of podcasters are already paying for tools, hosting, editing, marketing, and production. Most are spending between $1 and $100 a month. Creators are willing to invest. But investing without tracking is just spending. If you don't know what each tool costs you or what it's producing, you don't have a business model. You have a subscription stack.

A Few Questions Before Your Next Episode

Do you know where your new listeners are actually coming from? Not where you assume. Where you can confirm.

Have you made a real decision about video, or have you just been putting it off?

Do you know how much you spend per month on your podcast? Do you know what you're getting back?

Have you thought about a realistic first step toward revenue, even with a small audience?

These aren't meant to make you feel behind. They're the questions that separate creators building something with a future from creators who keep publishing and keep wondering why nothing changes.

Podcasting isn't dying. But the era where you just show up and wait for growth? That's over. Consistency gets you in the game. Knowing your numbers, your audience, and your strategy is what keeps you there.

Inspired by RSS.com's Podcaster Insights Survey, "195 Creators on Growth, AI, Video & Monetization," published May 18, 2026. Full survey at rss.com.