Americans prefer to do chores while listening

The most common thing Americans do while listening to podcasts is household chores, according to a new survey.

The results of a US poll from YouGov showed that 49% of adults who reported listening to podcasts said they did so while cleaning, tidying up or doing the dishes, a figure which rises to 55% among women (43% for men). 

The next highest category for “podcast-listening situations” was commuting, at 42%, which is slightly higher for men (44% compared to 40% for women).

Exercising/sport and cooking were both recorded at 29%, while 25% of those surveyed said they listened to podcasts while out for a walk and 24% while running errands such as going to the bank or paying bills. 

Overall, 21% said they listened to podcasts before going to sleep or while sleeping, which notably rises to 27% among listeners above the age of 65.

While the YouGov survey claimed that the majority of Americans now listen to podcasts, it still identified 47% of the population as people who do not listen to podcasts, suggesting there is still ample room for expansion of the media form.

YouTube ‘bringing podcasts into fold’ 

YouTube has made potentially its most significant move yet into podcasting by announcing a range of new features to help “bring podcasts into the fold”.

Kai Chuk, YouTube’s head of podcasting, revealed at Hot Pod Summit in New York that “enhanced library tools” will be added to YouTube Music, as well as tools for creators looking to make shows. “If someone wants to watch a podcast, we have a solution,” Chuk said. “If someone wants to listen to a podcast only, we should have a great experience for that as well.”

Significantly, those using the free tier of the YouTube Music app will be able to listen to podcasts while their device is locked – an option that was previously only available to paid subscribers of the music service. 

“Our focus is on creators, so as long as they find it successful and helpful, that’s success for us,” Chuk said. “We’re just focused on the YouTube users and ecosystem and bringing podcasts into that fold.” 

Networking conferences with Podnews

Podnews, the newsletter for the podcasting industry, has announce a series of conferences to “help those in the business of podcasting effectively network”. The first one will take place in Salford in the UK on June 13.

The speakers include Podnews editor James Cridland and Mark Asquith from  Captivate. More details are available here.