LISTENING
Mostly on the phone
In Ofcom's research, 64% of podcast listeners say a mobile phone is their main way of listening, far ahead of laptops (13%) and TVs (10%).
Who listens?Podcasts have become an everyday habit.
Ofcom's research shows monthly listening has more than doubled since 2019, mostly on mobile phones. And making a show needs less kit than most people think: a quiet room, a microphone and a little care.
- A small, soft room
- Mic about a hand-span away
- Levels below the red
- Good sound starts before the edit
THE SHORT ANSWER
Listening is up,
and recording is easy.
Ofcom tracks how the UK listens.
University guides explain how to record cleanly.
MICROPHONE
Not too close, not too far
University guides suggest keeping your mouth 6 to 12 inches from the microphone, with a pop filter about half way, to avoid pops and breath noise.
Recording steps
THE ROOM
Small and soft wins
A small room with carpet and soft furnishings echoes less than tile, glass or brick. Keep away from fridges, dishwashers and traffic.
Room tips
FOUR STEPS BEFORE YOU HIT RECORD
Clean sound,
less editing.
These tips come from university library podcast guides. None needs a studio, just a little preparation.
Record the silence first
Make a short test of your empty room. You will hear hums and noises you have stopped noticing.
Set the distance
Keep your mouth 6 to 12 inches from the mic, and keep that distance the same throughout.
Check your levels
Speak a test line. The meter should sit just below the red and never peak into it.
Wear headphones and play back
Monitor as you record, then listen back before you go further, so problems are caught early.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
More people,
more of their time.
One figure on reach,
one on the share of listening time.
39%
UK adults listening to podcasts monthly
Up from 18% in 2019, according to Ofcom's Media Nations research. Including video podcasts the figure is 43%, and 27% of UK adults listen every week.
MONTHLY REACH · OFCOM
11%
Share of listening time spent on podcasts
Ofcom says the proportion of people's listening time given to podcasts more than doubled, from 5% in 2022 to 11% in 2026.
LISTENING TIME · OFCOM
Ofcom also found that 68% of podcast listeners listen to podcasts that also have videos, and 45% say there are too many adverts on the podcasts they listen to.
A QUICK AUDIENCE CHECK
Who listens
every week?
Pick a group to see what share listens to podcasts weekly, from Ofcom's 2025 Audio and Podcast Surveys. The bar shows how widespread weekly listening is in that group.
Figures from Ofcom's May 2025 summary of its annual Audio and Podcast Surveys.
THE ROOM MATTERS
Your room is
part of the sound.
Every room sounds different: carpet, ceiling height and windows all change it. Guides advise recording every part of a show in the same room so it sounds consistent.
Pick the smallest, softest space you have, away from fridges, heating systems, laundry and traffic, and even your laptop's fan. For quality, record uncompressed WAV files rather than MP3s.
In conversation
Questions people ask
How many people in the UK listen to podcasts?
Ofcom's Media Nations research found 39% of people listen monthly, up from 18% in 2019, and 27% of UK adults listen every week.
What do people listen to most?
Among weekly listeners, Ofcom found news and current affairs is the most popular genre (47%), followed by entertainment (44%), comedy (41%) and discussion and talk shows (40%).
Do I need a studio to make a podcast?
No. University guides say a podcast can be made with a computer's built-in microphone, though a separate microphone and an audio interface or recorder will sound much better.
How far should I sit from the microphone?
Guides suggest 6 to 12 inches, or about 8 inches, with a pop filter roughly half way between your mouth and the mic. Keep the distance consistent.
What file format should I record in?
One university guide recommends recording WAV files at 16-bit, 48 kHz, and not MP3s or other compressed audio.
Sources
Each figure on this page comes from the sources below.