A New Study Says Most People Listen to AM or FM Radio in The Car Instead of Streaming — But Is That True for You?

Every cord cutter I know has an opinion about this. You’ve cut the cable, you’ve set up Kodi or Stremio, you’re streaming everything — but the second you get in the car, you hit the FM button and listen to the same morning show you’ve heard since 2008. That study that’s been making the rounds? It says you’re not alone. Most people are doing exactly that.

Edison Research’s Q2 2025 Share of Ear data, widely reported by Cord Cutters News and analyzed by Westwood One, found that AM/FM radio still accounts for 56% of all in-car audio listening time for U.S. drivers. More than half. In the age of Spotify, Apple Music, SiriusXM, and podcast apps that auto-download the second you hit a hotspot — good old terrestrial radio still wins in the car.

But the headline asks if that’s true for you. And that’s where it gets interesting.

Why the Study Numbers Make Sense (Even If They Don’t Match Your Life)

The 56% figure isn’t wrong — it’s just measuring the whole U.S. driving population, not the segment that’s deliberately cut the cord. That population includes commuters who haven’t changed their radio habits since 1998, people whose cars don’t have Bluetooth, and plenty of folks who simply don’t have a streaming music subscription.

Westwood One, which analyzed the same Edison Research data, specifically highlighted that radio’s dominance is strongest in the vehicle. It doesn’t hold that same lead in the home or on mobile devices, where streaming has genuinely overtaken traditional audio. The car is radio’s last fortress — and for now, it’s holding.

The catch: cord cutters are not the average U.S. driver. If you’re reading this site, you’ve probably already noticed your own in-car audio habits drifting toward podcasts, satellite radio exclusives, or curated playlists. The study is accurate as a population-level snapshot. It just might not describe you specifically.

The Actual Threat to Radio: What Streaming Is Doing Well In the Car

Even if AM/FM holds majority share, streaming has been chipping away for a decade. Here’s where streaming is genuinely winning in-car:

Podcasts — Edison Research’s own Infinite Dial study has tracked podcast listening growth every year. A meaningful chunk of that happens during commutes. If you’re swapping your drive time over to podcasts, you’re pulling that time directly out of the radio column.

Satellite radio exclusives — SiriusXM is currently running several app-only channel exclusives that don’t land on FM. As of June 2026, their app features:

• Miles Davis Radio — now through June 19
• The 2pac Channel — now until July 4
• Usher Radio — now until July 4

These are temporary channels that disappear after their window, which creates urgency to tune in while they’re available. The SiriusXM app runs on Android and iOS, meaning if your car has CarPlay or Android Auto, you’ve got it in the dash.

Music streaming apps — Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music have all invested heavily in the in-car experience. If you have a modern infotainment system or even a $30 Bluetooth adapter, the friction to stream has effectively dropped to zero.

What This Actually Means for Cord Cutters

Here’s the honest read: the people cutting the cord and building streaming setups at home are already a self-selected group. You’re the kind of person who researches streaming options, installs apps, and actively manages your entertainment stack. The national AM/FM majority is a different crowd.

That said, there’s a real argument for why even committed streamers keep hitting FM in the car:

• Zero friction — Radio turns on when you start the car. No app, no login, no buffering.
• Local context — Traffic, weather, local news. FM still does this better than any app.
• No data usage — Streaming audio on a mobile plan eats data. FM is free, always.
• Background listening — Half the time you’re not actively choosing what to hear. Radio fills that role without decisions.

None of these are arguments against streaming. They’re just honest reasons why a familiar, frictionless option sticks — even for people who stream everything else.

The At-Home Side of This Equation

The same Edison Research data that shows radio dominating in-car tells a different story at home. That’s where streaming wins. And if you’ve got a Fire TV stick set up with the right apps, you’re already living in that reality.

The in-car vs. at-home split is actually the most telling insight buried in the numbers. People aren’t rejecting streaming — they’re streaming everywhere they can, and falling back on radio where streaming still has friction. Fix the friction in the car, and the numbers shift.

That’s already happening. As more new cars ship with full Android Auto and CarPlay integration, and as cellular data plans get cheaper, the 56% figure will drift down. Radio isn’t going away — local stations provide something algorithms can’t replicate — but the trend is clear.

So — Is the Study True for You?

If you’re a casual driver who doesn’t think much about audio: probably yes. You hit FM, you listen to whatever’s on, and it’s fine.

If you’re a cord cutter who’s built a streaming-first household: probably not. You’ve already made deliberate choices about how you consume media. Those choices likely extend into the car, even if you still catch FM occasionally for traffic or local news.

The Edison Research data is an accurate picture of aggregate America. It’s not a mirror for people who’ve actively opted out of the default media stack. The 56% number is real — it just doesn’t describe a lot of the people reading this.

What it does tell you is that the cord-cutting transition isn’t evenly distributed. Home streaming is mainstream now. In-car streaming is still catching up. That gap is exactly where the next shift in listening habits is going to happen.

For a look at what’s available to stream right now — free and without a subscription — check out our roundup of the best free streaming channels on Firestick. And if you’re thinking about what a more private, throttle-free streaming experience looks like across all your devices, the Firestick security and privacy guide covers the full picture.

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Related Reading

• Best Firestick Apps for Live TV in 2026 — if you’re ready to replace more of that traditional broadcast habit
• Best Free Streaming Channels on Firestick — 100+ channels, no subscription required
• Firestick Security & Privacy Guide — what to lock down before you stream anywhere

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Last updated: June 2026