Podcast listening in Australia continues to grow, with the latest figures showing 100.5 million downloads in May and weekly listenership holding steady at seven million.
That matches the record-breaking high reached in March 2025, according to the official Australian Podcast Ranker released by Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) and Triton Digital.
The results reflect a strong appetite for on-demand audio and an increasingly competitive podcasting landscape, as both media publishers and independent creators vie for audience share across genres.
True crime drives audience interest
True crime and real-world drama continue to capture public attention, with Mushroom Case Daily, an ABC podcast focused on the high-profile poisoning case involving Erin Patterson, debuting in the top five for the month.
The podcast, which covers ongoing developments in the investigation and court proceedings, landed at #5 in the May Ranker with 625,029 monthly listeners.
Its performance underscores the enduring popularity of true crime content in Australia, particularly when it intersects with local news stories that dominate national headlines.
LiSTNR
Southern Cross Austereo’s digital audio platform, LiSTNR, continued to lead in commercial reach and performance, retaining its position as Australia’s number one podcast sales representation network and number two podcast publisher.
LiSTNR recorded 8.6 million monthly listeners across its sales representation network, an 8.7% increase month-on-month, and 3.7 million monthly listeners across its owned and operated podcasts, up 7.5%.
Executive Head LiSTNR Operations and Audience, Grant Tothill, attributed the growth to consistent investment in podcast production, content partnerships, and a commercially focused tech stack.
“To hold the number one and number two ranked podcasts in Australia, with Mel Robbins and Hamish & Andy, along with placing 29 titles in the Top 100, is a clear reflection of that,” said Tothill.
“From a commercial perspective, with our world-class AdTech and known audience, the sales team continue to maximise the reach of the LiSTNR Audience Network to lead podcast commercialisation via programmatic and direct revenue streams.”
LiSTNR placed more titles in the top 20 than any other podcast network. Leading shows for May included:
• The Mel Robbins Podcast (#1) – 1,034,681 monthly listeners
• Hamish & Andy (#2) – 902,293
• The Imperfects (#9) – 427,340
• Dan Does Footy (#14) -359,493
• It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield (#17) – 345,368
• Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki (#20) – 326,860
Additional upward movement was recorded for sports and news titles including Triple M Footy AFL (up 3 spots to #34), The Briefing (up 4 to #44), and The Rush Hour with JB & Billy (up 9 to #54).
LiSTNR’s performance in May was marked by growth across key genres such as Factual, Sport, Entertainment, and News.
The platform attributes this to a combined focus on premium audio storytelling and audience segmentation, supported by its AdTech Hub which enables advertisers to connect with defined listener cohorts at scale.
iHeart
The Australian Radio Network’s (ARN) iHeart has retained its position as Australia’s leading podcast publisher for the 61st consecutive time.
In May, the network reached 7.6 million monthly listeners, a 12% increase from April, and delivered 23.9 million downloads, up 8% month-on-month.
The Kyle & Jackie O Show jumped 10 places to rank #7 overall and secured its spot as the top radio catch-up podcast. The show also achieved its highest listener numbers in the past 12 months.
Life Uncut climbed five positions to #11 and remains Australia’s highest-ranking relationship podcast. Meanwhile, The Daily Aus continued its upward trend, hitting a new audience high and landing at #22 in the overall ranker.
Other consistently strong performers from the ARN slate include On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Stuff You Should Know, She’s on the Money, and the BBC Global News Podcast. Across the top 200 national podcasts, 43 titles were represented by iHeart.
Corey Layton, ARN’s Head of Digital Audio, noted the platform’s ability to connect advertisers with distinct audience niches through both local and international content.
“With podcast consumption hitting record highs, iHeart continues to deliver consistent growth across both local and global titles,” said Layton.
“From the enduring strength of The Kyle & Jackie O Show to the cultural connection around Life Uncut and The Daily Aus, our slate connects highly engaged audiences with trusted, premium content.”