Familiar Leaders, Fresh Climbers, and Ad Spend Surges Signal Momentum in Podcasting

Podscribe Industry Rankings July 2025:

This month brought notable shakeups and standout performers across every category. From chart-topping podcasts and rapidly rising publishers to significant increases in advertiser investment, the latest data highlights ongoing momentum, multi-format expansion, and evolving media strategies in the podcasting space.

Podcast Show Highlights:

• Crime Junkie continued its reign at the top, holding the #1 spot in audio reach with 8.1 million listeners, despite a minor dip of 2%—a sign of enduring popularity and listener loyalty.

• Rotten Mango held onto the #1 spot in per-episode performance, maintaining its strong lead once again.

• Pod Save America returned to the top 10, landing at #10 with 3.1 million in reach and knocking out The Mel Robbins Podcast.

Publisher Highlights:

• Spotify continued its lead across both metrics, reaching 56.7M in audio reach and generating 302.3M in downloads/views for the month.

• QCode surged in monthly downloads/views, jumping from #8 to #4, reflecting a rise in listener demand for immersive storytelling formats.

• Cumulus Podcast Network re-entered the audio reach top 10 at #10 with 6.5M listeners, replacing Vox Media Podcast Network.

Advertiser Highlights:

• BetterHelp held the top spot in ad spend, despite a slight –4.3% decrease, continuing its long-running presence across podcast networks.

• Toyota rose from #3 to #2, increasing its estimated spend by 10% to hit $6.1M, overtaking DraftKings.

• Wells Fargo entered the top 10 at #7, ramping up spend by a striking +155%, reaching $3.9M—one of the biggest month-over-month increases.

These rankings show how the podcast industry is growing and evolving. Trusted brands are staying committed, while new voices are quickly gaining ground. This momentum is driven by smart media strategies, a mix of content formats, and the lasting impact of host-read ads.