Podtrac March podcast ranker topped by news, as familiar shows continue to lead on coronavirus coverage

Podtrac released its show ranker for March 2020. The podcast list continues to show a bent towards news and current events. The only new addition for the month was Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction from CNN, which landed at No. 13.

The Daily from The New York Times continued to top a news-focused chart. NPR News Now, Up First, Dateline NBC, and FOX News Radio 5 Minute Newscast also made the list. The FOX News Radio program had the biggest leap in March, rising four spots. Longtime favorite RadioLab had the biggest change in the opposite direction, dropping five places from its February result.

Many podcast companies have been sharing more granular listening statistics in an effort to understand how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting audiences. The appearance of only one new program in Podtrac’s assessment implies that, at least in the upper echelon, there has not been much or any movement away from favorite shows during this time of crisis. Many of the current events and news podcasts that are Podtrac regulars have dedicated shows and segments to the pandemic. Their continued dominance is a sign of the trust listeners build with their long-time favorite podcasters. Even though many publications have put out new audio shows promising the latest updates on the pandemic, only one new podcast entirely dedicated to the outbreak among Podtrac’s measurement clientele has pushed into this tier that already has built and earned confidence from listeners.

Anna Washenko