Do you know how much of your podcast people are actually listening to?
It’s a question every creator or brand in podcasting should be asking, because downloads can tell you who hit play, but they don’t tell you who stayed.
That’s where the topic of today’s blog comes in – podcast consumption data. It reveals how far listeners get through your episodes, where they drop off, and how engaged they really are. Think of it as the difference between knowing your audience knocked on the door and knowing how long they actually stayed at the party.
And consumption data is extremely useful for data-driven marketers and creators looking to turn insights into action. When you understand which episodes hold attention and which don’t, you can make smarter decisions about topics, guests, format, and pacing. It’s how you move from guessing what your audience wants to actually giving it to them.
In this guide, we’ll break down what podcast consumption data is, how to interpret it, and practical ways to use it to create better, more engaging content. By the end, you’ll know how to spot patterns, refine episodes, and build a show that keeps listeners coming back.
What is podcast consumption data?
Consumption data tells you how much of your podcast people are actually listening to.
It reveals how far listeners make it through your episodes, where they drop off, and how engaged they really are.
This matters because it helps you pinpoint what’s working and what isn’t. When you can see exactly where listeners tune out, you can start shaping episodes that hold attention for longer. A strong target to aim for is a consumption rate between 75% and 80%.
On CoHost, consumption data is pulled directly from Apple and Spotify, giving you a full view of listener behavior, specifically:
- Show Consumption Rate: A snapshot of the average percentage of the show that is listened to.
- Episode Consumption Rate: The percentage of an episode that was listened to.
- Average Listen Time: The average total time your episode is consumed for, in minutes.
What is CoHost’s consumption data?
CoHost gives podcasters a deeper understanding of how audiences actually listen by breaking consumption data into three powerful metrics: Show Consumption Rate, Episode Consumption Rate, and Listen Time.
Some standout benefits of our consumption data include:
- Consolidated metrics: CoHost merges Apple and Spotify data into one standardized dashboard. You can view both consumption rate and listen time, allowing you to analyze engagement based on percentages or total minutes listened.
- Intuitive interface: CoHost presents consumption rate and listen time side by side with an easy toggle. This makes it simple to compare episodes, identify trends, and quickly spot areas where listeners drop off.
- Take your data offline: Export detailed consumption metrics for reporting, performance reviews, and executive updates — no manual work required.
How to use podcast consumption data to create better content
1. Identify patterns in episodes with high consumption rates or listen times
Start by looking at the episodes your audience couldn’t put down. Maybe the average listen time was longer than usual, or people stayed engaged till the end. That’s usually a sign you struck the right chord.
Think about what those episodes had in common:
- Were they shorter and easier to binge on a commute?
- Did you feature a guest who brought a fresh perspective or real-world stories?
Sometimes it’s as simple as covering a topic that’s suddenly everywhere in your industry.
For example, you notice that your 25-minute Q&A with an industry leader has a much higher consumption rate than your usual 45-minute solo episodes. With that insight, you should continue to test if your listeners prefer concise episodes with dynamic back-and-forth.
2. Review episodes with low consumption rates or listen rates
It’s equally important to look at where engagement dips.
Drop-off points show you the exact moment listeners tune out. Maybe listeners consistently bail around the 20-minute mark. That might mean the episode is too long for their attention span. Or maybe people are tuning out midway through the intro, signalling that they’re losing interest before you get to the good stuff. Other times, the topic or guest just doesn't land.
Identifying these patterns is essential for telling the stories behind the data to help you redirect. Whether that’s adjusting episode length, refining guest selection, or reworking/removing segments.
Treat low consumption episodes like quiet feedback. They help you adjust your pacing, structure, and topic selection with confidence.
3. Compare content topics that resonate
When you look at consumption rates across episode themes, clear patterns start to emerge. Some topics pull your audience in and keep them there. Others look good on paper but don’t convert into real engagement.
For example, you might notice that episodes about leadership trends consistently get strong consumption rates, while episodes about technical workflows fall flat. That’s a cue that your audience craves high-level insights over deep tutorials.
This doesn’t mean you should drop certain topics entirely, but it does mean you can rebalance your content mix. Maybe you turn the technical episodes into shorter explainers or pair them with expert guests to add storytelling.
Think of consumption data as a spotlight. It shows you what your audience genuinely values, not just what they click on. And when you follow that signal, every episode gets a little sharper and a lot more intentional.
Are you tracking podcast consumption data?
Consumption is one of the most important engagement metrics for podcasters and brands. It reveals:
- Which episodes hold attention
- Which segments resonate or fall flat
- How strong your content structure and pacing are
- Whether your show is improving over time
Over time, this information guides smarter content decisions and helps marketers and creators understand what audiences value most, giving you confidence in your creative decisions. They also help you prove value to sponsors and stakeholders — high engagement means people aren’t just listening, they’re paying attention.
For more podcast analytics insights like these, subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, Tuned In, and if you’re interested in learning more about how listeners are engaging with your show, book a CoHost demo.
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