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“There are too many podcasts.”
I’ve been hearing this objection since 2015, when there were only 250,000 shows. Today, there are over 4.6 million.
So is the market really oversaturated? Let me flip that narrative for you and back it up with the numbers.
The Fear Has Always Existed
When we started working with podcasters in 2015, by far the most common objection I heard was: “Aren’t there too many podcasts already?”
At that time, there were roughly 250,000 podcasts, or just a fraction of what exists today.
But even then, people were still saying the market was too crowded.
The fear of “too many” isn’t about the actual number. It’s just fear.
And if people had let that stop them in 2015, we wouldn’t have some of the biggest shows that launched after that.
What the Numbers Actually Show
Yes, there are about 4.6 million podcasts according to Podcast Index.
But here’s what most people miss: we’re not competing with 4.6 million shows.
For independent podcasters (like myself, and maybe you), the real number to look at is around 3 million independent podcasts – shows created by individuals or small teams without the backing of major media companies or networks.
We’re not competing with NPR or Joe Rogan. We’re competing with other indie creators.
And here’s the kicker: Out of those 3 million independent podcasts, only about 400,000 are considered active.
That’s roughly 13%.
What Does “Active” Even Mean?
When I say “active,” I’m not talking about publishing daily or even weekly.
Podmatch defines an active podcast as one that’s released at least one episode in the last 90 days.
That’s it. Only ONE episode in three months.
And still, only 13% of independent podcasts meet that bar.
The Car Lot Analogy
Here’s how I like to explain this:
Imagine you walk into a car dealership. The salesperson tells you they have 100 cars for sale out back.
But then they mention that only 13 of them have engines and can actually drive off the lot.
Would you say the market is oversaturated? Or would you say there are really only 13 cars to choose from, and that makes your choice of what to drive (or listen to, in this case) much easier?
That’s the podcast landscape right now.
Yes, millions of shows exist. But only a tiny fraction are actually running.
The Advantages You Have Today
Here’s what’s actually better now than it was in 2015:
Podcasts are mainstream. Back then, I had to explain what a podcast was. Now, everyone knows.
The apps are built-in. Apple Podcasts is native on every iPhone. Spotify features podcasts front and center. Smart speakers, CarPlay, Android Auto – it’s all seamless.
Discovery is easier. Podcast apps recommend shows based on what you already listen to. Social media clips go viral and drive people to full episodes. Search engines index podcast episodes now.
AI is indexing podcasts. I ran a quick test on Google Gemini and asked, “What is Podcast Permission Slip by PodAssist?” It gave a detailed summary of the show, why it’s worth listening to, and even suggested a roadmap for aspiring podcasters to follow.
Our robot search friends are paying attention to even my show that I’m recording from my home office here on the East Coast of Canada in my little town, Riverview, New Brunswick.
Listener behavior has matured. People know how to subscribe, download, and binge. Podcasts are part of daily routines – commutes, workouts, cooking, even shoveling snow (guilty, we do a lot of this in Canada).
The stigma of “What’s a podcast?” is completely gone.
The Bottom Line
The infrastructure is built. The audience is trained. And almost all of your “competition” isn’t even showing up.
Your job isn’t to compete with millions of podcasts.
Your job is to be one of the small percentage that actually publishes consistently.
This ties directly back to what I shared a few episodes ago about sustainable podcasting: slow and steady wins the race.
Your Permission Slip
If you’ve been sitting on a podcast idea because you think the market is too crowded, here’s your permission slip:
Stop waiting for the perfect time. The audience is bigger than ever. The barriers are lower than ever. And the vast majority of your “competition” isn’t showing up.
It’s not too late. It’s wide open for those who are ready to step up and show up regularly.
What’s been holding you back?
Have you been thinking the market is too crowded? Or maybe you’ve heard this objection from others? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
And if you’re ready to launch your podcast or need help with your current show, you can book a no-obligation call with me at podassist.com. I’d be happy to brainstorm with you on your idea and share what it could look like to get your show live and in listeners’ ears (without all the overwhelm).
Remember – it’s YOUR show and there are NO RULES!
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Want to talk about your podcast idea? I offer no-obligation calls where we can brainstorm your concept, talk through your hurdles, and see if working together makes sense for your goals.
You can book a discovery call right by clicking HERE or feel free to connect with me over on LinkedIn to share your thoughts on this episode.