According to Nielsen Audio ratings, the total weekly listeners for all programming on NPR stations reached an all-time high of about 37.5 million in the Fall of 2016 -- a nearly 4-million person increase from the same period in 2015. Listeners for NPR programming and NPR Newscasts account for about 30 million of that total. NPR's flagship programs, "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition," reached their largest weekly audience ever, at 14.4 million and 14.65 million listeners, respectively.
In fact, the number of listeners for all NPR programming increased considerably last year, particularly in the 25-44 age demo which expanded by 26%. "All Things Considered" received a 0.8 AQH rating for people ages 25-54, a 23% increase from the Fall of 2015.
"At a time when many news organizations have been forced to contract, NPR is expanding coverage and focusing resources on the local and national issues that listeners care about," said NPR's Senior VP of News and Editorial Director Michael Oreskes. "Now, more and more people are turning to NPR as their source for unbiased fact-based news."
Not really shocking though when in some cities like San Francisco and Washington D.C. the Public Radio News/talker is in the top 5 for ratings.