Key stat: 41% of US Gen Z digital audio listeners tune in to improve their mood, compared with 33% of all listeners, according to a March 2026 survey from The Harris Poll and EMARKETER.

Beyond the chart:

• That emotional pull shows up in raw screen time. Gen Z adults spend 48 hours a month on Spotify's mobile app, 2.9 times the 16.8 hours they log on YouTube's, according to a survey from Comscore.
• Music does most of that emotional work. Playlists top digital audio time for every generation, from 55% of millennials to 65% of Gen X, according to The Harris Poll and EMARKETER.

Use this chart: Drop this into a Gen Z media strategy deck to reframe digital audio as an emotional utility, not just entertainment. Use it to argue that mood, downtime, and connection drive young listening, then show planning teams why messaging built around feeling beats a hard informational pitch.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• Gen Z Digital Audio Habits 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)
• Radio and Digital Audio Ad Spending Benchmarks: Q2 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)

Methodology: Data is from the April 2026 The Harris Poll and EMARKETER Survey titled "Digital Audio" conducted by The Harris Poll. 2,039 US adults ages 18+ were surveyed during March 12-28, 2026. Data is weighted to be representative of the US adult population.