"Audio fiction podcasting is growing again after a plateau. Between 2021 and 2023, the genre cooled off after the COVID-era boom when many indie projects went dormant. That fall off wasn't specific to fiction during podcasting's post pandemic consolidation. But 2024 and 2025 brought a resurgence driven by Gen Z listeners, AI-assisted production tools, and better distribution on platforms like Spotify."
"76% of Gen Z listeners prefer audio-only storytelling, and fiction remains one of their most favored genres. While the past several years have been about podcasting and YouTube, the data hints that a completely walled off experience in Google's garden isn't the best user experience. We still want to use our imaginations, you know? They want serialized, bingeable narrative experiences with high production value. Tales of Fists and Fireballs delivers exactly that."
Tales of Fists & Fireballs won a major Ambie and exemplifies a high-production, personal audio fiction approach. The show features full-cast performances, cinematic sound design, and ~35–36 minute Season 2 episodes that position it as "anime for your ears." Audio fiction production and releases surged since the early 2020s, driven by Gen Z demand, AI-assisted tools, and improved platform distribution. Estimated active shows now range from 18,000 to 25,000, with new launches growing about 9–11% in 2025. Gen Z listeners favor audio-only, serialized, bingeable narratives with high production value, creating space for polished indie successes.
Read at Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods
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