Music pulses through teens’ daily activities as a near-constant companion. In a survey of over 1,000 teens ages 13 to 19, respondents reported listening to music for an average of 27 hours per week – nearly four hours a day. And much of this listening happens while they’re doing something else, making it more of a soundtrack to their lives rather than the main event.

Nearly half of teens (47%) consume music primarily through smartphones, with streaming platforms serving as their main source (52%). “ Streaming platforms often have new releases and better songs,” says a 14-year-old female from Wisconsin. Other teens mention large on-demand libraries and personalized recommendations as the reasons they prefer streaming.

Spotify dominates the streaming landscape, capturing 83% of teens – split between ad-supported (44%) and premium users (39%)--while less than half of teens use Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Pandora. Traditional radio maintains relevance, with 27% of teens tuning in, led by female listeners (32% versus 21% males). And when it comes to audio output, 20% prefer speakers over earbuds.

Rap and hip-hop (42%) and pop (40%) are on the top of most teens’ personal playlists, while a quarter of respondents follow rock (25%) and country (24%). However, some teens’ tastes extend beyond the mainstream: One in six reported listening to “something else,” specifically naming J-pop, K-pop, and R&B.

Female teens enjoy a more diversified music palate than males, showing stronger connections to alternative, country, Latin, pop, rap, and rock. Musical taste varies geographically, too – with country music having a particularly strong following across the South, Midwest, and Western regions of the United States.

Teens find new music through diverse channels, with social media (55%) leading the way. "Recently, I found some great artists who promote their stuff on TikTok," says a 19-year-old female in California. Personal recommendations also play a key role, including friends (45%) and streaming platform algorithms (40%). "Streaming platforms can make playlists that tailor to my existing taste, but with new artists," says a 16-year-old female from Maryland.

Traditional media maintains influence through movies (31%), TV shows (25%), and video games (19%). "Music from shows, movies, and video games typically have a story to tell," notes a 19-year-old female from Maryland. These sources often feed back into streaming habits, as a 19-year-old male from Wisconsin explains: "Movies and video games will sometimes use newer music that maybe I didn't find yet, and I'll put that in my playlist on Spotify."

Gen Z has turned multitasking with music into an art form. Eight in 10 (79%) use music to distract from the tedium of housework, while 73% use it to power through homework. Music is also playing while they exercise (64%), shower (62%), and nearly half listen as they drift off to sleep (49%).

Teens approach AI-generated music with cautious curiosity. About 42% are interested in listening to AI-generated tracks, and 47% want to try their hand at AI music creation.

Gen Z shows notable interest in major music ceremonies. When asked which they were likely to watch, 46% said the Grammy Awards, 42% said the American Music Awards, and 45% said MTV Video Music Awards. The Billboard Music Awards and People's Choice Awards maintain similar appeal. Among genre-specific ceremonies, 35% said they were likely to watch the CMT Music Awards.

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