Listen-through rate (LTR)
Listen-through rate shows how far the typical listener actually gets, a percentage of runtime that exposes drop-off completion rate hides.
Listen-through rate is the average proportion of an episode that listeners actually consume, expressed as a percentage of total runtime. Unlike completion rate, which is pass or fail at the end, LTR captures how far the typical listener gets.
For example, if listeners get through an average of 24 minutes of a 30-minute episode, your listen-through rate is 80 percent.
Why it matters: listen-through rate reveals exactly where attention drops off, so you can tighten formats and keep buyers engaged through the segments that actually move deals.
Good LTR is the bulk of your audience staying through the substance of the episode, with the drop-off point telling you exactly where the value thinned out.
- Open with the payoff to earn the first two minutes
- Cut tangents and dead air ruthlessly in the edit
- Read retention curves to find where listeners leave
- Keep episode length matched to the value delivered
average minutes consumed divided by total episode runtime, times 100
Best read alongside the full retention curve, not in isolation.
- Front-loading the hook then losing people once the real content starts.
- Treating a single low LTR episode as a verdict rather than a signal.
- Not using the drop-off point to fix pacing or structure.
What is listen-through rate?
Listen-through rate is the average proportion of an episode that listeners actually consume, expressed as a percentage of total runtime. Unlike completion rate, which is pass or fail at the end, LTR captures how far the typical listener gets.
How is LTR different from completion rate?
Completion rate measures only whether someone reached the end. LTR measures the average depth of consumption across all listeners, so it is more sensitive to mid-episode drop-off.
How do you use LTR to improve a show?
Look for consistent cliff edges in the retention curve, then restructure intros, ad reads, or tangents that sit at those points.