listenership

Noun

listenership (countable and uncountable, plural listenerships)

1. The audience that listens to a certain form or genre of audio material (specifically (Internet, radio), an audio broadcast such as a radio program or a podcast).
   • While Soviet jamming is intense, particularly in the vicinity of Moscow, we have evidence that "Voice [of America]" programs can be heard in areas 25 miles from Moscow and that there are listeners in numerous cities throughout the Soviet Union. Listenership in the satellites, according to refugees...1953 August–December, “‘Voice’ Move to Washington”, in U.S. Information Agency: First Report to Congress, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Information Agency, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 10
   • [A]n increase in VOA [Voice of America] audience size may well have been concealed by a change in recording listenership. In all, VOA tied for third in listenership among foreign stations.1969 April 28, “Highlights”, in Foreign Radio Listening in Czechoslovakia before and during the Invasion (Research Service; E-7-69), Washington, D.C.: Office of Research and Assessment, United States...

   Synonyms:

   hearership

2. The act of paying attention to a conversation or speech; listening.
   • Following are the main features found in the talk of three of the six Thanksgiving celebrants. [...] 3. Pacing. (a) faster rate of speech, (b) inter-turn pauses avoided (silence is evidence of lack of rapport), (c) faster turntaking, (d) cooperative overlap and participatory listenership.1981, Deborah Tannen, “New York Jewish Conversa­tional Style”, in International Journal of the Sociology of Language, volume 30, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, →DOI, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 137
   • Marsha refers to the characteristic which Pam identified, showing verbal agreement, as "a bad habit," claiming that rather than showing good listenership, it often masks not listening ("tune 'em out").1994, Deborah Tannen, “Gender Differences in Conversational Coherence: Physical Alignment and Topical Cohesion”, in Gender and Discourse, New York, N.Y.; Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press...