Temps de lecture : 2 min 43 s

Audio in all its forms occupies a growing place in our lives, encouraged by the development of technologies and equipment, particularly mobile. Whether it’s listening to audio content, using your voice to listen to texts or making queries, these uses are diversifying and multiplying.

Digital equipment fosters listening to audio content

Audio content is almost unanimously popular: more than 8 in 10 French people – 43 million – between 15 and 80 years old (84%) listened to at least one piece of audio content every day in 2024.

This content is very varied in nature: live radio, radio or original podcasts, music streaming, personal or listened to on video platforms, or even audiobooks. In this era of multi-tasking and mobility, they provide convenient options for entertainment, information or education.

These practices are increasingly facilitated by the equipment and features offered by digital technology: 28 million French people listened to at least one piece of digital audio content per day in 2024. This represents over half (55%) of French people between 15 and 80 years old. This figure was 53% in 2023 [1].

And in fact, digital media also become audio stations. More than half of the time spent listening to audio is done from a connected device (55%), an increase of 2 points in 1 year. Among them, mobile devices – telephones and tablets – dominate with 32% of listening time, followed by televisions or computers (18%), then smart speakers (6%).

Given the very significant share of radio in listening to audio programmes, as well as in-car listening, traditional media (radio set, car radio, etc.) account for 45% of listening time to audio programmes. These media remain the most used but they contributed a little less to listening time (-2 points) during the past year, for the benefit of digital devices, notably mobile phones.

Radio and original podcasts are particularly appreciated in the evening and on the go

In one year, the share of podcast listeners has increased: up 2 points for radio podcasts and up 5 points for original podcasts. Therefore, in 2024, 38% of 15-80 year-olds said they listened to radio podcasts at least once a month and 21% to original podcasts. Younger listeners were even more convinced: 43% of 15-24 year-olds listened to radio podcasts and 44% to original podcasts.

Radio and original podcasts made up 8% of the total time spent listening to audio content.

To listen to podcasts, listeners generally prefer evenings: podcasts account for 15% of audio content listened to after 9 pm and 9% between 6 pm and 9 pm.

Listeners also enjoy them on the go: podcasts account for 16% of audio listening volume in public places and transport.

People between 35 and 49 years old are the main fans of radio and original podcasts: these represent 11% of the total volume of their audio content listening. They are followed by 15-24 year-olds (10%) and then 25-34 year-olds (9%).

Artificial Intelligence at the service of audio

Users themselves have switched using audio with queries made easier by voice assistants. These technologies are available on phones, tablets or speakers to interact with the user via voice request and are increasingly popular: 6 out of 10 people use them. Nearly 1 in 3 people do it every week (33%).

Another technological development in the field of audio is voice synthesis, the transcription of a text into vocal content using an artificial voice: 1 listener in 10 has already used it. More than one in 2 young people between 15 and 24 years old (54%) are aware of this feature and 2 in 5 for the entire population (39% of 15-80 year olds).

Laure Osmanian Molinero