Global Audio 2026

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The Global Audio study analyzes all audio uses and provides a consolidated and precise view of audio consumption in France among 15-80 year-olds.

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A powerful audio ecosystem that benefits from the widespread adoption of digital technology

With nearly 50 million listeners (96% of 15- to 80-year-olds) each month in France, audio is reaffirming its central role in media consumption while continuing to evolve.

On an average day, radio accounts for 53% of total audio listening time, a share that has remained largely stable. At the same time, podcasts (radio and native) continue to grow, reaching 10% of total listening volume (+2 points in one year). Audio music streaming accounts for 27% of listening time (+1 point), while music video streaming declines to 8% (–2 points).

The structure of usage is evolving without challenging the hierarchy: radio remains central and strong, while digital formats are becoming firmly established.

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In this context, digital audio is becoming a standard across generations: 85% of listeners use it every month (+4 points in one year). This growth now extends to all demographics and is accelerating particularly among 35- to 64-year-olds (90%; +6 points in one year), a sign of widespread adoption. This trend is accompanied by a shift toward mobile devices, which have become the primary platform for listening, accounting for 40% of the total time spent listening to audio in general (+5 points in one year). Mobile devices are thus establishing themselves as the main gateway to audio consumption.

In an ever-evolving audio landscape, characterized both by the stability of its usage patterns and by the accelerating pace of digital transformation, Global Audio aims to provide a clear picture of the market. Who consumes what, when, and in what proportions? In an audio ecosystem that has become deeply hybrid, this study also demonstrates the opportunities that digital technology creates for live radio—the heart of the audio experience. 

Cécile Bertrand, Audio Director