Radio accounted for 53% of daily audio listening in France in 2026, according to the latest Global Audio study from Médiamétrie. The research also found continued growth in podcasts, digital audio services and mobile listening.
Médiamétrie reported that almost 50 million people aged 15 to 80 consume audio content each month, representing 96% of the French population in that age group. The company said the figures underline audio’s continued importance in the French media landscape.
The study found that radio remains the largest audio format on an average day, accounting for 53% of total listening volume. This figure includes listening via FM, DAB+ and internet-delivered radio services. Médiamétrie described radio’s share as broadly stable compared with the previous year.
Podcast listening continued to grow, with radio podcasts and native podcasts accounting for 10% of daily audio listening, up two percentage points year over year. Despite this growth, the study found that on-demand audio has not displaced live radio as the leading audio format in France.
Source: Médiamétrie, Global Audio 2026
Increased digital adoption
Médiamétrie also reported increased adoption of digital audio services. According to the study, 85% of listeners use digital audio services each month, up four percentage points from a year earlier. Among listeners aged 35 to 64, monthly digital audio use reached 90%, an increase of six percentage points year over year.
Mobile devices now account for 40% of all audio listening time, up five percentage points from the previous year. The study said smartphones have become the primary access point for live radio, podcasts and streaming services.
Cécile Bertrand, audio director at Médiamétrie, said, “In an audio landscape that continues to evolve, marked by both the strength of established listening habits and the acceleration of digital transformation, Global Audio aims to provide a clear picture for the market. Who consumes what, when and in what proportions? In an audio ecosystem that has become deeply hybrid, the study also demonstrates the opportunities that digital platforms create for live radio, which remains at the heart of the audio journey.”
According to a chart published with the study, live radio accounts for 47% of total audio listening, radio podcasts for 6%, native podcasts for 4%, and music streaming services for 34%.
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