Podcasting has come a long way since its inception in the early 2000s. From humble beginnings as an obscure platform for niche content creators, podcasting has grown into a thriving industry, with millions of listeners tuning in each week to listen to their favorite shows. Despite the recent growth of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, podcasting is far from dead. In fact, the podcast industry is thriving, with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) reporting that the industry grew by 23% in 2019, reaching total ad revenues of $708 million.
As the podcast industry continues to grow, we can expect to see some interesting trends emerge in the coming years. One trend that is already becoming apparent is the move toward less polished and produced content. People are looking for a friendly conversation to listen to, rather than being taught, and this is reflected in the growing popularity of podcasts that have a more conversational and off-the-cuff style. Additionally, there has been an emergence of “micro-podcasts”—shorter episodes between 5-15 minutes long—which appeal to busy people who don’t have time to listen to longer episodes.
For now, the Top 5 most listened to podcasts in France in 2022 is a mix of news, host influencers and humour as listed below:
1. L’Heure du Monde
2. Le Billet de Paul Mirabel
3. Montreux Comedy Club
4. Canapé Six Places, Lena Situation’s podcast
5. News of the day by Hugo Décripte
Another trend we’re likely to see in the coming year is the rise of automated podcast editing. This technology will make it easier than ever for podcasters to produce high-quality shows, even if they don’t have a lot of technical know-how. Additionally, we can expect to see the growth of multilingual podcasts, as podcasting becomes more popular around the world and there is increased demand for shows in languages other than English. With advances in AI speech cloning, it will become easier for podcasters to repurpose their current episodes in other languages, making it easier for them to reach a global audience.
With the rise of smart speakers like Amazon Alexa, Apple HomePod, and Google Home, voice search technology is becoming increasingly important. Brands need to optimize their audio content so that voice search engines can discover it. As podcasting continues to grow in popularity, there will be a growing demand for unique and engaging content, with people tuning in to podcasts that cater to their specific interests, whether politics, cooking, gardening, or history.
Using advertising and sponsorship will also continue to grow as brands look for new ways to reach engaged audiences. Finally, we can expect to see an increase in interactive podcasts that allow listeners to take part directly in the show. The rise of data-driven content is also likely to be a trend in the coming years, as more podcasters seek to use data to inform and improve their shows.
Podcasts Key Statistics of 2023
In conclusion, the future of podcasting looks bright, and the industry is only going to continue to grow. With the increasing availability of high-quality content, the emergence of new platforms and services specifically designed for podcasting, and the growing number of listeners tuning in each week, podcasting is a viable option for aspiring content creators. Whether you’re looking to start a new hobby or build a business, now is the perfect time to start a podcast.