Audible has released a new study in France and it claims that in 2019 18.8% of French people listened to at least one audiobook in 2019, this represents a 19% increase from 2018. The most popular genres right now are literary fiction, science fiction and thrillers.
According to Audible and Opinéa, 73.5% of French people listen to audiobooks on smartphones, 38.8% on computers, and 33.4% on tablets. A very small demographic use dedicated speakers, such as Alexa or Google Home, but they are not very popular.
40% listen to audiobooks in the home, while 39% fall use them as a sedative to fall asleep. 30.2% have them playing in the background while doing household chores.
One of the most interesting thing about the report is 83% of people listen to audiobooks alone, it is not a social thing. I suppose this is because it is primarily done in the home or walking around with a pair of headphones on. Music can be shared and enjoyed with our friends and family, but audiobooks, they are more personal.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
