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Gandhinagar: Podimo, a leading European subscription-based podcast and audiobook platform, recently released its 2024 Global Trend Report, offering a detailed analysis of listening habits across its seven markets: Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Latin America. The report reveals key trends that shaped the audio landscape in 2024, providing valuable insights for content creators and industry stakeholders.
Podimo has established itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing subscription services for podcasts and audiobooks since its launch in Denmark in 2019. The platform has expanded to seven markets and has reported an 80% increase in its subscriber base over the past year, indicating strong user engagement and a robust demand for its offerings .
The company recently secured €44 million in funding to support its growth trajectory and focus on profitability, highlighting investor confidence in its business model . This funding will allow Podimo to enhance its product offerings and continue innovating within the spoken audio entertainment ecosystem.
Key Highlights from the Report:
Local Language Content Drives Growth:
Podimo witnessed a remarkable 45% year-over-year surge in local-language podcast and audiobook listening. Clearly indicating an increasing demand for content that resonates with specific cultural contexts and languages.
Comedy and True Crime Dominate:
Comedy podcasts saw explosive growth in 2024, particularly in Finland (194% increase) and Norway (81% increase). True crime retained its popularity, with Spain experiencing a staggering 408% surge in engagement, particularly among women.
Podcasts as a Gateway to Audiobooks:
A growing synergy between podcasts and audiobooks emerged in 2024. In Denmark and Finland, nearly half of podcast listeners (47% and 46% respectively) discovered audiobooks through the platform. This indicates that podcasts can serve as an entry point for new audiences exploring long-form audio content.
2024 saw spoken audio entertainment reach new heights of influence globally,” says Podimo Chief Content Officer Sachin Doshi.
He adds, “As we look to 2025, we see a stronger willingness to pay for quality local language content, and in multiple markets we’re already generating more revenue for podcasters than the entire local advertising business. Our goal is to make that a reality everywhere.”
Doshi also says, “Creators will continue to have differing goals, and our mission is to support them where they’re at, whether it’s helping them earn more, or developing their audience reach.”
“Finally, the future of audio is audio, but many audio formats lend themselves to a richer experience through visual engagement, at the listener’s discretion.”
He adds, “We produce more of our shows in video than ever before, but we want to dive further into what visual engagement could mean for formats like True Crime or single host shows, where filming the recording session might not add value for the listener, but there are other ways to enhance the listening experience.”
What genres saw the most growth in 2024?
Educational Content Gains Traction: Growth in educational genres, including science, history, and society & culture, suggests a rising demand for intellectually stimulating audio content.
Across all markets, gender-specific trends revealed diverging listening habits in 2024:
The report identified distinct listening patterns between men and women. Women showed a strong preference for society & culture and true crime, while men gravitated towards history and education.
What topics saw the most engagement across markets?
What genres did people fall asleep to?
The report provides insights into preferred genres for nighttime listening. True Crime & Mysteries were popular in Germany and the Netherlands, while News & Politics resonated in Denmark. Spain and Norway favored Health & Personal Development, while Finland preferred Culture & Leisure.
Bingeworthy: what countries loved binge-listening the most?
Podcast lovers discovering audiobooks:
Denmark led the way in binge listening, with 27% of users listening to podcasts or audiobooks for over three hours in a single day. The Netherlands followed closely with 21% engaging in extended listening sessions.
Weekday vs. Weekend Listening (2024)
Weekday listening remained significantly higher than weekend consumption across all markets, demonstrating the integration of spoken audio into daily routines. Spain showed the most pronounced weekday preference, with a 74% higher engagement compared to weekends.
Peak listening hours for podcasts and audiobooks?
Predictions for 2025:
Sachin Doshi, Chief Content Officer at Podimo, shared insights into the future of spoken audio:
- Increased Willingness to Pay for Quality Content: Doshi predicts a stronger willingness to pay for quality local-language content in 2025, driving revenue growth for creators.
- Focus on Supporting Diverse Creator Goals: Podimo aims to provide comprehensive support for creators, whether they seek to monetize their work or expand their audience.
- Exploring Visual Enhancements for Audio: While audio remains central, Podimo plans to explore innovative ways to incorporate visual content into certain formats, enhancing listener engagement.
Overall, the Podimo 2024 Global Trend Report paints a positive picture for the future of spoken audio, highlighting the growing global audience, evolving listening habits, and emerging opportunities for creators across Podimo’s seven markets.
About Podimo:
Podimo is a subscription-based podcasting and audiobook service available across Europe and Latin America. One of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies of 2024,” we offer a wide range of local-language spoken audio entertainment through award-winning exclusives and originals, audiobooks, as well as your favorite podcasts available on all platforms.
With a focus on local stories and diverse voices, we are committed to giving creators more opportunities to earn revenue and develop their audience, resulting in more and better content for listeners. The app offers a personalized audio experience including interactive community features, and can be enjoyed on iOS and Android, iPad, CarPlay, as well as on web player at podimo.com.
