BBC Sounds continues to grow in Q3 2024 with 622 million plays of all content across radio, podcasts and music mixes. There were over 622 million plays of all content across radio, podcasts and music mixes in this quarter (July – Sept 2024). This is up 14 million plays on the previous quarter and an increase of more than 3% from the same period last year, as digital listening continues to grow.
The busiest week of the quarter (w/c 8 July) saw BBC Sounds users peak at 4.9 million as listeners closely followed developments of the changing government after the UK General Election. In addition, it was a huge week for sport, with the build up to the men’s UEFA Euro 2024 final where Spain beat England 2-1, and the Wimbledon tennis finals.
The RAJAR figures for the same period show that podcast listening is at an all-time high – 12.6m (22% of the UK adult population), as is the overall listening of live radio, with 50.9m people tuning in for the BBC’s radio stations as well as commercial radio.
Key highlights on BBC Sounds Q3 2024
- There was a total of 226 million plays of on-demand radio and podcast content.
- Radio 4 content dominated the podcast chart on BBC Sounds. New audio drama Central Intelligence boosted listeners of the Limelight drama podcast, making it the third-most popular podcast of the quarter, followed by You’re Dead to Me and investigative Radio 4 podcast strand Intrigue, which was recently honoured with prestigious Prix Italia and Prix Europa awards for To Catch a Scorpion.
- Newscast and Americast were the top two most listened to podcasts with Newscast also taking the top spot for listeners under 35, followed by You’re Dead to Me and Miss Me?
- Radio 4’s Limelight drama strand was the third most listened to podcast with series including Central Intelligence featuring Kim Cattrall and 11 Minutes Dead.
- Radio 4’s The Archers remains the most listened to on-demand radio programme for all adults again this quarter (including for under 35s), followed by Whodunnits on Radio 4 Extra and the ever-popular Desert Island Discs.
- Radio 4 comedy performed well with Mark Steel’s in Town, The Unbelievable Truth and The News Quiz all appearing in the top 10 on-demand radio programmes.
- Radio 1 programming had the highest percentage of listeners aged under 35. Shows such as Radio 1 10’s and Radio 1 00’s proved the most popular, followed by Radio 1’s Giant Detention which saw Greg James and fellow presenter ‘class-mates’ trapped in detention to playfully mark the return of the academic year.
- BBC Proms also ranked among the top 10 on-demand programmes for the under 35 age group, driven by special concerts from Florence + the Machine and Sam Smith. Overall, there was a 12% yearly increase for Proms listeners on BBC Sounds.
- The Sleeping Forecast continued to be the most listened to music mix, followed by the Mindful Mix. Fans of nostalgia tuned in to Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton which was the third most popular, followed by running playlist Pace Setter with highlights including motivational tunes curated by McFly drummer Harry Judd.
- At the end of August, Oasis-mania swept across the UK as the band announced their reunion tour, and The Rise and Fall of… from 6 Music made an appearance in the Top 10 on-demand podcasts, as Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq delved into the story behind the band.
There was a total of 213 million downloads for BBC podcasts around the world this quarter, up by 4 million from Q2. Global News Podcast from BBC World Service was the most popular title on third party platforms, followed by Newscast and The Documentary Podcast. Other popular programmes in the top ten included 6 Minute English, In Our Time and Desert Island Discs.
The BBC Sounds Q3 Report 2024 containing more data and infographics can be freely downloaded here.
