BBC Sounds sees digital growth of nearly 50% from last year

The latest quarterly listening figures show a huge increase digital listening for BBC Sounds.

There were 582 million plays on BBC Sounds during Q2, up by more than 33% from last quarter and nearly 50% from the same period last year. A record 216 million plays of on demand radio and podcasts on the platform with 3.7 million plays for music mixes were also recorded.

Newscast was once again the most listened to podcast for all adults this quarter, followed by popular returning favourites You’re Dead To Me (R4), Uncanny (R4) and The Lazarus Heist (WS), with all four also among the most popular for listeners under 35.

New podcasts A Very British Cult and History’s Secret Heroes from Radio 4 were among the most popular podcasts for all adults, with A Very British Cult also one of the most played by under 35 year olds along with Marianna in Conspiracyland (R4) and Tailenders (5L).

Pressed had the highest proportion of listeners under 35, with the return of 6 Degrees with Jamie and Spencer (R1) and the Footballer’s Football podcast also among the top ten.

Helping students prepare for their exams, Bitesize GCSE Biology and Bitesize GCSE English Literature were among the podcasts with the highest proportion of listeners under 35.

New BBC Sounds acquisition Believe In Magic was one of the most popular podcasts for listeners under 35.

The Sleeping Forecast was the most listened to music mix on BBC Sounds this quarter, followed by Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton and Mindful Mix. Artist Icons presents Glastonbury was also among the most popular music mixes.

There was a total of 237 million downloads for BBC podcasts around the world this quarter, with the Global News Podcast the most popular in third party platforms.