The latest listening data for BBC Sounds, covering July to Septembe, reveals there were 246 million global podcast downloads across the world and a total 155 million plays for on-demand radio and podcasts during this quarter.
The timely new title Pieces Of Britney was one of the most listened to podcasts overall, and by listeners under 35. Hosted by journalist Pandora Sykes, it charted the singer’s extraordinary journey through her early years to the controversial conservatorship, while questioning the media’s treatment of women in the public eye.
Straight talking new podcast Pressed, fronted by influencers Mariam Musa, Nella Rose and Adeola Patronne, launched this quarter with the highest proportion of listeners under 35, as their unfiltered chats proved popular with Gen-Z. New drama Nuremburg also launched this quarter and appeared in the top 10 for listeners under 35, as well as all adults.
Other titles in the top ten include returning favourites You’re Dead To Me, That Peter Crouch Podcast and Bad People appearing to be the listeners choice for a consecutive quarter, along with the new series of Sports Strangest Crimes: Allen Stanford The Man Who Bought Cricket, hosted by Greg James.
With the 246 million global podcast downloads across the world during this quarter, Global News Podcast (BBC World Service), The Documentary (BBC World Service) and In Our Time (Radio 4) once again proved the most popular.
New music mixes Summer Sounds and Happy Hour were among the most played music mixes during the warmer months, with a total of 4.1 million plays for music mixes overall this quarter – up two million from this time last year.
Jonathan Wall, Controller of BBC Sounds, says: “This quarter’s big hits are testimony to the huge range of podcasts that people are enjoying on BBC Sounds, across true crime, sport, chat, drama and more. It’s also great to see some of our new titles prove popular so quickly alongside our established podcast hits, and that we helped people soundtrack their summer with music mixes such as The Happy Hour and Summer Sounds.”
You can view the report here.
