The Audible Compass 2024, a study commissioned by Audible from Verian, reveals that audio entertainment continues to thrive in Italy. In 2024, 76% of Italians have listened to at least one audiobook, podcast or audio series, marking an increase of 6% compared to the previous year and a notable +11% compared to 2022. This data highlights how listening to Audio content is becoming increasingly popular in the country. The study also highlighted a strong link between listening to audiobooks and traditional reading. 84% of audiobook listeners said they are reading more books thanks to this format, and 74% have noticed an increase in their reading activity, both paper and digital, since they started listening to audiobooks. This shows that audiobooks and books are not in competition, but complement each other, offering different ways of enjoying stories.
This year too, the ranking of the most listened to audiobooks on Audible.it offers a varied panorama, with titles ranging from classic literature to contemporary thrillers. In first place is confirmed a great classic, “The Fellowship of the Ring” by JRR Tolkien, read by Massimo Popolizio. This is followed by “Cuore nero” by Silvia Avallone, read by Chiara Francese, and “The fragile age of Donatella” by Donatella Pietrantonio, read by Elena Lietti. Among the most appreciated titles we also find “The horizon of the night” by Gianrico Carofiglio, read by the author himself, and “The education of butterflies” by Donato Carrisi, with the voices of Angela Brusa and Alberto Angrisano. There is also no shortage of international authors such as Joel Dicker with “A wild animal”, read by Paolo Buglioni.
As far as listeners’ preferences are concerned, literature and fiction, together with thriller, rank first among the most loved genres (both at 48%). This is followed by history, science fiction and fantasy (both at 37%) and finally the health and well-being category (36%). A crucial element in choosing an audiobook is the voice of the narrator: 78% of listeners take the narrator into account when choosing the next title to listen to, and 64% actively seek out audiobooks read by specific narrators they like.