Music consumption: Quebec is distinguished by the low importance of French in music listening

Music consumption: Quebec is distinguished by the low importance of French in music listening

A new study entitled L’exception québécoise, published on October 13th by the French Language Commissioner, reveals significant differences in music consumption patterns between Quebec, Canada and 24 European countries.

With the rise of streaming platforms, access to music has expanded significantly, transforming the ways in which artists are discovered and listened to. However, the data show that French music is a relatively small part of listening habits in Quebec.

According to the study, only 12% of music plays in Quebec are devoted to music in French, compared with 45% in France and 47% in Italy for music in their national language.

The situation is also marked in the charts. Artists who sing in French represent only 2% of the listenings associated with the ten most listened to artists in Quebec. On the rap side, only 22% of listenings are in French, while this proportion is between 40% and 60% in most other countries studied.

These findings are part of a music market largely dominated by digital platforms. In 2025, streaming services recorded 31.9 billion streams in Quebec, up 3% from the previous year. Despite this considerable volume, Quebec artists accounted for only 7.1% of the listens.

The study thus highlights the challenges faced by francophone artists in reaching audiences in an environment where international musical offerings are easily accessible. It also raises questions about the discoverability of works in French and the place of Quebec music in digital platforms’ recommendations.

These results provide a better understanding of the listening habits of Quebecers and the issues related to the visibility of Francophone music in the digital age.