La Grande Caraïbe décryptée depuis 2015
Music Consumption in the French Antilles and Guyane: An Unprecedented Portrait of Listening Habits
Long absent from major national studies on cultural practices, the populations of the French Antilles and Guyane finally have a dedicated study of their music consumption.
Conducted by the agency Le ChewinGum and the federation Fédérap, the survey gathered responses from 932 participants between April and December 2025, painting an unprecedented picture of listening habits across Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy.
The finding is clear: music occupies a central place in daily life — even more so than in mainland France. Streaming, social media, festivals, live culture, the weight of reggae-dancehall and zouk, the importance of Creole languages — the study also sheds light on a dynamic, young, and deeply Caribbean market, though one still held back by persistent structural inequalities.
A Massive, Everyday Musical Passion
The first takeaway: music is everywhere. According to the study, 98% of residents in the French Antilles and Guyane consider music important in their lives, and 88% name it their favourite cultural activity — compared to 76% in mainland France, according to the Centre national de la musique.
Residents of the territories surveyed listen to an average of 12 hours of music per week, or nearly two hours a day. The car emerges as a major listening space: 86% of respondents say they regularly listen to music while driving, reflecting territories where public transport remains limited.
The smartphone overwhelmingly dominates usage, accounting for 96% of listening — far ahead of television or hi-fi systems. Music listening comes across as a highly individual and mobile practice.
Reggae-Dancehall, Zouk, and Rap Lead Musical Tastes
Unsurprisingly, the most popular genres are those historically rooted in Caribbean culture: reggae-dancehall, zouk, kompa, and hip-hop/rap top the rankings in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Guyane.
The study notes that this dominance is also driven by strong local production. In Guyane alone, the association Megamazonie recorded over 600 urban track releases and 300 music videos in a single year.
Another striking finding: Creole languages rank third among the languages most listened to in music, behind French and English — a distinctive feature compared to mainland France, where no regional language appears at this level.
Spanish also holds a significant place, a direct reflection of the Caribbean and Latin American geographic environment. In Guyane, Portuguese is also growing, driven by proximity to Brazil.
The French Antilles and Guyane Have Made a Massive Shift to Streaming
The study reveals a particularly advanced digital transition. Nearly 90% of respondents use digital formats as their primary mode of music listening.
Audio streaming alone accounts for 56% of primary usage, while video streaming reaches 28%. Physical formats such as CDs and vinyl now represent just 2% of usage.
YouTube stands out as the most widely used platform across all categories. Free access remains a decisive factor: 68% of YouTube users say they favour the platform precisely because it requires no paid subscription.
In audio streaming, Spotify now leads the market despite its late arrival in the region in 2021. Apple Music follows closely. Deezer — a French platform — remains more of a minority player.
A Young Market, Held Back by the Cost of Living
The study highlights a paradox: digital usage is highly developed, yet subscription costs are frequently considered too high relative to local living standards.
Platforms apply the same pricing as in mainland France, in territories where the cost of living is 14 to 16% higher — and even more so for certain food products. As a result, a music subscription can represent a significant expense for many households.
The subscriber profile also reveals a younger market than in metropolitan France. Those aged 25 to 34 make up the majority of premium subscribers, while those over 45 remain largely absent from paid offerings.
The study’s authors also point to a lack of adaptation by platforms to the realities of overseas territories: no local partnerships, minimal advertising presence, and few editorial playlists dedicated to Caribbean music scenes.
TikTok and Social Media Are Transforming Music Discovery
One of the most striking findings concerns social media. For 80% of respondents, it is now the primary gateway for discovering new music.
TikTok plays a particularly important role in the spread of Caribbean music. The study notably cites the track Shatta Confessions by Meryl and N’Ken, which went gold and then platinum within a matter of months thanks to its viral success.
Radio — long dominant in mainland France — is losing ground here as a discovery tool. Many respondents also express frustration at the limited visibility given to emerging local artists on traditional broadcast channels.
Live Music Remains Essential in Caribbean Cultures
The study also underlines the central role of live music in local cultural life. Carnival, chanté Nwèl, sound system nights, village festivals, and swaré léwòz occupy a key place in social life.
In 2025, over 1,200 musical events were recorded in Martinique, around 700 in Guadeloupe, and more than 300 in Guyane. Club nights and sound system events alone account for more than 70% of live offerings across the three territories.
Festivals attract major international artists, such as Vybz Kartel and Rema. Yet attendance remains limited by ticket prices, which a significant portion of the public considers too high.
Another challenge raised: the lack of adequate infrastructure. The study notes that no Scène de musiques actuelles (SMAC) — a dedicated contemporary music venue — currently exists in the French Antilles or Guyane, unlike Réunion Island, which has the Kabardock.
A Hyper-Connected Youth Oriented Toward Streaming
The focus section on under-25s confirms the trends observed across the full survey panel. Among young people, 98% of primary usage now takes place through digital channels.
Spotify and Apple Music together account for over 80% of audio streaming usage among this generation. Social media has become virtually inescapable: 93% of young people say they discover new artists through these platforms.
Despite this hyperconnectivity, young people express frustration at the lack of accessible and varied live offerings locally. Many are calling for more concerts and affordable cultural events.
A Strategic Caribbean Market Still Underexploited
Beyond the numbers, this study highlights a reality that is often underestimated: the French Antilles and Guyane constitute a genuine cultural and economic basin for the music industry.
Usage patterns there are sometimes more advanced than in mainland France — particularly in streaming and social media. Yet the tools, infrastructure, and commercial strategies remain largely designed from the metropolitan perspective.
The study’s authors therefore call for better platform adaptation, greater visibility for Caribbean artists, and stronger support for live music infrastructure. They position the French Antilles and Guyane as a high-potential market, sitting at the crossroads of American, African, and Caribbean music scenes.
