Paris Radio Stations

Intro

Paris is for some “the City of Love” while others know it exclusively as “the City of Light”. In truth, Paris is both, and so much more! The French capital is known for its vibrant nature, enormous cultural and historical importance, and major influence in fashion, art, and gastronomy. It’s the city for everything, really, including music. 

It is hard to put into words the importance that Paris has in the global scheme of things. It’s a true treasure trove of architectural marvels as well as artistic masterpieces. As the birthplace of the French Revolution, Paris has long stood as the pillar of strength, resistance, and freedom – and to this day, remains a symbol of creativity and liberty. 

Picking favorites from Parisian landmarks is a tough job, considering there’s a lot to cover. From the Arc de Triomphe, the legendary Eiffel Tower, to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Grand Palais, and Montmartre, the city is bustling with history on every corner of every street. 

This very nature of Paris is what drove so many artists to choose it as their home. Picasso and Modigliani, Cezanne, Cocteau, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, and so many other famous painters birthed masterpieces under the Parisian sun. But music had always had a special place in the heart of Paris, and that never waned. In modern times, it’s best reflected in the people’s unwavering support of local radio stations – as you are about to find out. 

Paris Radio Scene

Much like its gastro and art world, the Parisian radio scene reflects the eclectic taste of millions of Parisians. There’s a diverse scope of radio stations catering to people from all walks of life. News, cultural programs, and sports are very frequent, while music takes center stage in dozens of local radio stations. 

Today’s miscellaneous collection of radio stations in Paris has been 100 years in the making. The first radio broadcast in Paris took place in 1921, with the first private-owned radio station appearing less than a year later. 

The Second World War left an indelible mark on the entire world, with Paris being hit quite hard both during the war and in the aftermath. After the war, the radio in Paris went into the hands of the government, and it wasn’t until the 1980s that the radio stations became commercialized again. 

Today, there are over 1200 different radio channels broadcasting music, news, and various other types of content to listeners across Paris. 

Top List of Paris Radio Stations

News / Talk

• France Inter – 87.7 FM
• France Info – 105.3 FM
• Europe 1 – 104.7 FM
• France Culture – 93.5 FM
• RTL (Radio Télé Luxembourg) – 104.3 FM

Pop

• Radio FM – 103.9 FM
• NRJ – 100.3 FM
• Chérie FM – 91.3 FM
• Europe 2 – 103.5 FM
• M Radio - 102.7 FM

Oldies

• Nostalgie – 90.4 FM
• Nostalgie Chansons Françaises – (Online)
• RTL 2 – 105.9 FM
• Radio Montmartre – 90.7 FM
• Radio Camargue – 96.4 FM

Latin Music

• NRJ Latino (Online)
• NRJ Fiesta Latina (Online)
• Cherie Latino (Online)
• Vibration Latina (Online)
• Urban Hit Latino (Online)

Jazz

• ABC Lounge Jazz
• France Musique – 91.7 FM
• TSF Jazz – 89.9 FM
• La Radio Sympa – (Online)
• Aligre FM – 93.1 FM

Rock

• Aligre FM – 93.1 FM
• Nostalgie Rock (Online)
• RTL 2 – 105.9 FM
• Oui FM – 102.3 FM
• Skyrock – 96.0 FM

Local Radio Personalities in Paris

While it’s quite easy to get lost in the sounds of your favourite radio program or show, sometimes it would be great to be able to put a face to a name. the following list will introduce you to some of the noteworthy names of Parisian radio personalities, names you’d want to remember the next time you listen to your favourite program. 

1. Cyril Hanouna – Cyril Valéry Isaac Hanouna is a French-born TV and radio presenter, author, columnist, singer, and actor. His most famous piece of work is the French TV show Touche pas à mon poste. He has Tunisian origins.
2. Laurie Cholewa – Cholewa is a French TV and radio personality that’s been actively working in the industry since 2001. She has appeared in a number of successful TV projects, but for the last decade has been focusing on radio hosting (via RFM).  
3. Raphaël Enthoven – The French-born radio and TV host is best known for his philosophical shows broadcast both on TV and radio (Enthoven is a Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 agrégé). He hosts Philosophy on Arte on Sundays (1 PM). 
4. Manu Payet – Emanuel Many Payet is a French-born actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and TV/radio host. He is the voice behind the cartoon character Po from Kung Fu Panda movies (the French dub). 
5. Agathe Lecaron – Born in Paris in 1974, Lecaron exchanged her native city for Belgium right after graduating from the Sorbonne. After several years and some highly successful projects on Belgian radio/ TV, she returned to her native country by joining France 5. 

Considering the vibrant landscape of radio stations in Paris, it is hard to do it justice by picking just 5 popular radio personalities in Paris. We encourage you to explore popular radio stations in Paris and get acquainted with the fantastic world of Paris radio personalities by yourself too.

Additional Info for Paris Radio Fans

What can you do in Paris besides listening to local radio stations?

You can do anything you want – from walking along the Seine to exploring the catacombs, walking across the Montmartre hill, or visiting the city’s most urban restaurants and bars, there’s almost no limit to the things you can do to explore Paris. 

Top 10 Things to Do in Paris

We leave you with a list of top things to do in Paris on a short vacation: 

1. Visit the Eiffel Tower (during the day and night). 
2. Visit the Louvre – just make sure you have an entire day because the museum’s capacity is enormous. 
3. Try the food – macarons, crepes, moules frites, and of course, the legendary croissant!
4. Check out the Arc de Triomphe. You can also hit two birds with one stone and take a walk along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées leading straight to the Arc.
5. Hot chocolate is a must – go for the iconic Angelina, but if it’s packed, swing by the Les Deux Magots or the Carette. 
6. Go straight for the heart of Paris by visiting the tiny Île de la Cité island holding the Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame Cathedral. 
7. Head to Versailles. You can take a tour through the palace as well as the majestic gardens of Versailles. It’s a short drive outside Paris but well worth it. 
8. Paris is a city of visual arts, so visiting the Musee d’Orsay should be in your top 10 things to do in Paris. It’s a museum dedicated to Impressionism, so expect lots of Degas, Monet, Manet, Renoir, and Cezanne. 
9. Give Paris by Mouth a chance to introduce you to some of the signature tastes of Paris by taking you on a food tour. It’s to die for!
10.  A calm walk along the Seine can be both relaxing and entertaining as you can both enjoy the quiet weather, take beautiful pictures, and shop for second-hand books and other forms of art.