Urbania expands to France, acquires Binge Audio podcast studio

Urbania, a Quebec-based media group founded in 2003 by Philippe Lamarre, has expanded into France and acquired the French podcast studio Binge Audio in March 2026. The group, which started as an independent magazine in Montreal, now employs over 100 people across Montreal and Paris. Lamarre, a designer by training, created Urbania with the mission to 'make the ordinary extraordinary.' The group operates an editorial unit, a branded content studio, a production house, and a tech lab. The acquisition of Binge Audio, which produces podcasts like Les Couilles sur la table and Programme B, aims to bridge podcasting and audiovisual content. Lamarre emphasizes that podcasts are becoming audiovisual, blurring format boundaries. Urbania also supports influencers and maintains financial independence. Lamarre co-chaired a Quebec working group on cultural and audiovisual future, releasing a report titled 'Souffler sur les braises' in 2025. He criticizes the impact of Canada's Bill C-18, which led Meta to block news content, and advocates for direct audience subscriptions. Urbania is exploring AI to reduce repetitive tasks and improve content distribution. Lamarre dreams of expanding into Africa and Haiti, with potential offices in Dakar or Abidjan.