Commercial radio reaches 9m more people than the BBC. Global’s Heart recorded 13m listeners, while Bauer’s portfolio declined year-on-year and News UK saw growth across its stations.

The number of people listening to radio continued to grow in Q3 2026, with 51m people across the UK tuning in each week. This was up 0.1% quarter-on-quarter and 2% year-on-year, according to the latest Rajar figures.

Bauer’s breakfast shows recorded mixed results, as talkSPORT and Times Radio Breakfast saw year-on-year growth.

Online listening reached a record share of radio consumption in Q3 2026, with digital platforms accounting for more than three-quarters of all listening as AM/FM continued to decline. Commercial radio also saw year-on-year growth in online listening.

The new collective for independent media agencies aims to build on the work undertaken at AMI, with a greater focus on commercial opportunities, industry standards and campaigning.