Radioplayer releases ‘encouraging’ usage figures

The BBC-backed online radio station aggregator Radioplayer, which features hundreds of stations including hospital and student radio stations, had 5.7 million unique users last month.

The figure, the first usage data since the system launched in March, shows that users in May launched 22.5 million listening sessions across the 238 participating stations.

“This is a really encouraging first set of figures,” said Andrew Harrison, chairman of Radioplayer. RAJAR estimate that 5.3 million people in the UK listen to the radio via the internet each week.

At its launch, Radioplayer had 157 stations on board. A further 81 stations have since joined, with more in the pipeline.

At the system’s launch, Harrison said all 400 Ofcom-licensed stations will be added within a year.

“We look forward to building on this very positive foundation to create something that serves both industry and listeners alike,” Harrison added.

Radioplayer’s managing director Michael Hill said: “Growing digital radio is a long game, but we now have two magic ingredients. A simple, consistent Radioplayer with millions of users, and an industry working collaboratively on its digital future. It’s a great start.”