Commercial radio ‘on a roll’ with record reach and share

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8 minutes

Rajar Q1 2024 analysis: Commercial radio reached a new record audience in the last quarter with 39.7m weekly listeners, according to Rajar figures.

Radio listening socialising. Credit Radiocentre. Resized

Radio listening socialising. Credit Radiocentre. Resized

Ella Sagar Avatar

Ella Sagar Ella Sagar is a reporter for The Media Leader and leads our audio and out-of-home coverage. She joined in September 2021 and has a gold standard NCTJ. She previously wrote for the South West Londoner, Ealing Times, and The Hillingdon Times. At the University of Leeds, she received a First Class Honours Degree in French and Spanish with distinction in speaking and during her time there regularly presented radio shows on Leeds Student Radio, wrote for the student paper The Gryphon and was editor of Her Campus Leeds.


Commercial radio reached a new record audience in the last quarter with 39.7m weekly listeners, according to Rajar figures.

This overtook the previous record high from Q3 2023 of 39.3m.*

Three-quarters of commercial stations (75%) gained reach compared to the previous quarter, compared to more than half (53%) of BBC stations losing reach.

Commercial also grew its share of listening year-on-year to 54.2% compared to the BBC’s 43.4% in the quarter.

Commercial vs BBC radio share of weekly listening 2017 2024 graph

Radio’s total combined weekly UK audience also hit a record high of 49.9m adults, or 88.6% of the adult UK population, surpassing the previous record set in Q1 2022 of 49.7m.

Across an average week, 62% of radio listening was found to be in the home, 58% in a car, van or lorry, and 19% at work or elsewhere.

The quarterly data also included the claimed weekly listening to on-demand music services and podcasts from a separate self-complete questionnaire.* The former reached 22.28m adults or 40% of UK adults once a week or more, while the latter reached 11.69m listeners or 21% of all adults. 

Industry body Radiocentre’s CEO Matt Payton said the figures showed radio was “on a roll” and showed the industry’s “strength and commitment” to audiences and advertisers.

Payton said: “To see commercial radio reach record audiences just shy of 40m people each week is a fantastic achievement and shows how much people in the UK really value and trust the medium.”

He added the “sustained growth” of online and smart speaker listening was “a timely reminder” of the importance of the incoming Media Bill to safeguard UK radio which returns to parliament next week.

*Editor’s note: this has been updated since publication.

StationGroupEnding Mar 23Ending Dec 23Ending Mar 24QoQ % ChYoY % Ch
Total Global Radio (UK)Global Radio25,27225,18426,2294.13.8
Bauer Media Audio UK – Total (exc Partners)Bauer Radio20,83721,79022,6554.08.7
BBC Radio 2BBC14,45813,28113,228-0.4-8.5
Hits Radio Portfolio (exc Partners)Bauer Radio10,95612,01613,1559.520.1
Heart Brand (UK)Global Radio11,25111,52712,3937.510.2
BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra)BBC9,8389,4769,6331.7-2.1
Heart Network (UK)Global Radio8,8968,8389,4426.86.1
BBC Radio 4BBC9,3999,1169,2041.0-2.1
Capital Brand (UK)Global Radio7,8397,9218,3084.96.0
Greatest Hits Network (exc Partners)Bauer Radio5,3096,8507,79813.846.9
Greatest Hits RadioBauer Radio5,1166,7537,68713.850.3
BBC Radio 1BBC7,5767,3307,310-0.3-3.5
Hits Radio Network (exc Partners)Bauer Radio6,7496,3306,7166.1-0.5
Total News BroadcastingTotal News Broadcasting6,7256,1576,6147.4-1.7
Smooth Brand (UK)Global Radio5,8836,1656,5285.911.0
News Broadcasting National NetworkTalkSPORT6,5115,9366,4168.1-1.5
Capital Network (UK)Global Radio6,1515,8716,2436.31.5
Smooth Radio Network (UK)Global Radio5,2525,4735,8046.010.5
Absolute Radio NetworkBauer Radio5,3415,2875,4833.72.7
BBC Radio 5 live (inc. sports extra)BBC5,5305,9525,252-11.8-5.0
BBC Radio 5 liveBBC5,1045,2454,889-6.8-4.2
News Broadcasting Speech NetworkTalkSPORT4,6904,3044,7109.40.4
Hits RadioBauer Radio1,7521,4304,533217.0158.7
Classic FMGlobal Radio4,5444,6894,440-5.3-2.3
Magic NetworkBauer Radio4,0304,1574,4176.39.6
KISS NetworkBauer Radio4,1744,2244,102-2.9-1.7
talkSPORT NetworkTalkSPORT3,5693,3423,71811.34.2
talkSPORTTalkSPORT3,2963,0813,39010.02.9
LBC Brand (UK)Global Radio3,4672,9903,2609.0-6.0
MagicBauer Radio2,8503,4223,069-10.37.7
BBC 6 MusicBBC2,7112,5192,5481.2-6.0
LBC (UK)Global Radio2,7172,4672,5473.2-6.3
KISSBauer Radio2,5022,3492,293-2.4-8.4
Absolute RadioBauer Radio2,4302,3592,236-5.2-8.0
Radio X Brand (UK)Global RadioN/A2,1682,2172.3N/A
KISSTORYBauer Radio2,1652,3682,089-11.8-3.5
Radio X Network (UK)Global Radio2,0132,0132,0692.82.8
Capital XTRA Brand UKGlobal Radio1,6911,9792,0553.821.5
BBC Radio 3BBC1,9311,7751,99512.43.3
Virgin Radio NetworkTalkSPORT2,0891,8251,9215.3-8.0
Heart 80sGlobal Radio1,5711,6781,86010.818.4
Gold Network (UK)Global Radio1,7501,6761,8108.03.4
Capital XTRA (UK)Global Radio1,4431,6861,6920.417.3
Absolute 80sBauer Radio1,4531,5891,556-2.17.1
BBC Radio 4 ExtraBBC1,6661,4641,5062.9-9.6
Virgin RadioTalkSPORT1,5171,3991,5037.4-0.9
BBC World ServiceBBC1,0851,0721,22514.312.9
Heart 90sGlobal Radio9951,1841,117-5.712.3
Planet RockBauer Radio1,2531,2851,039-19.1-17.1
Capital DanceGlobal Radio90386399515.310.2
Heart 00sGlobal Radio66582599420.549.5
LBC News (UK)Global Radio1,09181099022.2-9.3
BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraBBC1,1051,552971-37.4-12.1
Heart DanceGlobal Radio92282697017.45.2
Absolute Radio 90sBauer Radio9319479682.24.0
Absolute Classic RockBauer Radio9047968527.0-5.8
BBC Radio 1XtraBBC7927187869.5-0.8
TalkRadioTalkSPORT8407257574.4-9.9
Heart 70sGlobal Radio6566757277.710.8
Capital XTRA ReloadedGlobal Radio39849660321.651.5
Boom RadioBauer Radio635627602-4.0-5.2
talkSPORT2TalkSPORT47239856040.718.6
BBC Asian Network UKBBC44444854221.022.1
Magic SoulBauer Radio4325025122.018.5
HeatBauer Radio4624725046.89.1
Times RadioTalkSPORT5544925032.2-9.2
Mellow MagicBauer Radio5584924991.4-10.6
Kerrang!Bauer Radio34239945614.333.3
Magic ChilledBauer Radio4534164323.8-4.6
Jazz FMBauer Radio508446431-3.4-15.2
Smooth ChillGlobal Radio503471402-14.6-20.1
Absolute Radio CountryBauer Radio299407392-3.731.1
Smooth CountryGlobal Radio30131435814.018.9
Smooth RelaxGlobal RadioN/AN/A348N/AN/A
Sunrise Radio NationalSunrise Radio3273173293.80.6
Virgin Radio ChilledTalkSPORT429320299-6.6-30.3
Absolute Radio 00sBauer Radio3162892921.0-7.6
Absolute Radio 70sBauer Radio286299287-4.00.3
Virgin Radio AnthemsTalkSPORT333276255-7.6-23.4
Radio X Classic RockGlobal RadioN/A244241-1.2N/A
KISS FreshBauer Radio250245225-8.2-10.0
Magic at the MusicalsBauer Radio15016520021.233.3
Capital ChillGlobal RadioN/A1861902.2N/A
Scala RadioBauer Radio266199188-5.5-29.3
Absolute Radio 10sBauer Radio17114917416.81.8
Virgin Radio 80s PlusTalkSPORT15612315828.51.3
Absolute Radio 60sBauer Radio1281151237.0-3.9
National Stations Weekly Reach (000s)
StationGroupEnding Mar 23Ending Dec 23Ending Mar 24QoQ % ChYoY % Ch
BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra)BBC12.612.813.12.34.0
BBC Radio 4BBC12.012.212.30.82.5
Boom RadioBauer Radio9.711.011.87.321.6
LBC (UK)Global Radio10.810.410.83.8n/a
BBC Radio 2BBC10.610.210.63.9n/a
Planet RockBauer Radio9.310.210.2n/a9.7
BBC 6 MusicBBC9.910.410.0-3.81.0
Bauer Media Audio UK – Total (exc Partners)Bauer Radio8.99.69.4-2.15.6
Total Global Radio (UK)Global Radio9.29.49.4n/a2.2
LBC Brand (UK)Global Radio9.49.49.3-1.1-1.1
Scala RadioBauer Radio8.78.89.02.33.4
Hits Radio Portfolio (exc Partners)Bauer Radio8.09.08.8-2.210.0
Times RadioTalkSPORT6.38.08.810.039.7
Radio X Network (UK)Global Radio8.29.38.5-8.63.7
Radio X Brand (UK)Global RadioN/A9.28.5-7.6N/A
BBC Radio 4 ExtraBBC6.67.28.518.128.8
Classic FMGlobal Radio8.18.78.4-3.43.7
Greatest Hits Network (exc Partners)Bauer Radio7.18.58.4-1.218.3
Greatest Hits RadioBauer Radio7.18.58.3-2.416.9
BBC Radio 3BBC7.27.58.06.711.1
Hits Radio Network (exc Partners)Bauer Radio7.47.97.5-5.11.4
Absolute RadioBauer Radio6.35.97.018.611.1
Gold Network (UK)Global Radio7.37.96.8-13.9-6.8
News Broadcasting National NetworkTalkSPORT6.37.26.8-5.67.9
News Broadcasting Speech NetworkTalkSPORT6.37.26.8-5.67.9
Total News BroadcastingTotal News Broadcasting6.47.36.8-6.86.3
TalkRadioTalkSPORT6.87.76.6-14.3-2.9
Smooth Radio Network (UK)Global Radio6.66.66.5-1.5-1.5
Smooth Brand (UK)Global Radio6.76.66.5-1.5-3.0
Heart Brand (UK)Global Radio6.56.66.5-1.5n/a
Absolute Radio NetworkBauer Radio6.66.96.5-5.8-1.5
Hits RadioBauer Radio2.94.96.430.6120.7
Heart Network (UK)Global Radio6.46.46.4n/an/a
Radio X Classic RockGlobal RadioN/A5.76.310.5N/A
BBC Radio 1BBC6.66.36.3n/a-4.5
Absolute Radio CountryBauer Radio5.45.86.26.914.8
talkSPORTTalkSPORT5.86.86.2-8.86.9
talkSPORT NetworkTalkSPORT5.76.56.1-6.27.0
Virgin RadioTalkSPORT6.16.56.1-6.2n/a
BBC Radio 5 liveBBC6.06.06.0n/an/a
BBC Radio 5 live (inc. sports extra)BBC5.96.15.9-3.3n/a
Virgin Radio NetworkTalkSPORT5.66.35.9-6.35.4
BBC World ServiceBBC5.44.65.826.17.4
Magic NetworkBauer Radio5.65.85.3-8.6-5.4
Kerrang!Bauer Radio5.44.15.329.3-1.9
Capital ChillGlobal RadioN/A4.85.28.3N/A
Capital Brand (UK)Global Radio5.05.15.1n/a2.0
MagicBauer Radio5.35.75.1-10.5-3.8
Smooth CountryGlobal Radio4.94.85.16.24.1
Absolute 80sBauer Radio5.45.34.9-7.5-9.3
Absolute Classic RockBauer Radio5.25.84.8-17.2-7.7
Capital DanceGlobal Radio4.54.64.84.36.7
Capital Network (UK)Global Radio4.74.74.7n/an/a
Smooth ChillGlobal Radio6.55.04.7-6.0-27.7
Sunrise Radio NationalSunrise Radio4.54.64.72.24.4
KISS NetworkBauer Radio5.14.94.6-6.1-9.8
BBC Radio 1XtraBBC3.84.34.54.718.4
Magic at the MusicalsBauer Radio5.05.04.3-14.0-14.0
Smooth RelaxGlobal RadioN/AN/A4.3N/AN/A
KISSTORYBauer Radio4.54.44.2-4.5-6.7
BBC Asian Network UKBBC6.04.84.2-12.5-30.0
Magic SoulBauer Radio4.66.64.1-37.9-10.9
Heart 80sGlobal Radio3.94.54.1-8.95.1
Mellow MagicBauer Radio5.54.73.8-19.1-30.9
Heart 90sGlobal Radio2.93.53.75.727.6
Heart 00sGlobal Radio4.03.33.712.1-7.5
Jazz FMBauer Radio3.64.23.7-11.92.8
Capital XTRA Brand UKGlobal Radio3.63.93.7-5.12.8
Absolute Radio 90sBauer Radio4.54.03.6-10.0-20.0
KISSBauer Radio4.03.63.6n/a-10.0
Virgin Radio AnthemsTalkSPORT3.73.93.6-7.7-2.7
Absolute Radio 60sBauer Radio3.24.53.5-22.29.4
Capital XTRA ReloadedGlobal Radio2.43.03.516.745.8
Capital XTRA (UK)Global Radio3.43.73.5-5.42.9
Heart DanceGlobal Radio5.33.93.4-12.8-35.8
Virgin Radio ChilledTalkSPORT1.93.53.3-5.773.7
Heart 70sGlobal Radio5.13.73.0-18.9-41.2
Magic ChilledBauer Radio3.53.13.0-3.2-14.3
LBC News (UK)Global Radio2.83.12.8-9.7n/a
Absolute Radio 70sBauer Radio3.22.82.8n/a-12.5
HeatBauer Radio3.33.52.7-22.9-18.2
talkSPORT2TalkSPORT2.52.12.728.68.0
KISS FreshBauer Radio3.43.02.6-13.3-23.5
Absolute Radio 00sBauer Radio2.92.72.6-3.7-10.3
Virgin Radio 80s PlusTalkSPORT1.81.92.05.311.1
BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraBBC1.93.01.9-36.7n/a
Absolute Radio 10sBauer Radio1.31.11.1n/a-15.4
National Stations Average Hours Per Listener
StationGroupEnding Mar 23Ending Dec 23Ending Mar 24QoQ % ChYoY % Ch
Total Global Radio (UK)Global Radio23.023.424.00.61.0
Bauer Media Audio UK – Total (exc Partners)Bauer Radio18.420.620.80.22.4
BBC Radio 2BBC15.213.413.70.3-1.5
BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra)BBC12.312.012.30.30
Hits Radio Portfolio (exc Partners)Bauer Radio8.710.711.30.62.6
BBC Radio 4BBC11.211.011.10.1-0.1
Heart Brand (UK)Global Radio7.37.67.90.30.6
Greatest Hits Network (exc Partners)Bauer Radio3.75.86.40.62.7
Greatest Hits RadioBauer Radio3.65.76.30.62.7
Heart Network (UK)Global Radio5.65.65.90.30.3
Hits Radio Network (exc Partners)Bauer Radio5.04.94.90-0.1
BBC Radio 1BBC4.94.54.50-0.4
Total News BroadcastingTotal News Broadcasting4.34.44.400.1
Capital Brand (UK)Global Radio3.94.04.20.20.3
News Broadcasting National NetworkTalkSPORT4.14.24.200.1
Smooth Brand (UK)Global Radio3.94.04.10.10.2
Smooth Radio Network (UK)Global Radio3.43.63.70.10.3
Classic FMGlobal Radio3.64.03.6-0.40
Absolute Radio NetworkBauer Radio3.53.63.5-0.10
News Broadcasting Speech NetworkTalkSPORT2.93.13.100.2
LBC Brand (UK)Global Radio3.22.83.00.2-0.2
BBC Radio 5 live (inc. sports extra)BBC3.23.63.0-0.6-0.2
BBC Radio 5 liveBBC3.03.12.9-0.2-0.1
Capital Network (UK)Global Radio2.92.72.90.20
Hits RadioBauer Radio0.50.72.82.12.3
LBC (UK)Global Radio2.92.52.70.2-0.2
BBC 6 MusicBBC2.72.62.5-0.1-0.2
Magic NetworkBauer Radio2.22.42.3-0.10.1
talkSPORT NetworkTalkSPORT2.02.12.20.10.2
talkSPORTTalkSPORT1.92.12.100.2
Radio X Brand (UK)Global RadioN/A2.01.8-0.2N/A
KISS NetworkBauer Radio2.12.11.8-0.3-0.3
Radio X Network (UK)Global Radio1.61.81.7-0.10.1
BBC Radio 3BBC1.41.31.60.30.2
Absolute RadioBauer Radio1.51.41.50.10
MagicBauer Radio1.51.91.5-0.40
BBC Radio 4 ExtraBBC1.11.01.30.30.2
Gold Network (UK)Global Radio1.31.31.2-0.1-0.1
Virgin Radio NetworkTalkSPORT1.21.11.10-0.1
Planet RockBauer Radio1.21.31.0-0.3-0.2
KISSTORYBauer Radio1.01.00.9-0.1-0.1
Virgin RadioTalkSPORT0.90.90.900
KISSBauer Radio1.00.80.80-0.2
Heart 80sGlobal Radio0.60.70.80.10.2
BBC World ServiceBBC0.60.50.70.20.1
Boom RadioBauer Radio0.60.70.700.1
Capital XTRA Brand UKGlobal Radio0.60.80.7-0.10.1
Absolute 80sBauer Radio0.80.80.7-0.1-0.1
Capital XTRA (UK)Global Radio0.50.60.600.1
Capital DanceGlobal Radio0.40.40.50.10.1
TalkRadioTalkSPORT0.60.50.50-0.1
Times RadioTalkSPORT0.30.40.400.1
Heart 90sGlobal Radio0.30.40.400.1
Heart 00sGlobal Radio0.30.30.40.10.1
Absolute Classic RockBauer Radio0.50.50.4-0.1-0.1
Absolute Radio 90sBauer Radio0.40.40.3-0.1-0.1
BBC Radio 1XtraBBC0.30.30.300
Heart DanceGlobal Radio0.50.30.30-0.2
LBC News (UK)Global Radio0.30.20.30.10
Magic SoulBauer Radio0.20.30.2-0.10
Mellow MagicBauer Radio0.30.20.20-0.1
Scala RadioBauer Radio0.20.20.200
Jazz FMBauer Radio0.20.20.200
Kerrang!Bauer Radio0.20.20.200
Heart 70sGlobal Radio0.30.20.20-0.1
Capital XTRA ReloadedGlobal Radio0.10.10.20.10.1
BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraBBC0.20.50.2-0.30
BBC Asian Network UKBBC0.30.20.20-0.1
Absolute Radio CountryBauer Radio0.20.20.200
Smooth ChillGlobal Radio0.30.20.20-0.1
Smooth CountryGlobal Radio0.10.10.20.10.1
Smooth RelaxGlobal RadioN/AN/A0.1N/AN/A
Sunrise Radio NationalSunrise Radio0.10.10.100
talkSPORT2TalkSPORT0.10.10.100
Virgin Radio AnthemsTalkSPORT0.10.10.100
Virgin Radio ChilledTalkSPORT0.10.10.100
Absolute Radio 00sBauer Radio0.10.10.100
Absolute Radio 70sBauer Radio0.10.10.100
Capital ChillGlobal RadioN/A0.10.10N/A
HeatBauer Radio0.10.20.1-0.10
Radio X Classic RockGlobal RadioN/A0.10.10N/A
Magic at the MusicalsBauer Radio0.10.10.100
Magic ChilledBauer Radio0.20.10.10-0.1
KISS FreshBauer Radio0.10.10.100
Absolute Radio 10sBauer Radio00000
Absolute Radio 60sBauer Radio00.10-0.10
Virgin Radio 80s PlusTalkSPORT00000
National Stations Share of Listening (%)


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