Commercial Radio Revenue Grows 20% In Q1

Commercial Radio has taken £67.7million in the first quarter of 1996; this is the highest ever first quarter revenue and represents a growth of 20% on the first quarter of 1995. Commercial Radio revenue for the year to March 1996 was £281.4 million, a twelve month growth of 21%.

Revenue from national advertisers has grown more quickly, with an annual growth of 23%. Latest figures from the Advertising Association show the total display marketplace grew by 7% across 1995; total radio revenue growth across the last year was 22.7%.

David Fletcher, director of radio at CIA Medianetwork said, “Four years ago radio’s imperative was to increase revenue from anywhere; now it seems the revenue growth is from everywhere. Even food and drink, the last bastion of visual advertising, is starting to make substantial radio investment.”

Douglas McArthur, managing director of the RAB predicted that Commercial Radio will approach the 5% share of all display advertising revenue in 1996.