Heart 106.2FM Beats Strong In Latest Radio Figures

Chrysalis Radio’s Heart 106.2FM came out well in the June 1999 RAJAR figures, released yesterday afternoon. The London pop station showed an increase of just under four million listeners a week (30.5%) when compared to the previous RAJAR period to March 1999. Heart’s share of listening in London was also up, by 1.0% points to a share of 5.5%.

Capital 95.8FM remains the capital’s most popular station, with a weekly reach of 3.1 million, up 4.1% in the June figures. Capital’s share of London listening now stands at 13.1%, up 0.9% period on period. Capital Gold London’s share, on the other hand, dropped back 0.6% points to 4.7%. “The sustained performance by Capital Gold on the inferior AM wavelength keeps the station well poised to enter the digital age,” says Capital.

Chris Evans’ 105.8FM Virgin Radio London slipped back in both reach and share, as did the national Virgin station. In London Virgin’s share dropped back by 0.9% to 3.1% and reach fell by 10% to 1.1 million listeners.

EMAP Radio’s development of Kiss FM at the end of last year (see Emap’s Kiss FM Sees Dramatic Restructuring) appears to have paid off. Kiss’ weekly reach is up 17.1% period on period to 1.3 million; its share of listening in London grew by 0.4% points to 3.3%. EMAP has recently rolled out a rebranding campaign and new logo for Kiss FM to build on its London audience (see Emap Radio Gives Kiss A New Look).

News stations LBC 1152AM and News Direct 97.3FM both dropped listeners in this set of figures, with reach down by 17.9% and 15.0% respectively.

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As the RAJAR survey is now operating under a new methodology, year on year comparisons are prohibited. However, data from the period to March 1999 can be compared with this release which covers the period to June 1999. For an explanation of the new RAJAR methodology and how and when the stations report, click RAJAR – The New Methodology Explained.