Magic FM Bolsters Weekly Reach To Over 1.9 Million In London

The latest RAJAR figures, for Q2 2007, show that Emap’s Magic FM (London) once again had the highest weekly reach of the main London stations, enjoying a year on year increase of more than 5.1%.

The station’s weekly reach, of more than 1.9 million listeners, was also up period on period, by almost 8.7%.

Magic FM (London)’s share of listening showed a year on year dip of around 4.6 percentage points, although it was up period on period by just over five percentage points, taking its share to just over 6%.

It was not a particularly good quarter for 95.8 Capital Radio, which saw its weekly reach drop both period on period and year on year, by around 6.4% and 7.4% respectively, giving the station a weekly reach of over 1.5 million.

Its average hours per listener figure was also down, falling by almost 4.8% year on year to 6%, whilst its share of listening was down 18 percentage points over the same period to just over 4%.

GCap Media, 95.8 Capital Radio’s parent company, announced in July that its radio advertising was up 14% compared to last year, with Capital set to continue to receive a major marketing push (see GCap Media Revenues ‘Ahead Of Expectations’).

Heart 106.2 FM enjoyed a big year on year rise in its weekly reach, up almost 8.8%, taking it to more than 1.8 million, whilst Kiss FM’s weekly reach was also up year on year, to more than 1.5 million Londoners, after an increase of just over 1%.

Although the average hours spent by listeners with Heart 106.2 FM was down year on year, at 1.3%, it was up period on period by almost 11.8% to just over 7.5 hours. The station also recorded growth in its share of listening, with a period on period increase of around 14.8 percentage points giving Heart 106.2 FM a 6.2% share of listening.

Kiss 100 FM’s average hours per listener figure grew by 8.2% year on year, taking it to over 6.5 hours. Likewise, its share of listening also increased in Q2, by nearly 15.4 percentage points period on period, to 4.5%.

Alison Finch was appointed as commercial director across Emap Radio’s Magic 105.4 and Kiss Radio network in May this year, with the newly created role seeing Finch tasked with developing a new commercial strategy for the Kiss network (see Finch Appointed Kiss And Magic Commercial Director).

Meanwhile, Virgin Radio London, which had previously reported as Virgin 105.8 FM London, recorded a weekly reach of just over one million Londoners, with an average hours per listener of six hours and a share of listening of 3%.

Virgin changed its reporting methodology in Q2, with Virgin Radio London now representing all analogue listening in London.

RAJAR: 020 7292 9040 www.rajar.co.uk