Magic FM Still Has Top Reach In London

This report on London radio stations has been slightly amended to incorporate the re-release of data from RAJAR for Q4 2007, following weighting irregularities from RAJAR’s contractor RSMB on six monthly reporting stations. Any changes are clearly highlighted in the text and tables (where appropriate).

Q4 2007 RAJAR figures show that Magic FM (London) once again had the highest weekly reach in the Capital, at almost two million listeners, after a year on year rise of 9.9%.

However, the station was down by almost 2.9% period on period.

Its share of listening, at 6.1%, was up 10.9 percentage points year on year, and was just behind Heart 106.2 FM’s share, which at 6.2% was down 12.7 percentage points year on year.

Magic FM (London) also saw a fall in average hours per listener year on year, of 1.5%, although it remained static period on period at 6.6 hours.

Magic, along with Emap’s entire radio division, has now been acquired by German publishing giant H Bauer (see H Bauer Buys Emap’s Magazine And Radio Divisions), however, in Q4 2007, the station was still owned by Emap.

Heart 106.2 FM’s reach now stands at over 1.8 million listeners following year on year and period on period falls of 0.6% and 5.4% respectively.

95.8 Capital Radio reported a year on year rise in weekly reach, of 3.7%, taking it to more than 1.5 million. However, it was down by over 11% period on period.

Kiss 100 FM also suffered a relatively large period on period decrease in its reach, of 10.2%, leaving it with a total of more than 1.4 million listeners.

However, it enjoyed a strong year on year rise in share of listening, of 7.7 percentage points, taking its total share to 4.2%. 95.8 Capital Radio’s share remained static both year on year and period on period in Q4, at 4.7%.

There was some strong period on period growth in average hours per listener in Q4, with 95.8 Capital Radio and Kiss 100 FM up by 11.9% and 10.5% respectively.

95.8 Capital Radio’s average hours per listener figure now stands at 6.6 hours while Kiss 100 FM’s is 6.3 hours. Heart 106.2 FM saw its hours increase by 7.4% period on period, taking its total to 7.3 hours.

Meanwhile, Virgin Radio London recorded a weekly reach of just over one million Londoners, with an average hours per listener of 6.0 hours (changed from 5.6 hours in RAJAR re-release 15/2/08) and a share of listening of 2.9% (changed from 2.8% in RAJAR re-release 15/2/08).

Virgin changed its reporting methodology in Q2 2007, with Virgin Radio London now representing all analogue listening in London.

Total Virgin (London) had a weekly reach of more than 1.1 million, with an average hours per listener of 6.3 (changed from 6.2 hours in RAJAR re-release 15/2/08) and a share of 3.4% (changed from 3.3% in RAJAR re-release 15/2/08).

New RAJAR specification introduced in Q2 2007. Please use caution.

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