RAJAR Q1 2009: Round-up

The latest RAJAR figures, for Q1 2009, are released today, with Magic 105.4 recording the highest weekly reach in London for the ninth consecutive quarter.

Johnny Vaughan’s 95.8 Capital Radio breakfast show, meanwhile, remained the Capital’s top morning listen, with a weekly reach of more than 1 million, after an impressive year on year increase of 13%.

Nationally, Heart Network’s total weekly reach was up 4.6% period on period, taking its total to a very healthy 7.2 million listeners.

There was some good news for Total Absolute Radio too, as its average hours per listener figure continues to rise following its takeover of Virgin Radio, up 20.3% year on year and 7.6% period on period to 7.1 hours.

Looking at the London stations, Magic 105.4 has the highest weekly reach of the stations there, although it has fallen behind Heart 106.2 FM in both share of listening and average hours per listener.

Magic’s average weekly reach in London is back above the 2 million listeners mark after a year on year increase of almost 7%. However, Heart now has the largest overall share of listening in London at nearly 6%.

Stepping back and taking a look at the overall picture, Q1 proved to be a strong three months for the commercial radio sector, as it enjoyed a 1.5% year on year rise in weekly reach, taking its listener base to around 31.5 million, its highest figure since June 2007.

And while many have bemoaned the lack of support given to DAB radio in the UK, it is doing more than just hanging on in there, seeing its listening hours hit 130 million in the first quarter, up from 116 million hours in Q4 2008.