It’s the 16th May, which means that… RAJAR figures for the first quarter of 2013 are out! Results reveal that even more people are tuning into radio across both analog and digital platforms – 90.3% of over 15s tuned into radio between January and March, up from 89.8% in Q1 of 2012, which equates to almost 50million listeners. An 11% year on year increase for digital has also been highlighted, with 50% of the adult population now using DAB, TV and online channels. A 19% year on year growth was also enjoyed by mobile, with 20% of UK adults now listening via this platform.
Independent network Absolute, which includes the likes of Absolute Radio and Absolute 80s, experienced a 9.2% increase in listeners from 2012,and a quarter on quarter increase of listening hours from 23.5million to 25.7million.
Real and Smooth Radio Group can celebrate an extra 1million listeners over last year’s figures, now totalling 47.3million hours per week across an audience of 5.57million. Real and Smooth Radio Group programme director John Simons commented that: “Smooth Radio continues to hold a strong position and proves that digital listening is not just a preserve of younger listeners.”
THE BBC
BBC Radio 1’s attempt to acquire a younger crowd has been met with instability, as Nick Grimshaw failed to maintain figures left by his predecessor Chris Moyles during the Breakfast Show, dipping from December’s 11.1 million listeners to 10.2 million by the end of the quarter. In contrast, Chris Evans’ morning Radio 2 slot has experienced an increase of 4.9% compared to Q1 2012, with a 17.7% share of total radio listeners. Radio 4 also experienced the overall taste of success, with a weekly reach of 10.76 million listeners, up from 10.31 million, and an audience share of 12.8% compared to last year’s 11.9%.
Radio 1 put the fluctuation down to their new schedule”still bedding in”, as, while their current audience has shrunk, they have in fact begun to achieve their objective of attracting a higher proportion of listeners in the 15-24 age bracket. BBC Radio director Helen Boaden, said: “We remain confident that it will emerge strongly from a period of transition. Radio 1 is in good health – as clearly demonstrated by five golds at this week’s Sony Radio Academy Awards.”
The network’s digital reach correlated with the nationwide increase in the sector, rising from 29.2% to 34.3% of the total BBC audience. BBC Radio 6 continues to thrive, managing a 24.7% increase on last year’s 1.45million weekly listeners.
BAUER MEDIA GROUP
Bauer Media managed an overall growth of both listeners and audience share, with its Magic 105.4 station topping the list of London’s favourite commercial choice in terms of share, securing a percentage of 5.6 compared to rival Global Radio’s Capital FM obtaining 4.2%. In contrast, Kiss FM recoiled from its 2012 record-breaking statistics with a 10.7% drop on the previous quarter to 1.62 million listeners.
Bauer Media group managing director Dee Ford said: “We’re delighted to see another strong RAJAR performance for the Bauer Media Group. Our continued investment in radio and commitment to national as well as local audiences has paid off through strong performances from our Passion and Place Portfolios, led by great results from Kiss and heat nationally, and by Magic maintaining its position as the number one commercial station in London.”
GLOBAL RADIO
Global Radio darling XFM was successful across both its London and Manchester stations, with XFM London undergoing a growth of 40.3% and XFM Manchester gaining 53,000 listeners since 2012.
Despite losing out to Bauer’s Magic for audience share over London, Global’s Capital FM managed to win in terms of reach, securing 1.95million listeners in the city as opposed to Magic’s 1.86million.
Unofficial chart show ‘The Vodafone Big Top 40’ also gave Global some joy as the nation’s favourite musical countdown, driven by Capital FM presenter Rich Clark. Global Radio director of broadcast, Richard Park, said; “I am delighted that the Big Top 40 remains the country’s favourite chart show, proving that the real time chart show element is still most popular amongst listeners.”