BAUER MEDIA AUDIO UK CELEBRATES RECORD 21.6M REACH, WITH THE HITS RADIO BRAND NETWORK’S BEST EVER PERFORMANCE

Today’s RAJAR results demonstrate the popularity of commercial radio with 38.1m listeners every week (+3.6% YoY) and 507m hours (+5.3% YoY). Bauer Media Audio UK is celebrating record numbers again this quarter, having grown its total audience to 21.6m (+5% YoY), including a record performance from the Hits Radio Brand Network.

Bauer leads the market for innovation with more than three quarters of its audience listening via a digital device ahead of the industry average, with three of the Top 5 digital only commercial stations; KISSTORY, Absolute 80s and Planet Rock.

Standout performances this quarter, include:

• The Hits Radio Brand Network, which is comprised of the Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio Networks, grows its reach to 10.1m (+20.2% YoY). When partner stations are included, it is the UK’s biggest commercial network, with record reach of 12.2m (+22.3% YoY)
• The Hits Radio Network grows audiences 17.3% YoY to reach 6.6m and with Fleur East securing her finalist position on BBC 1’s Strictly Come Dancing, the Hits Radio Breakfast Show grows to 455k (+28.5% YoY and +13.2% QoQ)
• The Greatest Hits Radio Network, set to be the new home of Ken Bruce from April, has another record performance at 4.4m (+31.4% YoY), with Simon Mayo growing the reach of his Drivetime show to 1.5m (+18.7% YoY)
• The Absolute Radio Network has 5.2m reach and is home to the No.1 commercial Drivetime Show which reaches 2.1m (+1.7% YoY), and the ARIA award-winning Dave Berry Breakfast Show which grows reach to 2.2m (+1% YoY)
• The Magic Radio Network is up on the quarter to 3.8m reach, with record reach for Magic Chilled at 448k (+70.3% YoY) and brilliant performances for Magic Soul at 418k reach (+45.6% YoY) and Mellow Magic at 556k (+37.6% YoY)
• The KISS Network has 4.2m reach, including No.1 commercial digital station, KISSTORY and KISS Breakfast with Jordan & Perri has increased reach this quarter to over 1m

Dee Ford CBE, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Audio UK said, “This RAJAR offers further proof that this is an ambitious new era for commercial radio.  Bauer Media Audio’s record success is built on the unique spirit of radio –creative content, amazing talent and authentic connection with audiences – supercharged by digital innovation.   We are perfectly placed for a hugely exciting future.”

Ben Cooper, Chief Content and Music Officer, Bauer Media Audio UK said, ‘I’m delighted that Greatest Hits Radio, the new home of Ken Bruce, has just achieved a record-breaking number of listeners, increasing its audience by nearly a third, with huge wins for Rossie on Breakfast and Simon Mayo on Drivetime. And Fleur East enjoys her Strictly Come Dancing success as she helped Hits Radio reach a record 6.6million listeners.’

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Note to editors:

Bauer Media Audio UK total reach figure includes partner stations. * Bauer Partner Stations – Bauer Media
For more information, please contact:  

Amelia O’Shea – Head of Communications, Bauer Media Audio UK
E: amelia.oshea@bauermedia.co.uk T: 07531 949693

Odelia Yu – Commercial Communications Manager
E: odelia.yu@bauermedia.co.uk T: 07718 124791

About Bauer Media UK: 

Bauer Media UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.