The latest RAJAR results show the biggest ever commercial radio audience with 38.2m listening every week, for a record number of hours (520m). Bauer Media Audio UK has achieved a record total audience of 21.3m, with record growth for the Hits Radio Brand Network and strong performances across its other influential networks.

With a continued shift to listening via digital devices, Bauer dominates the market with a digital listening profile of 75%, ahead of an industry average of 70%, and is home to 3 of the top 5 digital only commercial radio stations: KISSTORY, Absolute 80s and Planet Rock.

Standout performances this quarter, include:

• A record performance for The Hits Radio Brand Network, which grows to 9.8m (+12.4% YoY). When partner stations are included, it is the UK’s biggest commercial network, with record reach of 11.9m (+16.1% YoY)
• Within this the Hits Radio Network grows total audiences to 6.6m (+6.7% YoY) while the Greatest Hits Radio Network extends its reach to 4.1m listeners (+28.3% YoY).
• The Absolute Radio Network has grown to 5.3m, (+1.3% YoY) and its ARIA award-winning Dave Berry Breakfast Show grows reach to 2.2m (+2.6% YoY)
• The KISS Network has also grown its audience this quarter to 4.3m, including No.1 commercial digital only station, KISSTORY, while main station KISS has grown to 2.7m (+7.2% YoY). KISS afternoon host and Strictly Come Dancing Tyler West’s audience edges close to 1 million (943k)
• The Magic Radio Network has 3.7m reach, with the main station growing on the quarter to reach 2.8m and Magic Chilled reaching a record audience of 410k

Dee Ford CBE, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Audio UK said, “For the first time ever, commercial radio is attracting more than half of all listening in the UK. It’s achieved this through creating more ways to listen with more products to listen to, which creates more exciting opportunities for our commercial partners. It’s no wonder listeners are voting with their ears.”

Ben Cooper, Chief Content and Music Officer, Bauer Media Audio UK said, “The scores are in, and it’s another brilliant book for Bauer, with great results for our stations. We’ve grown reach across the portfolio and the Hits Radio Brand Network is going from strength to strength. And it’s not only Strictly stars Fleur and Tyler that are hitting the mark with our audiences, with presenters across our brands growing increasingly popular.”

– ENDS –

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: 07718 489342

 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.