BAUER MEDIA AUDIO UK REACHES RECORD 22.4M REACH, WITH BEST EVER PERFORMANCES FOR THE HITS RADIO BRAND AND ABSOLUTE RADIO NETWORKS

RAJAR Q1 2023

Commercial radio is more popular than ever, as today’s RAJAR results show that a record 38.7m people are listening every week (+4.1% YoY), with 519m hours consumed (+5.9% YoY). Bauer Media Audio UK is celebrating further growth this quarter, with a record 22.4m reach (+6.5% YoY), including record performances from the Hits Radio Brand and Absolute Radio Networks.

Bauer again leads the market for innovation with more listening via a digital device than ever before (77.7%) ahead of the industry average (67.6%) and has six of the Top Ten digital commercial stations; #1 Absolute Radio, #2 KISSTORY, #5 Absolute 80s, #6 Planet Rock, #8 Absolute Radio 90s, #10 Absolute Classic 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 a record 11m (+19.2% YoY). When partner stations are included, it is the UK’s biggest commercial network, with record reach of 13.1m (+19% YoY).
• The Hits Radio Network grows audiences 16.4% YoY to reach 6.7m, with the main Hits Radio station up to a record 1.8m reach (+40.8% YoY).
• The Greatest Hits Radio Network, which at the start of this quarter announced that Ken Bruce would be joining the station in April, has record reach at 5.3m (+26.9% YoY), with Simon Mayo adding half a million listeners to his Drivetime show, with 2m reach (+34.8% YoY).
• The Absolute Radio Network has also recorded its highest ever audience at 5.3m reach, and since becoming digital only, Absolute Radio is now the No.1 commercial digital station. It is also home to the No.1 commercial Drivetime Show with an audience of 2.2m (+10.5% YoY) and Dave Berry’s Breakfast Show also reaches 2.2m (+0.6% YoY).
• The Magic Radio Network is up on the quarter to 4m reach, with best ever reach for Magic Chilled at 453k (+39.8%).
• The KISS Network has 4.2m reach, with the main KISS station up to 2.5m (+8.5% YoY)

Dee Ford CBE, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Audio UK said, ‘Our relentless focus on delivering world-class content, while recruiting and nurturing the best talent in the industry is what continues to drive our growth and success at Bauer Media Audio UK. The future is exceptionally bright for commercial radio, and Bauer is in the best possible position to embrace the fantastic opportunities that lie ahead.”

Ben Cooper, Chief Content and Music Officer, Bauer Media Audio UK said, ‘Greatest Hits Radio continues its unstoppable rise, with a million listeners added and that’s even before Ken Bruce had started – meanwhile Dave Berry’s Absolute Radio and Fleur East and the Hits Radio team celebrated their biggest ever audiences – so thank you for making this a record-breaking start to 2023 for Bauer Media Audio.’

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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.