The Q4 2023 RAJAR also marks increases for the Absolute Radio and Magic Radio Networks

Bauer Media Audio UK is celebrating an impressive reach of 23.3m weekly listeners (+7.8% YoY) in the latest RAJAR results. These Q4 2023 figures reinforce Bauer’s position as a leader in the industry, contributing significantly to the overall commercial radio growth of 2.8% YoY to 39.1m listeners.

Greatest Hits Radio remains the UK’s most listened to commercial radio station and has gained 2.8m listeners in a year, while Bauer’s much-loved networks including Absolute Radio and Magic Radio also celebrate increases.

Standout performances this quarter, include:

• Greatest Hits Radio continues its meteoric rise, now reaching 6.8m weekly listeners (+69.8% YoY). Ken Bruce has a record audience of 3.8m a week (+117% YoY). Simon Mayo has the UK’s No.1 commercial Drivetime show with a record 2.5m listeners (+71% YoY). Rossie at Breakfast has a record 2.8m weekly listeners (+71% YoY).
• The Hits Radio Network reaches 6.3m a week, with flagship station Hits Radio reaching 1.4m listeners (+6.6% YoY).
• The Hits Radio Portfolio, which offers advertisers access to the combined Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio audiences, reaches 12m every week (+19.2% YoY), and 14.1m (+15.3% YoY) when partner stations are included.
• The Absolute Radio Network reaches 5.3m weekly listeners (+1.3% YoY). The main station is up 11.0% YoY to 2.4m and Absolute Radio Country has had another great book, up 44.8% YoY to 407k. The Dave Berry Breakfast Show reaches 2.2m listeners (+3.1% YoY).
• The KISS Network reaches 4.2m, within which KISSTORY continues its reign as the UK’s biggest commercial digital station with 2.4m weekly listeners (+4.5% YoY).
• The Magic Radio Network has increased its audience to 4.2m (+10.0% YoY), with the main station Magic Radio up to 3.4m (+18.2% YoY), with another record for Magic Soul with 502k listeners (+20.1% YoY).

Once again Bauer celebrates 81% of listening via digital devices and is home to three of the Top Five digital commercial stations, #1 KISSTORY, #2 Absolute Radio and #4 Absolute 80s. It’s also ahead of the market in terms of listening via connected devices, with Bauer reporting 30% of listening via smart speaker, web and app.

Simon Myciunka, CEO for Bauer Media Audio UK said, ‘At Bauer Media Audio UK, we’re passionate about delivering value to our audiences and it’s fantastic to see this mirrored in our year-on-year increase of 7.8% in reach and 13.2% in hours.

‘We are attracting more listeners, who are listening for longer thanks to our high-quality content and investment in presenter line-up. I’m really proud of our teams that have contributed to this sustained growth throughout the last 12 months.  Already home to the UK’s most listened to commercial station and with a focus on future growth, who better to partner with than Bauer?’

Ben Cooper, Chief Content & Music Officer, Bauer Media Audio UK said, ‘Congratulations to Magic Radio which celebrates its new line up of presenters with a fantastic increase of over half a million new listeners. And a huge well done to Greatest Hits Radio up an amazing 2.8 million listeners in a year with Ken Bruce, Rossie and Simon Mayo getting record increases, helping the station achieve its own record audience of 6.8 million.’

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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.