The first RAJAR of 2024, Q1 is here!

RAJAR’s first quarterly update of 2024 is here, check out the top stats for the period (January – March 2024)

Data collected from this period has revealed that the weekly population of all commercial radio listeners has increased in 2024 with 89% equivalent to 50 million adults, this is a 1% increase compared to Q4 2023.

Here are some interesting stats –

  • The total average number of weekly hours listened to radio for this quarter is 1.023 billion hours.
  • On average a listener tunes into 20.5 hours of Live Radio per week, unchanged from Q4 2023.
  • 44 million adults (77%) are now tuning in to radio via a digitally enabled platform each week.
  • 73% of weekly listening hours are consumed digitally.
  • In an average week, digital listening accounts for 746 million hours increasing by 17 million since Q4 2023.
  • DAB has a 58% share of digital listening hours, Smart speaker with 23%, Website/Apps with 15%, and DTV with 4%.
  • 63% of Smart Speaker users say they use it for listening to the radio.
  • AM/FM listening hours have a share of 27%, falling by 1% since Q4 2023.
  • 33% of all adults claim to listen to Podcasts at least once a month, this has increased by 6% since the last quarterly update.
  • 30% of all adults say they listen to radio via Smartphone or Tablet at least once a month

National radio stats –

The latest RAJAR Q4 results reported that Commercial radio gained an additional 500,000 weekly listeners.

Three-quarters of commercial stations (75%) gained reach compared to the previous quarter, compared to more than half (53%) of BBC stations losing reach.

Breaking its record yet again, Heart Radio strengthens its position as the number one commercial radio brand, growing to a huge 12.4 million listeners across the UK, increasing by 900,000 listeners since Q3 2024.

Additionally, Capital had a great Q1 report, reaching 8.3 million weekly listeners nationwide, a 400,000 gain in listeners.

Bauer Media and partner stations celebrated this quarterly report with 198,000 weekly listeners, with a reach up 30% compared to last quarter.

Welsh radio stats

Welsh radio stations have had a very successful RAJAR this quarter.

Heart South Wales has remained the most listened to radio station in Wales. The Q1 report has shown reach is currently 453,000 an increase of 34,000 compared to Q4 2023. Also holding the highest weekly percentage reach at 23%.

This quarter, Kiss (West) has had greater success than Q4 2023. With a 36,000 gain in listeners, the station now has the biggest reach growth in all of Wales this quarter, reaching 311,000 listeners overall.

Nation Radio Wales has again increased its reach during Q1 2024, gaining 17,000 listeners making their total reach 202,000 listeners.

Smooth Radio North West and Wales remained the station with the highest average listening hours this quarter with 9.5 per week.

Greatest Hits South Wales’ (previously The Wave) weekly reach has further increased in Q1 2024 by 16,000, now reaching 136,000 listeners.

Heart North Wales has gained a considerable reach of listeners this quarter with an increase of 30,000, making the total reach of 132,000 listeners.

Following suit, Capital South Wales also had a successful quarter with an increased reach of 191,000 gaining 31,000 more listeners.

The only 2 stations throughout Wales to marginally fall in reach were Radio Pembrokeshire and Bridge FM, both decreasing by 2,000 listeners each.

Despite station switching, radio listeners continue to tune in regularly, demonstrating the importance of radio as a medium for spreading your message and drawing in new clients.

With over 40 years of commercial radio experience, contact our radio experts today to help with your next campaign!

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