The latest RAJAR figures for Q4 2024 reveal that commercial radio now reaches 40 million weekly listeners in the UK, up from 39 million in the same period last year.
Notably, online listening has grown to 31.1% of all commercial radio listening, up from 28.9% in Q4 2023. Commercial radio also widens its lead over the BBC, reaching 8.2 million more listeners than BBC stations, growing from 7.8 million in the same quarter of 2023.
This growth underscores the enduring appeal of commercial radio and highlights the increasing importance of online platforms and connected devices like smart speakers.
For all radio, smart speaker listening is 16.1% of total listening, up from 14.7% in Q4 2023. Much of this growth is driven by commercial radio and the continued innovation of broadcasters, with smart speaker listening at 19.8%.
Radiocentre’s CEO, Matt Payton, emphasizes the importance of establishing a new regulatory framework for the industry, given the significant share of listening on online platforms and connected devices.
For a more in-depth analysis of these trends and their implications for advertisers, read the full article on Radiocentre’s website here.
