Rajar Special: top four takeaways for Q1 2024
Rajar: Q1 2024 analysis
Welcome to this special for the latest Rajar quarterly audience figures.
From commercial radio breaking more audience records, to smart speakers and Hits Radio Breakfast gains, here is comprehensive coverage of the latest updates in UK radio.
Commercial increases lead over BBC
Commercial radio reached a record audience in the last quarter with 39.7m weekly listeners, and a 54.2% share of listening compared to the BBC’s 43.4%.
Commercial overtook the BBC’s share of listening for the first time in Q2 2022.
Source: The Media Leader analysis of Rajar data
Smart speaker listening up 19% year-on-year
Smart speaker listening now accounts for one-sixth of total radio listening, with 170m hours listened to on these devices in an average week.
Hits Radio Breakfast enters UK top 10
Bauer’s Hits Radio Breakfast Show quadrupled its weekly audience year-on-year registering a weekly reach of 2m listeners for Q1 2024, up four-fold (300%) year-on-year and 327.3% quarter-on-quarter.
The listening figures include the national broadcast hosted by Fleur East, James Barr and Matt Haslam, and local shows with local presenters.
Ken Bruce effect continues
Ken Bruce’s mid-morning show on Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio has reached 4.1m weekly listeners, closing the gap with Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2.