Global smashes latest RAJAR result with huge numbers listening for Capital, Heart, Radio X and more

Heart

The UK’s biggest commercial radio brand Global is celebrating after smashing the latest round of RAJAR figures, the country’s official radio listening stats.

Global has achieved remarkable results in the latest RAJAR figures for Quarter 4 (18 September – 17 December 2023), solidifying its position as the leading commercial radio group in the UK. Boasting a weekly reach of 26.6 million listeners across its brands, Global has witnessed increases in reach, hours, and share over the last quarter. The group, encompassing popular stations like Heart, Capital, LBC, Smooth, Radio X, and Classic FM, has become the most favored choice for UK audiences, accumulating a staggering 258 million hours of radio consumption.

Highlights

GLOBAL:

• Global secures its position as the number one commercial radio company in the UK with a record share of 25.5%.

• The weekly audience reaches an impressive 26.6 million listeners, solidifying its status as the most popular radio group.

• Commercial radio experiences a year-on-year increase of 2.8%, reaching 39.1 million listeners—7.8 million more than BBC Radio (31.3 million).

• Heart, Capital, LBC, Smooth, Radio X, and Classic FM collectively contribute to the highest-ever hours (555 million) and share (54.8%) for commercial radio.

HEART:

• Heart, the leading commercial radio brand, achieves a remarkable milestone with 11.5 million weekly listeners, showing growth in reach, hours, and share year-on-year.

• Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden becomes the largest commercial radio and breakfast show in the UK, attracting 3.8 million weekly listeners.

• Heart’s decades stations (70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s) experience substantial audience gains, with Heart 90s reaching its highest-ever audience of 1.2 million weekly listeners.

CAPITAL:

• Capital, the UK’s premier hit music brand, reaches an extensive 7.9 million weekly listeners, adding 249,000 listeners year-on-year.

• Capital XTRA achieves a significant milestone, with 2 million weekly listeners, surpassing BBC Radio 1Xtra.

• Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie breaks records with 653,000 listeners, showcasing notable year-on-year increases in reach, hours, and share.

SMOOTH RADIO:

• Smooth Radio continues to impress with a weekly audience of 6.2 million, adding 337,000 listeners year-on-year.

• Smooth London celebrates its highest-ever audience with over 1 million weekly listeners.

CLASSIC FM:

• Classic FM, the UK’s top classical music station, gains 222,000 listeners in the past quarter, reaching 4.7 million weekly listeners.

• Listeners express loyalty to Classic FM, with hours increasing by almost 6 million in the last three months (+16.8%).

LBC:

• LBC, the UK’s leading commercial news talk brand, reaches 3 million weekly listeners.

• LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast achieves an audience of 1.3 million listeners, growing in reach, hours, and share.

RADIO X:

• Radio X achieves its highest-ever weekly reach with 2.2 million listeners tuning in every week, surpassing Virgin Radio by 769,000 listeners.

• The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X entertains 1.2 million listeners every morning, marking a significant year-on-year increase of 13%.

• Radio X Classic Rock’s reach increases quarter-on-quarter to 244,000 listeners.

MORE FROM GLOBAL:

• Gold maintains a weekly audience of 1.7 million people.

• Capital XTRA Reloaded achieves a new high for the third quarter in a row with 496,000 weekly listeners.

• Capital Chill reaches 186,000 weekly listeners, showing growth in reach and hours quarter-on-quarter.

• Capital Dance entertains 863,000 listeners every week.

• The Sky VIP Official Big Top 40 from Global is the UK’s biggest chart show, reaching 1.4 million listeners every week across Capital and Heart.

Global’s Founder & Executive President, Ashley Tabor-King CBE, expressed gratitude for another exceptional set of audience numbers, emphasizing the importance of well-made and consistent radio. James Rea, Chief Broadcasting & Content Officer at Global, commended the teams for delivering outstanding results and highlighted the excitement around Global’s supercharged strategy in the upcoming year.

Source: RAJAR figures for Q4 2023, 18th September 2023 – 17th December 2023 (Wks 38 – 50). All stations and groups results are reported on their specified reporting period and TSA (Total Survey Area).

About Global: Global is one of the world’s leading Media & Entertainment groups, boasting the largest Radio & Outdoor company in the UK and Europe. Home to respected national brands including Capital, Heart, Classic FM, LBC, and more, Global reaches 51 million individuals across the UK every week through on-air, Global Player, and outdoor platforms combined. The company also operates DAX, the largest digital audio advertising platform in the UK and one of the largest globally.

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