Bauer radio stations record record listening fugures

Bauer Media Audio UK is celebrating a remarkable audience reach of 23.4 million weekly listeners (+0.7% YoY), as revealed in the latest RAJAR Q4 2024 figures. These results further cement Bauer’s status as a dominant force in the industry, significantly contributing to the 40 million people tuning into commercial radio each week.

Key Highlights:

• Hits Radio & Greatest Hits Radio (the Hits Radio Portfolio) have reached record audiences, with 13.3 million listeners (+10.6% YoY), increasing to 15.4 million (+9.3% YoY) when including partner stations.
• The Hits Radio Network now attracts 7.2 million listeners (+13.2% YoY), while the national Hits Radio station has surged to 4.7 million listeners (+228% YoY).
• Greatest Hits Radio remains the UK’s most listened-to commercial station, with 7.4 million listeners (+9.1% YoY).
  • Ken Bruce hosts the UK’s most listened-to commercial radio show, reaching 4 million listeners.
  • Kate Thornton is now the most listened-to solo female presenter on commercial radio.
  • Simon Mayo continues to lead the #1 commercial drivetime show, with 2.8 million listeners.
  • Rossie at Breakfast surpasses 3 million listeners for the first time.
  • The newly launched Greatest Hits Radio 60s debuts strongly with 386,000 listeners.
• Absolute Radio Network grows to 5.6 million listeners (+6.1% YoY), with notable records for:
  • Absolute Radio Country: 610,000 listeners (+49.9% YoY).
  • Absolute Radio 90s: 1 million listeners (+8.6% YoY).
  • The Dave Berry Breakfast Show: 2.4 million listeners (+5.3% YoY).
  • The Hometime Show with Bush & Richie: 2.2 million listeners (+6.9% YoY).
• Magic Radio Network reaches 3.5 million listeners, ahead of an exciting new talent lineup featuring Gok Wan, Gaby Roslin, Nicki Chapman, and Mel Giedroyc. Magic at the Musicals also hits a new peak with 298,000 listeners.
• KISS Network reaches 3.8 million listeners, with KISSTORY maintaining its title as the #1 digital-only commercial station. The newly launched KISSTORY R&B debuts impressively with 530,000 listeners.

Digital Growth & Connected Listening

Bauer continues to lead in digital audio, with one-third of its listening via connected devices such as smart speakers, web, and apps, while 54% of listening occurs on DAB. The company is home to three of the UK’s top five digital commercial stations:

1. #1 KISSTORY
2. #2 Absolute Radio
3. #4 Absolute 80s

These latest figures highlight Bauer’s continued dominance in commercial radio, with strong audience growth across its key networks.