UK radio sees boom as listeners climb to record high of 51 million

Weekly radio listenership across the UK has reached an unprecedented 51 million people, marking an increase of over two million listeners since 2022. Recent digital launches are driving the surge, including news channels Times Radio and GB News, alongside BBC spin-offs like Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems, and Radio 3 Unwind. Audience numbers are further bolstered by an expanding selection of commercial spin-off channels, including Hits Radio 00s and Capital Anthems. While audience sizes for the BBC’s main flagship stations stayed constant or fell marginally, Radio 2 remains the nation's most popular station. Research organisation Rajar reported that an average of 51.1 million adults aged 15 and above tuned in weekly between April and June, rising from 50.6 million in the preceding three months. The total stood at 49.0 million four years earlier, in April-June 2022. The latest figures feature the first quarter-on-quarter comparisons for the BBC’s newest digital spin-offs, all of which enjoyed an increase in listeners. Radio 1 Anthems saw its weekly audience jump 40%, Radio 1 Dance up 41%, and Radio 3 Unwind up 5%. Times Radio and GB News both saw record audience growth, with Times Radio at 660,000 listeners and GB News at 731,000. Capital Anthems and Hits Radio 00s also saw significant increases. Radio 2’s breakfast show maintained strong audience numbers, averaging 6.37 million in April-June, with Vernon Kay hosting the most listened-to show. Tony Blackburn’s Sunday evening show recorded its highest audience since 2021. The BBC’s Today programme saw minimal change, while overall Radio 4 audience dropped slightly from 9.15 million to 8.93 million. Helen Thomas highlighted Radio 2’s popularity, noting its 65-plus audience reached a five-year high.