? Solid Start for 102.2 Smooth FM
? Smooth FM North West sees huge growth (again!)
? Record growth for Real Radio Scotland
London?s new radio brand 102.2 Smooth FM has got off to a solid start and the latest audience research has proven that listeners like what they hear.
The station, which launched in June 2005, increased its reach by 78,000 to 541,000 (Q on Q) and its average hours went up to seven hours per listener.
The increases come on the back of the station?s first marketing campaign to establish the brand?s new relaxed soulful sound and are clear indications that when listeners find Smooth FM they like what they hear and stick with it. The RAJAR research for Q4 2005 provides 102.2 Smooth FM with a total of 3.8 million hours of listening every week.
The soar-away success of its north west sister station is very encouraging for the London brand. 100.4 Smooth FM has increased its weekly reach yet again, to 620,000 adult listeners a week. It is now the second largest commercial station in the region, behind Century FM, with an all time high market share of 4.7%.
Guardian Media Group Radio also saw success for its Real Radio brand. In Scotland, Real Radio remains the country?s biggest commercial radio station and achieved record figures in both hours listened and market share. The station now takes 17.7% of the central Scotland listening market and its 701,000 listeners now tune in for a massive 9.7 million hours of listening every week ? an average of 13.8 hours per listener.
GMG Radio?s five regional Smooth FM & Real Radio stations now pull in a healthy 2.8 million listeners a week who consume a total of 26.4 million hours of listening every week.
Chief Executive John Myers said: ?Smooth FM is really starting to take off. We?re encouraged by the start the brand has had in London and you only have to look at the huge growth it?s seen in the North West to know that when people find it they love it.?
Source: RAJAR/Ipsos-RSL p/e December 2005 within each respective station?s TSA