More people are listening to the radio in the UK than ever before, and everyone from local services to the large networks are benefiting from the increase.
From Galaxy Scotland to Guernsey’s Island FM, Quarter 2 for 2010 has thrown up some interesting results, and created happy programme controllers everywhere.
Most Heart stations are either up or steady. A couple are down but only fractionally. Heart East Midlands is at its highest level at 19 per cent reach now with 423,000 listenrs, up from 350,000 last quarter. Paul Iliffe, Heart 106 Head of Programmes told RadioToday.co.uk: ‘This is an absolutely huge result for the station and a testament to the hard work the team have been putting in."
BBC Local Radio mostly stayed static – up or down a percentage or two for most stations. BBC Radio Cumbria continued its increase in audience it gained last quarter – it's currently enjoying its highest reach in over five years at 39 per cent.
In Bristol, JACK is up by a considerable about – from 21,000 listeners three months ago to 38,000 listeners today. The station was formerly know as Original 106.5. JACK fm Oxford also added more listeners – 10,000 in fact, giving a new record for the station.
In the south, Fire 107.6 has seen a good year-on-year increase, up from 29,000 to 40,000 listeners. Former Power FM, now Galaxy, is recovering from the re-brand as it increases reach and hours.
Substantial growth in total hours for the team at Dream 100 in North Essex with a 94 per cent year on year increase, and North Norfolk Radio is showing 82 per cent year on year increase.
In Manchester, Galaxy continues to broadcast to more listeners to Key 103, dispite an on-air battle over who is biggest. Last night Key 103's Jason King [link=http://radiofail.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/mentioning-the-competition-fail/]had a go[/link] at Galaxy being in network programmes and claiming to be number one.
Steve Penk's hard work is finally paying off. Revolution Radio is now reaching 42,000 adults per week compared with 29,000 three months ago and just 17,000 when the previous owners threw in the towel back in September 2008. "I’m so lucky to have a loyal hard working band of people around me who share my belief in traditional, ‘hand built’ radio with the highest production values but closely focused on the area we serve. A stunning result like this makes it all worthwhile," he told RadioToday.co.uk
Galaxy North East is also enjoying a higher audience, adding an extra 50,000 pairs of ears.
Bauer Media's CFM has increased from 33 per cent reach to 43 per cent reach year-on-year, whilst the rest of the Big City network also enjoyed an increase. Radio Aire in Leeds jumped from 11 per cent reach to 16 per cent suddenly, adding almost 50,000 listeners.
In Scotland, Central FM has its highest reach in over five years, Clyde 2 is back up to where it was three years ago with a quarter of a million listeners, and Galaxy got its biggest ever reach and share with 429,000 listeners now compared with 209,000 a year ago (it was formerly Xfm Scotland, of course).
In Belfast Cool FM has its highest reach in a long time at 38 per cent and 373,000 listeners.
What has your station done? Let us know below.