Absolute 80s reaches over 1.2m listeners

Absolute 80s, with 1.2m listeners on digital is closing the gap on Absolute Radio, which now has 1.6m after a drop in listeners this quarter.

The main Absolute Radio station is up year-on-year but has lost over 300,000 listeners this quarter following its highest ever reach of almost 2m last quarter.

All the digital stations combined are recording a record reach at 2.2m listeners, with 60s (203k), 80s (1.2m) and 90s (522k) all getting individual records. Absolute Radio 70s went down this quarter whilst Absolute Radio 00s stayed the same at 178,000.

Together, the Absolute Radio brand boasts 3.4 million listeners with 76% of that done via a digital platform.

Absolute Radio’s internet listening has significantly increased, jumping from 9.0% to 13.6% as the station offers more music and fewer ads via the station’s targeted-ads funded InStream product.

The Network has also achieved long-term growth in listening hours, increasing to 25.2m Yr on Yr, an increase of (+31.7%).

Absolute Radio Content Director, Tony Moorey commented, “More people than ever before are tuning into Absolute Radio’s digital stations and it’s pleasing to see the sheer scale of the audience after 5 years – a massive 2.2 million listeners. We are also seeing huge jumps in internet listening, with an increase of 4.6% this quarter alone. We are in solid shape ahead of a Government announcement on switchover later this year.”