Kiss 100 has recorded its highest ever listening figures in terms of reach, hours and share, and is just 0.1 per cent behind its closest commercial rival.
The station was up 26.2 per cent in reach to 1.784 listeners and 20.2 per cent to 10.84m hours on the year. It now has a record 5 per cent market share, just 0.1 per cent behind Heart, and up 11.1% on the year. The Total Kiss Network recorded its highest-ever figures based on reach with Kiss 101 regaining market leadership on reach in its Bristol, South Wales and South West TSA.
Elsewhere around the Bauer Radio Network of 43 national, local and digital stations across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the group delivered an increased commercial share of 25 per cent.
Magic 105.4 retains the number one commercial spot in London for a tenth consecutive quarter with a record reach of 2.054m listeners with Neil Fox attracting over 852,000 Londoners tuning in.
In the Big City Network Clyde 1, Metro, Forth 1,97.4 Rock FM and Cool 97.4 FM are all delivering the goods, whilst digital heat Radio and Smash Hits deliver an increase this quarter also. heat has increased 70 per cent to deliver 2.1m hours and 35 per cent to reach over 572,000 celebrity obsessed listeners.
Dee Ford, Group MD of Radio, Bauer Media commented: "This is a great book, delivering the best listening results ever for the Bauer Radio Network of local, national and digital stations.
"Wherever you look across the portfolio there are successes. Congratulations to the team at Kiss 100, posting its best results ever by all measures and Magic 105.4, taking the coveted commercial crown in London for the 10th consecutive quarter.
"Around the country, 4.6 million people listen to their favourite station in our Big City portfolio, which has posted its highest market share for more than two years. Kiss 101 retook the top spot by reach in Bristol, and Forth One has both held the top spot by reach and added number one position by market share too. I’d like to say well done to the digital radio teams at heat and Smash Hits, both of whom posted really impressive gains in both reach and in hours.
"In our fast moving media landscape, commercial radio continues to grow and delivers some of the biggest, media audiences in the country. At Bauer Media, we are passionate about delivering an engaging, entertaining and stable radio platform for our Clients, keeping them in touch with more than 12.7m UK consumers every week.”