Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) welcomes another record-breaking milestone, with commercial radio’s share of listening climbing to 75.1%. This figure not only surpasses last survey’s record but also marks the highest level since 2014, highlighting the vibrancy of Australia’s audio landscape.
In the past four years, commercial radio has made remarkable strides following the disruptions caused by COVID-19. With a market share increase of over 10 percentage points since S1 2020, radio is reaffirming its resilience and solidifying its position as a dominant player in the media landscape. This growth is largely fuelled by the rise of digital distribution, which has allowed radio to adapt and maintain its audience reach.
“These results prove radio continues to connect with audiences anytime, anywhere. As listening habits diversify, our growth reflects the industry’s creativity and commitment to ensuring commercial radio remains a dynamic and trusted source of education and entertainment,” said Lizzie Young, CRA’s Chief Executive Officer.
The latest GfK Survey 6, 2024, shows commercial radio reaches 12.3 million weekly listeners, with average time spent listening (TSL) holding steady compared to last survey at 12 hours and 51 minutes. Younger audiences continue to fuel this growth, with a 2.1% rise among 18-24-year-olds year-on-year and a 2.3% increase for 25-39-year-olds year-on-year.
Breakfast radio continues to shine, drawing in over 8.6 million listeners each week, listening for 3 hours and 40 minutes. In-car listening climbed 3.3% to surpass 10 million weekly listeners, while at-work listening increased average time spent listening by a full hour year-on-year to 12 hours and 29 minutes.
The digital transformation of radio is a crucial factor in this growth. Commercial radio streaming has seen a slight increase since last survey, bringing the total number of weekly streaming listeners to nearly 3.6 million. Notably, at-home streaming has gained 109,000 listeners, reflecting a 4.6% rise since the last survey. Additionally, commercial DAB+ only stations are making their mark, with TSL rising by 26 minutes year-on-year to 6 hours and 39 minutes per week.
Source: GfK 360 Radio Ratings, SMBAP S6 2024, All people 10+, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, Cume (000’s), unless otherwise stated. Weekly Time Spent Listening (hh:mm). All numbers refer to commercial radio results unless otherwise stated.