Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) welcomes the latest GfK Survey 7 data for 2024, with commercial radio continuing to reach a weekly audience of 12.3 million, highlighting its enduring popularity amid shifting listener habits.
Commercial radio’s share of listening continues to climb, reaching 75.3%, the highest it has been in a decade.
“Radio remains an indispensable medium for delivering timely news, entertainment, and connection. The continued growth we’re seeing speaks to its deep engagement with Australian audiences,” said Lizzie Young, CRA’s Chief Executive Officer.
Notably, nearly half (49.9%) of commercial radio’s audience is now under 40 – an increasingly valuable demographic for advertisers seeking to reach the next generation.
Time spent listening (TSL) at-work for commercial radio saw a significant increase, with listening up by 1 hour and 27 minutes YOY, now averaging 12 hours and 42 minutes per week. Over 10 million listen in car each week, a 2.7% YOY rise, representing 81% of the total commercial radio audience.
Industry focus on delivering a content distribution strategy to meet audience needs means that whilst listening on AM/FM devices is still the dominant platform and accounts for 69%* of radio listening, streaming continues to surge, now reaching 3.3 million commercial radio listeners and representing over a quarter (27%) of that audience. It’s particularly resonating with younger audiences, with 33% of listeners under 25 accessing commercial radio through streaming.
“This strong performance across demographics and devices demonstrates radio’s unique ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences, maintain loyalty and grow our listener base in the demographics that matter to advertisers,” added Ms Young.
Source: GfK 360 Radio Ratings, SMBAP S7 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.
*Calculated based on Average Audience (000s)