As triple j ushers in their 50th year, they have demonstrated age is only a number by delivering strong results in GfK Survey 1 released today.
Across the 5 capital city markets, triple j added 296k more weekday listeners and 218k more weekend listeners.
Sydney was a standout where the network saw a +0.9% overall share increase driven by a +3.9% jump in the 18-24 target demo.
Breakfast with Concetta and Luka is reaching 840,000 listeners across the 5 capital cities, an increase of 115,000 survey on survey. In Sydney, Breakfast saw a +1.3% increase for their program.
These results came despite much of the triple j Hottest 100 campaign sitting outside the survey period this year.
Head of triple j, Double J & ABC Country, Lachlan Macara, said: “It’s nice to see these GfK numbers reflect the massive impact triple j’s already had across socials to start the year. Like A Version’s alone during this survey period have racked up 33+Million views across triple j’s TikTok, Instagram and YouTube channels.”
Votes in the Hottest 100 were up 5% on last year with a massive 2.49m total votes counted. Over 70% of voters were under 30, showing the continued impact triple j and the Hottest 100 has on its target demographic.
With almost 2 million subscribers to the triple j YouTube account and 320k on TikTok, triple j is undoubtably the most impactful youth media brand in the country across platforms. The triple j Instagram account also clocked a massive milestone last week by joining the 1 million followers club.
On Tuesday, triple j announced the date and line up for the 2025 One Night Stand. The event will take place on Saturday 24 May at a location to be announced at 4pm AEDT today.
The all-Australian line-up features Spacey Jane, LUUDE, singer-songwriter Ruby Fields and award-winning hip hop supergroup 3% and a huge set from a local triple j Unearthed competition winner.
Tickets for triple j’s One Night Stand will be on sale at 5pm AEDT today after the location is revealed on triple j.
The GfK results for triple j form part of a strong GfK result for the ABC in survey 1. Across the 5 capital cities, the ABC’s total network audience has increased to 4,623,000 up 391,000 listeners when compared to survey 8 2024.
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) has welcomed the formal confirmation of the 2024 funding announcement for community media in last night’s Federal Budget. This investment, now officially allocated, is an important step toward supporting a more sustainable future for the sector. Our initial response, published in December, outlines the significance of this funding for stations across Australia.
A welcome investment in community media
The 2025–26 Budget confirms $27 million in additional investment for the sector over three years, including:
$15 million for the Community Broadcasting Program, distributed via the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF); and
$12 million for the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program, delivered through the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
The CBAA’s CEO Jon Bisset today affirmed his initial response:
“The additional funding announced is sorely needed. The existing programs have not been funded to keep pace with rising costs nor respond to the contemporary challenges and needs of broadcasters.
We are very pleased the Government is responding to stations’ needs with urgency and moving on additional funding now. This new funding will address an evident need for additional Government support. It will ease the pressure on the existing grant funding programs that are struggling to meet the demand from local stations and the communities they serve.”
He noted however that there is still a substantial ongoing gap between funding demand and available support. While the Australian Government’s continued commitment is encouraging, unmet need continues to limit the sector’s capacity to serve the needs of Australian communities:
“This funding is a welcome sign that the Government values the role community broadcasters play in our democracy and local communities, but there is still a significant gap. As demand continues to grow, so too must our investment. To truly meet the needs of the communities we serve, we must move toward a sustainable, long term and indexed funding model.”
Funding still falls short: what the latest CBF Annual Report reveals The CBF’s 2024 Annual Report shows the impact of both rising demand and limited resources. In 2023–24more than $30.3 million was requested by stations through 421 applications, but only $20.5 million was available to be allocated across 310 grants, leaving a shortfall of nearly $10 million.
Average annual shortfall over the past eight years has exceeded $9.7 million.
Of the $14.42 million requested for Development and Operations: $14.42 million requested, $6.47 million allocated; forContent Grants, of the $5.7 million requested, only $3.9 million could be allocated.
Despite this, the CBF’s grants have supported transformative projects:
4TTT (Townsville, QLD): $80,247 for a new training studio and technical upgrade;
VALID’s Airwaves Access (VIC): $19,554 for a disability-led radio and podcast series
The Wire (National): $160,000 for expanded current affairs production and gender equity initiatives.
The road ahead
The CBAA looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Federal Government to find ways to address these significant funding gaps and enable the sector to deliver on Roadmap 2033.
On Tuesday 25 March, a dedicated journalism team hit the halls of Parliament House to deliver timely, inclusive and relevant coverage of the 2025 Federal Budget to community radio listeners around the country.
Representing community-focused newsrooms from across the sector, the team included:
– Noah Secomb, Federal Politics Reporter, CBAA and National Radio News (NRN)
– Emma Myers, Disability Rights Reporter, CBAA and Powerd Media
– Micah Kickett, First Nations Affairs Reporter, CBAA, NIRS and Koori Mail
– Sophia McCaughan, Narromine Star
– Dechlan Brennan, National Indigenous Times
– Alexi Boyd, Host, Small Biz Matters
For Noah, this year marked a return to the press gallery – and another milestone in delivering independent coverage to regional, remote and culturally diverse audiences.
“It’s been another wild ride in Parliament House covering this year’s federal Budget with folks from across the country,” Noah said. “We’ve managed to cover disability, First Nations affairs and regional funding more comprehensively than ever before. It’s been a bit hectic running around grabbing interviews and frantically reading some of the driest content in Australia, but being busy is when this job is at its best, and we’re able to do some of our best work.”
Micah Kickett, covering the Budget for the first time, shared his pride in ensuring Indigenous perspectives were represented:
“It’s definitely an experience that I will remember, and being on the ground to be able cover it in real time and be the voice for Indigenous mob is an experience that is humbling.”
Emma Myers, who focused on disability and access issues, reflected on the intensity and impact of the experience:
“It’s a very surreal experience. Challenging, but worth it.”
Our thanks and admiration go to the entire team for their professionalism, energy and deep commitment to accessible journalism that puts community first — not just on the night, but throughout the Budget lead-up and aftermath.
Pictured left to right: Noah Secomb (CBAA, NRN), Sophia McCaughan (Narromine Star), Alexi Boyd (Host, Small Biz Matters), Micah Kickett (CBAA, NIRS and Koori Mail), Dechlan Brennan (National Indigenous Times), and Emma Myers (CBAA, Powerd Media).
Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) welcomes GfK’s latest Survey 1 results which highlighted the commercial radio sector’s continued growth, now reaching a record-breaking total audience of 12.5 million Australians.
The 25-54 age group, critical for advertisers, expanded by 4.3% year-on-year (YOY), adding 258,000 listeners to reach 6.2 million. Younger audiences also demonstrated growth, with listeners aged 10-17 rising by 5.3%, adding 75,000 new listeners to reach 1.5 million.
In-car listening remains a pivotal platform, increasing by 6.5% YOY with 634,000 additional listeners, now reaching 10.3 million Australians weekly.
Notably Survey 1 also highlighted over 3.1 million Australians choose to listen to commercial radio via streaming. Time spent listening via digital streaming remained stable across the day. Among key demographics, compared to the same period last year:
Time spent listening among 18-24s grew to 3 hours per week.
Listening among 40-54s reached 5 hours weekly.
Listeners 65+ saw an increase, streaming for 8 hours weekly.
“Radio’s consistent and sustained growth underscores its enduring role in keeping 12.5 million Australians informed and connected demonstrating the importance of live and local radio,” said Lizzie Young, CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA).
“Radio offers unique opportunities for advertisers and provides a direct path for brands to connect with audiences through trusted voices,” added Young.
CRA can provide historical data upon request for all GfK Surveys. For access, please contact Aisling Nesbitt (aisling.nesbitt@cra.au)
Source: GfK 360 Radio Ratings, SMBAP S1 2025, compared to S1 2024, All people 10+, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, Cume (000’s), unless otherwise stated. Weekly Time Spent Listening (hh). All numbers refer to commercial radio results unless otherwise stated.
It’s a sensational start to the 2025 ratings year for Nine Radio, with Sydney’s 2GB and Melbourne’s 3AW dominating their respective markets in the year’s first GfK Survey.
2GB has reclaimed its position as Sydney’s No.1 station, delivering a 11.6 share and outstanding results across all key timeslots. Ben Fordham Live is the clear No.1 in Breakfast with a dominant 14.4 share, reinforcing the show’s status as the city’s most trusted source for news, talk, and opinion. In his first survey in Mornings, Mark Levy knocked it out of the park to claim the No.1 spot with a 13.5 share.
3AW has surged even further ahead as Melbourne’s top radio station, delivering an incredible 16.8 share, up a significant 3.2 points.Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft have further cemented their leadership in Breakfast, achieving a 21.3 share (up 1.3) and setting a high bar for the day. Tom Elliott followed suit, commanding the No.1 spot in Mornings with 19.0 (up 3.4).
Greg Byrnes, National Content Manager, Nine Radio, said: “These are stunning results and lay the foundations for another dominant year for our live and local content. We’ve had big audience gains right across the network, particularly in 25-54s.”
“3AW is clearly the heartbeat of Melbourne. Today’s 16.8 share is the station’s best survey 1 result in over 15 years and we congratulate the entire team.
“In Sydney, for 2GB to be number one after major line up changes is also remarkable. In Brisbane, there’s been a solid increase in breakfast while Perth, Breakfast is number one talk.
“With a federal election there will be no let up in the content and we thank those listeners across the country for turning to us every day.”
COMMERCIAL RADIO SHARE
TOTAL RADIO CUME
15.9
(4 markets)
1.738 million
listeners each week
STREAMING
The future of live audio streaming is talk as Nine Radio claims the No.1 position nationallywith a 32.3% share. Digital listenership continues to surge during the Breakfast and Morning timeslots, with 3AW and 2GB the top streaming stations, with shares of 35.9% and 33.9%, respectively.
In 3AW Breakfast, Ross and Russ claimed a mammoth No.1 commercial streaming share of 52.9% and Ben Fordham led the way on 2GB with 47.5%. This trend continues into Mornings, with Tom Elliott at 3AW delivering a 36.5% share and Mark Levy at 2GB with 37.2%.
Greg Byrnes said: “Our talk stations dominate streaming because it sounds great, is accessible and Australians want to stay in touch regardless of where they are.”
“We’ve led the market since the introduction of Radio360 and the live and local, always on, nature of our content means the audience is growing each year.
“Across the country, the audience figures in our key shifts are terrific and we look forward to another year of leading the way in live audio streaming.”
COMMERCIAL STREAMING SHARE
STREAMING CUME
32.3
362,000
(up 2% YoY)
PODCASTS
The Nine Podcast Network reached over 1.35 million listeners in February 2025, marking an impressive 17% year-over-year growth across its premium catch-up radio and original podcasts.
Ben Fordham Live saw a standout increase, climbing 37% from the previous year to reach over 233,000 listeners. Other strong performers included 3AW Mornings with Tom Elliott (67,000 listeners), 3AW Breakfast with Ross and Russel (58,000 listeners), and the newly launched 2GB Mornings with Mark Levy, already attracting 39,000 listeners per month.
Nine Talk Radio’s focus on live and local content continues to resonate, with more than 702,000 listeners tuning into Nine Radio catch-up podcasts in February – an 11% increase year-on-year.
Meanwhile, Nine’s original podcasts across News, Sport, and Lifestyle now reach over 725,000 monthly listeners (up 27% YoY). Standout titles include Somehow Related with Dave O’Neil and Glenn Robbins, Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg, and Prime Time with Bec Wilson, which made its debut on the Australian Podcast Ranker.
Mia Stern, Head of Podcasts and Digital Content, said: “The encouraging growth of our catch-up and original podcast listenership reflects the power of Nine Radio’s trusted voices and our commitment to delivering local stories that matter. We’re thrilled to see strong year-on-year growth and remain committed to delivering compelling, on-demand audio experiences for Australians everywhere.”
2GB is back on top as Sydney’s No.1 in 2025, according to GfK Radio 360 Survey 1. The station delivered a dominant 11.6 radio share and an impressive 33.9 commercial streaming share, further cementing its position as the go-to station for the best in news, talk, opinion and entertainment.
Ben Fordham Live is Sydney’s No.1 in Breakfast, leading both radio and live audio streaming with a remarkable 14.4 share and a 47.5 share in commercial streaming. Meanwhile, Mark Levy has celebrated his first survey in the Mornings slot with an incredible No.1 share of 13.5 in radio and 37.2 in commercial streaming.
2GB Station Manager, Greg Byrnes, said: “It’s a great start to the year for 2GB – number one in Sydney, number one in Breakfast, number one in Mornings, and that’s despite major changes across the line up.”
“Mark Levy has compared replacing Ray Hadley as like coming in for Bradman but he’s hit it out of the park in survey one. We’re all really pleased for Mark and his team, as we are for Ben who’s again the clear number one in Breakfast.
“We thank listeners who tune in everyday, and we thank the many others who have sampled and obviously like what they hear. There’s a big year ahead and Sydney can rely on 2GB for honest opinion and up to the minute news, sport and information.”
On his first survey result in Mornings, Mark Levy said: “I’m over the moon that 2GB has started the year as the number one radio station in Sydney, including in Breakfast, Mornings and Nights.”
“I want to thank each and every one of our loyal listeners for sticking with us. I’ve worked here for a while and have got to speak to so many of them over the years – I’m delighted they’re enjoying what I’m doing. It’s the start of a lot of hard work and I’m looking forward to it!”
Further highlights from GfK Radio 360 Survey 1, 2025 in Sydney:
Afternoons with Michael McLaren posted a 8.6 (Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm)
Sydney Now with Clinton Maynard recorded a 7.4 share (Mon-Fri 3pm-6pm)
Wide World of Sportswith Adam Hawse recorded a 7.8 share (up 1.3) (Mon-Fri 6-7pm)
Money News with Deborah Knight posted an 10.7 share (up 2.6) (Mon-Thu 7pm-8pm)
Nights with John Stanley remains the clear No.1 with a 18.4 share (up 1.9) (Mon-Thurs 8pm-12am, Fri 7pm-12am)
Weekends with Luke Grant posted a 11.4 share (up 0.3) (Sat-Sun 9am-1pm)
3AW has surged to its best Survey 1 ratings in more than 15 years to cement its position as the undisputed heartbeat of Melbourne.
The GfK Radio 360 Survey 1 results released today confirms 3AW is to be the powerhouse of Melbourne radio with a leading audience share of 16.8 (up 3.2) and a commanding commercial streaming share of 35.9%.
Every week, 750,000 Melburnians tune in to 3AW for its unique live and local talk radio programming.
The station boasted audience gains in all dayparts and is now No. 1 in breakfast, mornings, afternoons, drive and evenings.
This marks the first time that Jacqui Felgate has been the outright No. 1 in drive, recording a share of 12.4 – up 3.7 on Survey 8 of 2024.
3AW Station Manager, Stephen Beers, said:
“Jacqui’s remarkable result – achieving the number one drive spot for the first time in just a year – is a testament to her hard work, dedication and the strong connection she’s forged with Melbourne listeners. Her unique blend of breaking news, insightful commentary and engaging conversation has clearly resonated and we’re incredibly proud of her achievement.”
Ross and Russ continue their reign over Melbourne breakfast radio, commanding a 21.3% share. This impressive result, a 1.3 point increase from last year’s Survey 8, places them a significant 9.7 points ahead of their nearest rival. Their award-winning show draws 460,000 listeners weekly. They also dominate the digital space with a whopping 52.9% share of commercial streaming.
Tom Elliott kicks off 2025 as No. 1 in the mornings slot with a share of 19 – up 3.4 on his last survey – and a weekly audience of 514,000. He also commands a winning 36.5% share of the commercial streaming market.
Tony Moclair is outright No. 1 in afternoons, boasting a share of 13.9 – up 4.6 on Survey 8 of last year and more than 10 points ahead of his nearest talk competitor.
Denis Walter leads Melbourne’s evening radio listening, claiming the top position with a commanding 25.1 share – up a massive 7.1 points on Survey 8 last year.
Darren James‘ Weekend Breakfast continues to dominate the airwaves on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
3AW Station Manager, Stephen Beers, commented:
“These outstanding Survey 1 results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire 3AW team. We’re incredibly proud to see our live, local programming resonating so strongly with Melbourne listeners across all dayparts and platforms. To achieve our best Survey 1 in over 15 years is a fantastic result and we look forward to continuing to serve Melbourne with the news, information and entertainment they rely on. Thanks to our loyal listeners for again making us number one.”
Brisbane’s 4BC Breakfast has achieved yet another successful ratings survey result, up 1.2% for the GfK Radio 360 Survey 1 of 2025. This is the first full time survey result for new permanent host, Peter Fegan, achieving the biggest market share jump in the Brisbane breakfast radio time slot.
The lively talk-back show has also almost doubled its streaming share from 4.8% in Survey 8 (2024) to 8.1% in Survey 1 2025.
“We have passionate listeners who want and demand the best in local news – whether that’s round the clock, rolling-coverage of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, or how the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics will affect them directly. I couldn’t be happier that what we’re offering is growing in popularity. ” said host of 4BC Breakfast, Peter Fegan.
4BC Content Manager, Siobhain McDonnell said: “We are thrilled with the first result of the year for 2025 and 4BC. We have listened to the people of Brisbane and are committed to a local and engaging news talk format.
“Peter Fegan’s results show that people want to start their day entertained and informed. This is a promising start in what is going to be a huge year for the station, and I’m incredibly proud of the whole team’s efforts today.”
,%20Alexi%20Boyd,%20Micah%20Kickett,%20Dechlan%20Brennan%20(National%20Indigenous%20Times),%20and%20Emma%20Myers-L.jpeg "Pictured left to right: Noah Secomb (CBAA, NRN), Sophia McCaughan (Narromine Star), Alexi Boyd (Host, Small Biz Matters), Micah Kickett (CBAA, NIRS and Koori Mail), Dechlan Brennan (National Indigenous Times), and Emma Myers (CBAA, Powerd Media).")