Rajar Q4 2015: Digital

Digital radio listening has grown by 10% in the last year and now more than 48 million adults tune into their selected radio stations each week, according to the latest figures from Rajar covering Q4 2015.

30 million people (56%) now tune in to radio via a digitally enabled receiver – DAB, television or online – each week, with the share of all radio listening via a digital platform now standing at 41.7%, up from 37.9% for the corresponding period last year.

The share of listening to DAB has increased by 9% year on year to 27.7% of all listening (25.2% in Q4, 2014).

Digital listening in an average week now stands at 423 million hours, down slightly from the 433 million recorded last quarter. DAB radio is the most popular device, accounting for 66% of all digital hours (28% of total hours), while listening via TV currently represents 12% (5% of total hours) and listening online 16% (7% of total hours).

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26% of adults claim to listen to the radio via a mobile phone or tablet at least once per month, up 20% year on year, rising to 41% of 15-24 year olds (up 10% year on year).

On average, a listener tunes into 21 hours and 4 minutes of live radio per week, reaching a combined total of 1.01 billion.

Highlighting the growing power of social media, 32% of adult social media users claim to receive updates about their favourite radio station/presenter, rising to 47% of 15-24 year olds.

“Digital listening continues to grow by 10% per annum and is closing the gap on analogue listening,” said Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK.

“Digital listening to national stations is already over 50% and we expect to see that accelerate with the biggest ever launch of national commercial stations this Spring. This is a massive moment for radio and listeners, and with this explosion of choice there has never been a better time to listen to digital radio at home or in the car.”

Five major radio brands in dual transmission now have digital listening accounting for the majority of listening: Absolute Radio Network (78%), Magic (56%), Kiss (55%), Gold (54%) and BBC Radio 5 live (56%).

BBC 6 Music is the most popular digital-only station after increasing listeners by 6% to 2.2m – and nabbing the title from sister station Radio 4 Extra (2.1m).