RAJAR Q3 data shows digital radio growth in UK

Third-quarter RAJAR data was released today, revealing the latest radio listening trends for the UK. Radio in the region had a weekly audience of 47.8 million adults or 89.3% of the UK’s population aged 15 and older. That figure marks a very slight uptick from the year-ago period, which showed 89% of the adult population listening weekly.

The most notable developments for radio this quarter were in digital radio. Digital radio secured 56% of the population as weekly listeners, or about 30 million people per week. In terms of share of all radio listening, digital continued its upward trend to hit 41.9%. DAB radio accounted for 66% of the 433 million hours of total digital radio listening during the quarter, while online listening secured 16%. The report also found a 10% increase in DAB set ownership, up to 29 million adults.

“We are now counting down to the moment when the majority of all radio listening will be to digital,” said Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK.”The shift to digital listening is accelerating across the UK and the fact listening on analogue platforms has declined to just over 50% of people is a tipping point.”