Commercial station’s success grows as BBC Radio 1 sees slight decline

Greatest Hits Radio, a commercial station that has been gaining momentum, has now surpassed BBC Radio 1 in terms of audience figures, according to the latest data. The station, which hosts prominent former BBC DJs like Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo, attracted an average weekly audience of 7.69 million listeners from January to March this year, marking a 14% increase from the previous quarter.

This growth represents a surge of nearly a million listeners, and a dramatic rise of 50% compared to the same period last year, when the station had 5.12 million listeners. The boost in popularity has been largely attributed to key signings, including Ken Bruce, who joined from BBC Radio 2 in April 2023, bringing along the well-loved Popmaster quiz, and Simon Mayo, who has been hosting a drivetime slot on the station since March 2021.

Greatest Hits Radio targets an audience that enjoys classic music from the 1970s to the 1990s, setting itself apart from Radio 1, which primarily focuses on contemporary pop and dance music. Despite the differences in musical focus, the crossover in audience reflects broader shifts in listening trends across the UK, accompanied by significant changes in the radio industry.

The station’s performance has now outpaced BBC Radio 1, which had 7.31 million listeners during the same period. BBC Radio 1’s audience remains steady, but the numbers show a slight decline from 7.33 million in the previous quarter. However, BBC Radio 2 maintains its strong lead with 13.23 million listeners, a number that has remained largely unchanged despite a drop of one million listeners following Ken Bruce’s departure in 2023.

Meanwhile, the BBC’s local and regional radio stations have continued to experience audience losses. In January to March 2024, local stations recorded a combined audience of 6.85 million, down from 6.99 million the previous quarter. This decline comes amid efforts by the BBC to reduce costs, including plans to streamline local content and reduce the number of unique programmes broadcast by regional stations, as the organisation navigates a challenging financial landscape.

These changes in audience preferences and shifts in broadcasting priorities reflect the evolving nature of the UK radio industry.