Commercial radio has reached its highest ever share of UK radio listening, commanding 55.7% of the total audience, according to new RAJAR figures for Q2 2025.
That puts commercial services more than 13 points ahead of the BBC, whose share now stands at 42.1%, and means an estimated 39.5 million people tune in to commercial stations each week – 8.4 million more than BBC radio. Overall, 86% of the UK population, or 50 million adults, listen to radio weekly.
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Digital continues to drive much of the industry’s growth, with online listening across the UK hitting a record 29.3% of all radio consumption. That’s now higher than AM/FM analogue listening, which dropped to 26.6%. Smart speaker usage also reached a new high, now accounting for 18.4% of all radio listening, and 22.4% for commercial radio specifically – overtaking AM/FM for commercial services, which have dipped to 20.9%.
Across the North, the latest figures paint a mixed picture for some of the country’s most recognisable regional stations and networks.
Greatest Hits Radio – headquartered at Bauer Media Audio UK in Manchester – remains the most listened-to commercial station by total hours, but saw its weekly reach fall from 7.1 million to 6.6 million. Bauer, which is celebrating its 150th year, also operates Hits Radio from the city. While the Hits Radio network now reaches 4.36 million people weekly, that’s down from 4.68 million last quarter. Twenty-eight of its regions lost audience, including some serving Yorkshire and the North East, though ten regions – such as those previously carrying TFM, Pulse and Signal – showed gains.
Absolute Radio became the UK’s most listened-to digital-only commercial station with a weekly reach of 2.2 million. Meanwhile, Boom Radio, which broadcasts nationally via DAB and has a strong regional base in the North West, hit a record 711,000 listeners – up 14% year-on-year – with total listening hours also hitting new highs.
Radio X 90s saw growth to 158,000 listeners, though its Manchester FM figures dropped to 75,000 – among the lowest ever for the station in that market. Nation Radio North East, however, reported a doubling of listening hours and an increase in weekly reach, following continued investment in its Gateshead base.
Nationally, Global remains the UK’s largest commercial radio group, with a total audience of 29 million and a record market share of 27.7%. Heart is the UK’s largest commercial radio brand at 13 million listeners, though most of its regional stations – including many in the North – recorded a decline.
Among BBC stations, Radio 2 remains the UK’s most listened-to station with 12.6 million weekly listeners, while Radio 5 Live – based at MediaCity in Salford – increased its reach slightly to 5.5 million. BBC Radio 4 dipped slightly to 9.2 million.
Podcast listening hit a new UK record, with 16.3 million adults tuning in weekly. BBC Sounds recorded 257 million plays of on-demand and podcast content over the quarter, with eight of its ten most-played podcasts coming from Radio 4.
Radiocentre CEO Matt Payton said: “Commercial broadcasters focus relentlessly on ensuring listeners can easily access their favourite stations on any platform, whether that’s via apps or smart speakers. This new record is testament to the continued innovation and investment from our sector.”
Simon Myciunka, CEO of Bauer Media Audio UK, added: “A third of our listening is now online, in app or via smart speakers. As our audio brands continue to entertain millions of listeners every week, our commitment to excellence and innovation remains as strong as ever in our 150th year.”
The RAJAR figures cover the three months to June 30, 2025.
