BBC radio has experienced a notable decline in listenership over the past year, losing 750,000 listeners, while commercial radio has seen an increase in audience figures. Commercial stations have gained 2 percent more listeners in the same period, partly attributed to welcoming former BBC Radio hosts like Ken Bruce.
Radio 1 specifically lost 579,000 listeners between April and June this year compared to the same period last year. The station's average weekly listeners dropped from 7.48 million to 6.9 million. The Radio 1 Breakfast Show, hosted by Greg James, also saw a decrease of 144,000 listeners in the last three months. Despite this, it remains the most-listened-to breakfast show for younger audiences.
Commercial station Greatest Hits, which now features former Radio 2 hosts Ken Bruce, Simon Mayo, and Zoe Ball, reported an increase of 54,000 weekly listeners in the last quarter. Other commercial stations, including Greatest Hits 60s, Greatest Hits 80s, and Capital's spin-off stations, have also experienced audience growth. New BBC stations like Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 1 Dance have seen their audiences boosted.
Radio 2 lost just over a quarter of a million listeners, a 2 percent drop, since last year. This decline occurs amidst scrutiny following allegations against former presenter Scott Mills. Despite the loss, Radio 2 remains the UK's most-listened-to radio station, with Vernon Kay's mid-morning show attracting 6.8 million listeners. Radio 4 also saw a decrease, with its flagship Today programme losing 54,000 listeners since March.
These figures were released prior to Radio 1's announcement of a significant shake-up involving the dismissal of six long-standing DJs, including Melvin Odoom, Dean McCullough, and Rickie Haywood-Williams, to make way for new talent such as social media personality GK Barry. The impact of these changes on future listenership figures remains to be seen.