The RAJAR figures for the first quarter of 2016 are in, and it looks like the Beeb is bouncing back - although there are some strong results in commercial radio as well.
BBC Radio 3 reached its highest audience in three years, in a quarter (ending April 3) that marks the first full year of controller Alan Davey in post, with 2.12 million tuning in (up from 2.05m last quarter and 2.08m last year). BBC Radio 6 Music also achieved another record weekly audience, with 2.24m listeners (up from 2.2m in Q4 15 and 2.06m in Q1 15. For the first time, all four daytime shows (Shaun Keaveny, Lauren Laverne, Radcliffe and Maconie, and Steve Lamacq) have over 900,000 listeners, with Lamacq retaining the biggest show on the network with 1.01m.
Bob Shennan, controller BBC Radio 2, 6 Music and Asian Network, said: “BBC Radio 6 Music continues to reach new audience highs. The schedule is littered with new records for Lauren Laverne, Radcliffe & Maconie, Liz Kershaw, Cerys Matthews, Jarvis Cocker and the Sunday Specials slot. 6 Music is bringing new audiences to digital radio whilst still remaining unique in the radio landscape.”
BBC Radio 1 posted a reach of 9.91m listeners (from 10.33m last quarter and 9.67m last year). The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw attracted 5.44m listeners, compared to 5.87m last quarter and 5.5m last year. BBC Radio 2’s weekly audience was 15.51m (from 15.47m last quarter and 15.01m last year). The Chris Evans Breakfast Show attracted 9.73m listeners per week, compared to 9.44m last quarter and 9.46m last year.
BBC Radio 1Xtra had a reach of 1.04m weekly listeners across the period, reclaiming its million milestone (from 982,000 last quarter and 839,000 last year).
In commercial radio, all eyes were once again on Radio X, with its first national results. Just over six months after launch, it reported an audience of 1.2m. In the breakfast slot, Chris Moyles reached 776,000 listeners. Elsewhere within the Global stable, Capital XTRA secured an all-time high, with a reach of 1.2m (up 43% year-on-year). The Capital network reached 7.55m, up 7.9% year-on-year and 0.7% on a quarterly basis.
Richard Park, group executive director & director of broadcasting at Global, said: “Six months after we took the bold step of launching a new brand, Radio X is reaching 1.2 million people across the country. This is an incredible start for the brand and we are delighted with this first set of figures. LBC has done remarkably well with its highest ever reach, share and hours and Capital XTRA has achieved a new record high with reach up 43% in just one year. This is a fantastic result for Global.”
Within Bauer's radio stations, the Absolute Radio network increased in reach to 4.4m (up 12% year-on-year). Main station Absolute Radio grew its listeners to 2.2m (an increase of 9% year-on-year). The KISS saw its reach grow 10% year-on-year to 5.4m listeners, while KISS itself increased reach to 4.5m listeners (up 3% YoY).
Keep your eyes peeled for the full analysis in an upcoming issue of Music Week.
FOLLOW 
