Highest ever listening share for commercial radio

Commercial radio’s share of listening has hit record levels according to the latest RAJAR figures for the third quarter of 2025. Its share reached a new high of 56%, up from 53.3% in the same period last year. This compares to 41.7% share for BBC radio.

Total radio listening online and on connected devices is also at a record high of 29.7%, ahead of analogue (AM/FM) listening which now accounts for 26.2%. Smart speakers continue to account for the vast majority of online listening, growing year on year to 18.2% of the total hours, compared to 16.9% in Q3 2024.

Online listening to commercial radio remains significantly ahead of this industry average, representing 33.5% of all listening hours, up from 32.8% in Q3 2024. While smart speaker listening to commercial stations is now up to 22.2%, compared to 21.5% in Q3 2024.

Commercial radio’s average hours per listener have also seen an increase, up to 14.4 from 13.9 in Q3 2024. In addition, commercial radio now has a record 8.8 million more listeners than the BBC, with 39.7 million people tuning in each week.

Radiocentre CEO Matt Payton says:

“These latest figures are a real vote of confidence from audiences in the enduring power of radio and the innovation we have seen from commercial broadcasters. The audio market remains incredibly competitive, but the expansion of choice and content provided by commercial radio has clearly resonated with listeners.

To reach these new highs in listening share and connected audiences is a significant achievement. It is also great news for advertisers looking to harness the opportunities now available to reach millions of listeners at key moments in a trusted environment.”