Radio listening hits 'record levels'

By Guy Kilty

The number of radio listeners has hit a record high of around 48 million, as 92 per cent of the population tune into their favourite shows every week, according to new figures.

A report from Radio Joint Audience Research (Rajar) showed the figure increased by 845,000 in the second quarter of 2011 compared with the same period last year, contributing to the highest total since records began in 1999.

More than 22 million people are now listening to the radio via a digitally enabled receiver - which includes digital audio broadcasting (DAB), digital-enabled televisions and the internet - every week, up from 20 million in the second quarter of 2010.

DAB listening dominates digital radio, especially as more cars now feature the technology as standard.

Access to a DAB receiver is up more than 11 per cent compared with last year and is almost treble what it was five years ago.