The most recent RAJAR listening figures are released today:

• Absolute Radio has posted a 7.1% increase in hours and held audience reach in the competitive London market quarter on quarter
  

• The station’s national listening via a digital platform continues to rise with 51.5% vs. the industry average of 21.1%

• Absolute Radio is the first radio group to hit the 50% digital listening penetration target set out in the Digital Britain report

Absolute Radio is a music and entertainment brand with audio at its core that is in transition from an analogue to a digital world.
In the competitive London market, Absolute Radio has held audience in reach quarter on quarter (-0.6%) and has posted a significant increase of 7.1% in hours.

Absolute Radio is now the first radio group to hit the 50% national digital listening penetration target set out in the Digital Britain report earlier this year. Digital innovation is core to the station’s business and Absolute Radio continues to lead the radio industry. The station recorded 51.5% of the station’s national listening on a digital platform, compared to the industry average of just 21.1%.

Nationally, Absolute Radio has posted a drop of 6.2% in reach and recorded a small drop of 2.4% in hours quarter on quarter in today’s RAJAR results. This compares favourably with the performance of the rest of the commercial radio industry. Year on year the station has recorded a drop of 32.4% in reach and 24.5% in hours which, given the rebrand of the station, is within our forecasts. This year on year result compares the last quarter of Virgin Radio to the 3rd quarter of Absolute Radio.

“We are very happy with these results. We are building a music and entertainment brand that is in transition from an analogue to a digital world. This is a long-term plan and we are now just 12 months into it. In the last year we have concentrated on investment in the product, most recently with the signings of Frank Skinner and Dave Gorman, and developing our digital credentials. We are particularly pleased with our performance in London where we focus a lot of our marketing activity. And of course last month we celebrated our 1st Birthday with 600,000 people on Regent Street.” said Donnach O’Driscoll, Chief Executive, Absolute Radio. “We have developed multiple new digital touchpoints with listeners, which are all growing at a significant rate. Last week we released our streamed live digital listening figures – one example of the many ways that we aim to provide more accurate and accountable metrics for our digital business.”

Source: RAJAR / Ipsos-MORI / RSMB, period ending June 2009, all stations and groups results are reported on their specified reporting period and TSA.