The number of weekly radio listeners in the United Kingdom has reached a new high, with 51.1 million people tuning in during the second quarter of 2023, according to data from audience measurement firm Rajar. This figure represents an increase of more than two million compared to the same period last year and signals a steady rise from 50.6 million listeners reported in the first quarter of 2023.

The growth in radio audiences has been driven largely by newer digital stations such as Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems, and Radio 3 Unwind, as well as talk outlets Times Radio and GB News. Radio 1 Anthems saw a 40% jump in its weekly audience, rising to 584,000 listeners between April and June, up from 417,000 in the prior quarter. Similarly, Radio 1 Dance’s audience grew by 41%, reaching 615,000 weekly listeners from 437,000. Radio 3 Unwind also experienced an increase of 5%, rising to 408,000 listeners from 388,000 in the previous quarter. These stations have been available on digital radio platforms since September 2022.

Despite the surge among newer stations, Radio 2 continues to hold the position as the most popular station in the UK, averaging 12.37 million weekly listeners between April and June 2023. Although this represents a slight decline from 12.57 million in the previous quarter, the station’s audience among those aged 65 and over has reached a five-year peak. Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, highlighted the success of the station’s Sunday evening programme, Golden Hour, hosted by Tony Blackburn, which recently recorded its highest audience since 2021.

This latest audience data suggests that traditional and digital radio platforms continue to play a significant role in the UK’s media landscape, with digital stations drawing in younger and more diverse audiences, while established services maintain strong listener bases among older demographics.