Cool FM lengthens lead as the BIGGEST radio station in the country
Last updated 3rd Aug 2023
The latest audience listening figures (RAJAR) confirm local radio is stronger than ever, with 92% of Northern Ireland’s population listening for around 20 hours every week.
Over half of NI’s entire population are listening to either Cool FM, Downtown or Downtown Country.
When combined, the stations have a record listenership of 798,000, equating to a total of eight million listening hours each week.
Cool FM takes pride of place with audience numbers up to 490,000 listeners - a hike of 72,000 from the same period last year.
Cool FM’s Breakfast Show – which can officially claim the ‘biggest show in the country’ title from the BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show. Fronted by Pete, Paulo and Rebecca, the show has achieved its highest ever audience figures for a commercial radio in NI, with a record 311,000 weekly listeners.
Closely following in the number two position across commercial radio is Downtown which has increased its weekly listenership to 292,000, with shows such as Owen Larkin in the afternoon, and Downtown Breakfast with Gary & Glen celebrating significant audience growth.
Bauer Media NI is also recognised as the outright market leader in terms of its digital or connected offering.
Over 50% of all digital listening generated via smart speakers in NI comes from Bauer stations with Downtown Country leading the charge.
Each week, 153,000 music fans opt for Downtown Country – an increase of 53,000 from a year ago and equating to 1million listening hours each week.
Commenting on the RAJAR figures, Stuart Robinson, Content Director for Bauer Media NI said:
“These results speak for themselves. They not only confirm that Bauer stations remain the most loved platforms, but we are going from strength-to-strength and are attracting more followers on a weekly basis.
“We’re delighted that the authentic, entertaining, and trusted content we deliver continues to appeal to our wide-ranging audiences, and works to the benefit of our partners, clients and wider stakeholders.
“We appreciate the market has changed with issues such as changes at Radio Foyle impacting on ratings. But we’ve so many reasons to celebrate and thank all our listeners for their loyalty and support.”
Ali O'Neill Media Director, Ardmore Advertising added: "To the industry it shows the strength of Cool FM - as that local power house of content.
"To continuously deliver increase quarter-on-quarter shows the strength of their connection to people."