The UK radio landscape is shifting and Heart has taken the top spot. According to the latest RAJAR figures for the first quarter of 2025, the commercial radio brand has become the UK’s biggest with 13.4 million weekly listeners, finally edging past BBC Radio 2, which now stands at 13.1 million.
This milestone reflects a broader trend. Commercial radio continues to outpace the BBC, now commanding 54.9% of total listening hours compared to the BBC’s 45.1%.
This shift is largely driven by the continued rise of digital platforms, changes in listening habits, and a stronger appetite for niche content. Digital listening has reached record-breaking levels.
Nearly 29% of all radio listening now happens online, with smart speaker usage climbing to 17.6%. More people are tuning in via connected devices such as laptops, smartphones, and smart speakers, especially among commercial radio audiences. In fact, digital now accounts for almost a third of commercial radio listening, with smart speaker use alone contributing over 21%.
RAJAR infographic The success of themed radio stations Among the standout stations this quarter, Heart Musicals saw remarkable growth. Its weekly audience jumped by 61% to 216,000 listeners, while total listening hours soared by over 300%, signalling not just new listeners but stronger engagement as well. Similarly, Smooth 70s doubled its listening hours and saw modest gains in reach, underscoring the enduring appeal of nostalgic formats.
Other niche and themed stations also delivered impressive performances. Boom Radio, catering to older audiences with their mix of memorable presenters and classic hits, increased its total listening hours by 27% even as its reach slightly dipped — suggesting deeper loyalty from its existing audience. LBC News in London also enjoyed an 87% increase in listening hours, while Capital XTRA (London) posted a 12% rise in reach and a 17% increase in total hours. talkSPORT2 grew both its weekly reach and total listening time, reflecting a growing interest in focused sports content.
Local and regional radio Local and regional radio also had a strong showing the quarter. Greatest Hits Radio’s regional services performed particularly well, with its West of England station increasing reach by 58% and hours by 152%. Island FM in Guernsey hit its highest audience figures since 2020, with an 18% year-on-year increase, boosting its market share to a remarkable 40.2% — the highest of any station in the British Isles. Across the water, Jersey’s Channel 103 maintained its lead, reaching more than half the island’s population each week. This is great news for broadcast PR campaigns that offer local case studies and local or regional stats. By making a story relevant to local audiences, it’s more likely to catch the eye of producers and loyal audiences.
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LBC and GB News As with LBC News, GB News Radio recorded its best-ever figures. The station’s audience rose to 559,000 — a 23% year-on-year increase — while listening hours climbed 35% to 4.3 million. The station’s market share also grew by 33%, and listeners are tuning in for longer, with average listening time up from 7.4 to 7.7 hours. Digital access played a key role in this growth, with DAB use up 22% and smart speaker listening up 48%.
However, not all stations enjoyed a positive quarter. BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra experienced the most dramatic drop, with its audience halving and listening hours falling by nearly 70%, likely due to changes in sports broadcasting rights or scheduling. Kiss Dance also suffered heavy losses, with reach down 74% and listening hours down 72%. Other stations seeing notable declines include XS Manchester, Heart Hertfordshire, and Virgin Radio’s national and local offerings. Capital’s regional success couldn’t fully offset weaker performances in major cities like London, Manchester, and Yorkshire.
Courtesy of LBC News and GB Radio BBC national and regional radio stations The BBC’s performance was mixed. While Radio 2 and Radio 1 both lost listeners and hours, some services bucked the trend. BBC Radio 3 saw a welcome rise, with a 10% increase in reach and a 7% gain in hours, taking it back above the two million listener mark. Radio 4 Extra and 5 live also gained ground, while 1Xtra and 6 Music recorded declines. Local BBC radio remains under pressure, with stations like BBC London and Somerset posting double-digit losses. That said, pockets of growth were seen in places like Cumbria, Suffolk, and Sheffield, suggesting again that regional relevance and local content still resonate when executed well.
Some stand out themes from the Q1 2025 data Specialist and themed stations are gaining traction Heart Musicals, Capital XTRA Reloaded, and Smooth 70s are attracting niche and loyal audiences with clearly defined identities. Second, regional stations are playing a key role in network success, often outperforming national counterparts. Third, older listeners are spending more time tuned in, driving growth for stations with classic hits or in-depth news formats.
Growing demand for news and speech content With such a busy news agenda, stations like LBC News, GB News Radio, and Times Radio are benefiting from listeners seeking deeper analysis and real-time updates. But digital-only spin-offs show uneven performance. Some, like Heart 90s and Smooth Chill, are thriving; others such as Capital Dance are losing ground in an increasingly crowded DAB landscape.
In summary, Q1 2025 confirms that UK radio is in the midst of significant transformation. Commercial operators are setting the pace, digital platforms are reshaping listening habits, and stations that focus on distinct content and clear audience needs are outperforming their peers. For radio brands, the message is clear: stay focused, stay local when it matters, and embrace digital with purpose.
As the radio landscape changes, so to must broadcast PR efforts. The emphasis must be on tailoring the right story for the right station at the right time. The value of regional and local radio must also be understood, as to should elements such as local voices and research to make stories stand out from the crowd. News broadcasting has never been more popular, but with popularity comes increased competition for airtime – broadcast PR stories need to be more finely tuned and relevant than ever before in order to stand out from the crowd.
How can Shout! Communications help with your next radio PR campaign? Shout! Communications is a team of broadcast PR professionals with decades of experience creating and leading broadcast content for national radio and TV. As well as being broadcast PR experts, we think like the broadcast producers we used to be. We know what broadcasters want, and more importantly, what they don’t want. Visit our what we do page to learn more about how we can help you with radio and TV media relations, as well as media training.
