Commercial radio sees biggest audience since 2022

AUCKLAND, Today: New data from the NZ Commercial Radio industry shows that radio is on a roll. The latest GfK Commercial Radio Survey reveals a rise in weekly listeners, reaching 3.426 million across the country.

Alistair Jamison, Radio Broadcasters Association CEO, shared, “Our second survey for 2024 shows weekly radio audiences at their highest levels since early 2022.” He noted that radio is delivering exactly what Kiwis want.

Jamison also pointed out that radio has a significant reach advantage over TV, with more people tuning in daily. He added, “The audience numbers are phenomenal and importantly they are not changing.”

NZME CEO Michael Boggs highlighted the strong engagement with younger audiences, with over 650,000 youth aged 10-24 tuning in each week. He also noted that 25% of live radio listeners use digital streaming during the week.

MediaWorks CEO Wendy Palmer praised radio’s value for advertisers, mentioning its low cost and quick turnaround for ads. She emphasised the strong connections Kiwis have with their favourite stations, which is great news for advertisers.

Looking ahead, Jamison expects next week’s NZ on Air data to spark debate, but he stands by GfK’s robust data, which consistently shows stable, engaged radio audiences across New Zealand.