The new JNLR figures have been published – and the good news for the IBI is that listenership to Independent Radio continues to grow. The latest JNLR radio listenership report, covering the first six months of the year, was published by Ipsos MRBI yesterday. Stations to do especially well included Radio Nova, Newstalk and Classic Hits, with all three stations achieving record listenership figures.

Among the big success stories is Pat Kenny’s morning show, which runs from 9am to 12noon every day on Newstalk. It showed an increase of 26,000 listeners – way above hte margin of error – to hit a highest-ever daily listenership of 205,000,

Radio Nova achieved its highest ever listenership, topping the 200,000 per week mark for the first time, with 109,000 tuning in daily – an increase of 6%.

Classic Hits – now with Liam Thompson as Programme Director – are also flourishing, with 329,000 listening weekly and 176,000 daily listeners.

"More than 3.3 million* Irish adults listen to radio on an average day,” a statement from Independent Broadcasters of Ireland says, adding "and 3.1 million* listen to independent radio daily."

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In what has been a traumatic period for RTÉ, there has been notable confirmation of the growing feeling that independent radio has become a trusted source of news and current affairs.

"Irish audiences,” the IBI says, "have grown to trust their local and regional radio station as a reliable source of local news and information, and the latest JNLR figures show a combined prime-time market share of daily listenership (7am – 7pm) of 70.4%* for the independent radio sector.

"Meanwhile, younger audiences continue to tune into Independent Radio, with 904,000 (71.1%) people in the 15-34-year-old demographic listening daily. This represents a 5% growth in younger audiences year-on-year to independent radio”.

Total listenership figures set out in the IBI statement are impressive.

Weekdays

Weekly Reach: 4,295,000
Daily Reach/Listened Yesterday: 3,158,000 (76.3%)
Prime Time Market Share: 70.4%
Weekend

Saturday Reach: 2,518,000 (60.9%)
Saturday Prime Time Market Share: 73.3%
Sunday Reach: 2,244,000 (54.3%)
Sunday Prime Time Market Share: 72.1%

"With over 1,600 people employed in independent radio,” the statement adds, "the sector significantly contributes economically, socially, and culturally to Irish society.”

There has been an increasing emphasis on teh public service element of independent broadcasting – which h. Will be important when issues around the funding of broadcasting in Ireland are being discussed at Government level over the coming months.

"Seven out of every 10 minutes of all radio listening in Ireland is to an independent radio station,” the IBI points out, "with more than 1,300 hours of public service broadcasting content delivered to local audiences weekly. Independent radio is successful because it is relevant to people’s lives; it reflects their concerns, and listeners identify with the people on air on independent radio stations.

"Despite the choice of media outlets, the success of independent broadcasters continues to increase. Year after year, the independent radio sector continues growing our audience by providing greater diversity and choice to Ireland’s radio listeners. The wealth of talent in radio stations throughout the country who are making great programmes and keeping listeners tuned in is central to the continued success of independent broadcasters."

* - Source: JNLR National Report 2023-3