Rajar press release from Global 28 Oct 2021
GLOBAL SURGES FORWARD AS THE UK’S NUMBER ONE COMMERCIAL RADIO COMPANY WITH ITS BEST-EVER AUDIENCE RESULTS
GLOBAL CONTINUES TO LEAD THE UK COMMERCIAL RADIO MARKET GROWING ITS AUDIENCE TO A RECORD-BREAKING 25.7m WEEKLY LISTENERS AND ITS SHARE TO 23.5%
GLOBAL HAS THE TOP FOUR COMMERCIAL RADIO BRANDS IN THE UK
HEART, CAPITAL, SMOOTH AND CLASSIC FM
HEART SCORES ITS BIGGEST EVER AUDIENCE OF 10m BREAKING A NEW RECORD
HEART IS UK’S TOP COMMERCIAL RADIO BRAND ADDING A MASSIVE 662,000 NEW LISTENERS
HEART BREAKFAST IS THE BIGGEST COMMERCIAL RADIO SHOW IN THE UK WITH 4.1m LISTENERS
LBC CELEBRATES AN ALL-TIME RECORD 3m WEEKLY LISTENERS
ITS HIGHEST EVER
LBC HOURS AND SHARE HIGHEST IN ITS 48-YEAR HISTORY
NICK FERRARI, JAMES O’BRIEN, SHELAGH FOGARTY AND EDDIE MAIR ALL CELEBRATE RECORD-BREAKING AUDIENCE FIGURES
LBC NEWS – BRITAIN’S FIRST NATIONAL ROLLING NEWS RADIO STATION NOW REACHES 806,000 LISTENERS ALONE
CAPITAL IS ONCE AGAIN THE UK’S NO.1 HIT MUSIC BRAND GROWING ITS REACH TO 7.6m WEEKLY LISTENERS
SMOOTH CELEBRATES ITS HIGHEST EVER AUDIENCE
5.9m WEEKLY LISTENERS
KATE GARRAWAY HAS RECORD-BREAKING 2.5m LISTENERS
RADIO X CELEBRATES ALL-TIME HIGH
1.9m LISTENERS
ADDING ALMOST 300,000
THE CHRIS MOYLES SHOW ON RADIO X SCORES A RECORD HIGH WITH 1.1M LISTENERS ADDING 120,000 NEW LISTENERS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS
CLASSIC FM CELEBRATES A 14-YEAR HIGH FOR HOURS AND SHARE
NOW REACHING 5.1m WEEKLY LISTENERS
THE OFFICIAL BIG TOP 40
OFFICIALLY REMAINS THE UK’S BIGGEST CHART SHOW
GROWING ITS AUDIENCE TO 1.5m LISTENERS
NATIONALLY AT BREAKFAST…
GLOBAL
HAS THE TOP 2 COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BREAKFAST SHOWS IN THE UK
HEART BREAKFAST – 4.1M
CAPITAL BREAKFAST – 2.8M
HEART BREAKFAST WITH JAMIE THEAKSTON & AMANDA HOLDEN IS THE BIGGEST COMMERCIAL BREAKFAST SHOW IN THE UK WITH A MASSIVE 4.1m WEEKLY LISTENERS
CAPITAL BREAKFAST WITH ROMAN KEMP REACHES A MASSIVE 2.8m LISTENERS
RADIO X’S CHRIS MOYLES GROWS HIS BREAKFAST AUDIENCE TO A RECORD-BREAKING 1.1m WEEKLY LISTENERS
LBC BREAKFAST WITH NICK FERRARI ACHIEVES A RECORD 1.4m WEEKLY LISTENERS
IN LONDON…
GLOBAL HAS THE #1 & #2 COMMERCIAL STATIONS IN LONDON FOR REACH, HOURS AND SHARE
LBC REMAINS THE NO.1 COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION IN LONDON FOR SHARE & HOURS WITH AN 8.1% SHARE OF THE MARKET AND AN INCREDIBLE 17m HOURS
HEART IS LONDON’S UNDISPUTED NO.1 COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION 1.9m WEEKLY LISTENERS
ADDING A MASSIVE 500,000
SMOOTH HITS A NEW RECORD IN LONDON INCREASING ITS AUDIENCE BY ALMOST A THIRD
NOW REACHES MORE THAN 1 MILLION LISTENERS IN LONDON ALONE
LONDON BREAKFAST…
GLOBAL HAS THE #1 & #2 COMMERCIAL BREAKFAST SHOWS IN LONDON FOR REACH, HOURS AND SHARE
LBC’s NICK FERRARI AT BREAKFAST
WINS COMMERCIAL REACH, HOURS AND SHARE
NICK CELEBRATES HIGHEST EVER REACH WITH 837,000 WEEKLY LISTENERS IN LONDON
HEART BREAKFAST WITH JAMIE THEAKSTON & AMANDA HOLDEN IS LONDON’S BIGGEST COMMERCIAL MUSIC BREAKFAST SHOW
GLOBAL
- Global grows its audience with its radio brands now reaching a massive 25.7 million people every week through radio alone, with hours up 5% vs. Q1 2020 at 236 million hours, and taking a 23.5% market share.
- Global has the top four commercial radio brands in the UK for reach, hours and share in the UK with Heart, Capital, Smooth and Classic FM.
HEART
- Heart scores an all-time audience high, extending its reign as the UK’s biggest commercial radio brand with over 10m people tuning in every week, adding 662,000 new listeners.
- Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden has a massive 4.1 million weekly listeners and remains the UK’s biggest commercial breakfast show. Heart Breakfast is also London’s biggest commercial music breakfast show with 734,000 listeners.
- Digital station Heart 80s adds a massive 244,000 listeners reaching 1.5m weekly listeners. Heart 70s grows its audience to reach over 300,000 listeners.
- Heart Dance hits an audience all-time high with 464,000 listeners growing 84,000 listeners.
IN LONDON…
- LBC remains the no.1 commercial radio station for share and hours with 16.6 million hours an 8.1% share of the market.
- In the competitive commercial London market Heart takes the top spot for reach on 1.9m (up 38%) just pipping Capital on 1.8m (up 10.5%).
- Heart gains over 530,000 new listeners in London and grows in reach, hours and share.
LBC
- As the voice of the nation throughout the pandemic, more people are tuning into LBC – and for longer – than ever before, as the station celebrates its highest ever reach, hours and share.
- LBC now reaches a record 3.1 million listeners across the UK each week – the highest in its 48-year history – and an increase of 271,000 people in the past 18 months.
- In its second set of RAJAR results, LBC News – Britain’s first national rolling news radio station – reaches 806,000 weekly listeners.
- Nationally, LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, James O’Brien, Shelagh Fogarty and Eddie Mair all achieve record-breaking audience figures. Nick Ferrari and James O’Brien reach 1.4 million and 1.3 million weekly listeners respectively.
- In London, LBC is the no.1 commercial station for hours and share, with a massive 16.6 million hours and an 8.1% share of the market.
- Nick Ferrari at Breakfast is London’s number one commercial breakfast show for reach, hours and share, with 837,000 listeners tuning in each week.
CAPITAL
- Capital remains the UK’s No.1 Hit Music brand with 7.6m weekly listeners, nearly 3m listeners ahead of the Kiss brand nationally.
- In London, Capital grows its reach to 1.8m weekly listeners, also beating Radio 1.
- Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp reaches a massive 2.8m weekly listeners. Capital Breakfast - which was voted the best show on UK radio by the public last month at the TRIC Awards, with Roman Kemp also named the nation’s favourite radio personality – is the UK’s second biggest commercial breakfast show, second only to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Capital’s sister station.
CAPITAL XTRA
- Capital XTRA continues its reign as the home of RnB and Hip-Hop in the UK, now reaching 1.7m people across the UK every week
- Capital XTRA Breakfast with Yinka and Shayna Marie reaches 581,000 weekly listeners.
CAPITAL DANCE
- Capital Dance, the UK’s official dance station which launched in October 2020 with MistaJam at the helm and Rio Fredrika at breakfast, opens with 287,000 listeners tuning in every week.
SMOOTH
- Smooth confirms its position as the UK’s third largest commercial radio brand with a record-breaking 5.9 million people tuning in each week.
- The Smooth Radio network adds 712,000 listeners in the past 18 months, reaching 5.5 million weekly listeners.
- Smooth’s Kate Garraway celebrates a record-breaking 2.5 million listeners to her weekday mid-morning show.
CLASSIC FM
- Celebrating a 14-year high in hours and share, Classic FM confirms its position as the UK’s most popular classical music station, with 5.1 million listeners each week, tuning in for a total of 44 million hours.
- Alexander Armstrong’s morning programme reaches 2.4 million people every week.
RADIO X
- Radio X celebrates an all-time high, adding a massive 289,000 new listeners to reach 1.9m people and growing in reach, hours and share - its largest ever audience.
- The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X also hits an all-time high of 1.1m listeners for the first time, adding 120,000 new listeners in the 18 months, growing in reach, hours and share and leapfrogging Virgin Radio.
- At drive, Johnny Vaughan also smashes a new record with 854,000 listeners.
- In London, Radio X increases its reach to 559,000 listeners and grows in reach, hours and share.
GOLD
- Gold reaches an audience of more than 1.3 million listeners every week.
THE OFFICIAL BIG TOP 40
- The Official Big Top 40 officially remains the UK’s biggest chart show growing its audience to 1.5m listeners and ahead of the Radio 1 chart.
Ashley Tabor-King OBE, Founder & Executive President of Global, said: “Post pandemic, it’s fantastic to have RAJAR back with a bang. I’m delighted that Global, in some of the most challenging times ever, has scored record audience numbers, both overall and also for many of our individual brands and shows. It’s truly humbling and a testament to the hard work of every Globaller who has strived to keep our audiences informed and entertained with the best music and highest quality news and analysis. We not only continue to lead the commercial radio market, but have extended our lead with 25.7 million weekly listeners. To play this role in these times in an honour.”
James Rea, Director of Broadcasting & Content at Global, said: “Nothing beats the connection radio brings and it is fantastic to see its popularity continuing to grow. I’m immensely proud that so much of that increased listening is driven by the great work of our teams in growing Global’s brands. I’m delighted to see so many of our brands achieving record results – from Heart breaking through 10million, LBC truly Leading Britain’s Conversation and going over 3 million for the first time in its long and illustrious history to Chris Moyles smashing though 1 million and Kate Garraway seeing over 2.5 million tuning in over on Smooth.”
NEWS & PRESS
The FAC and University of Hertfordshire expand their Propeller Sessions project to London’s Jazz Cafe
Recent Nettwerk signing Olive Jones, a former awardee from the FAC’s Step Up Fund, is among the latest artists to benefit from free, high-quality video performance footage after recording a Propeller Session To date, more than 20 FAC PRO Members have...more
Generator launches landmark Japan partnership to put northern music on the global stage
BACKED BY REGIONAL MAYORS, THE INITIATIVE MARKS A MAJOR STEP FOR THE NORTH’S INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AMBITIONS FEBRUARY 2026 JAPAN EXCHANGE ANNOUNCED, CONNECTING NORTHERN TALENT WITH JAPAN’S MUSIC INDUSTRY AND THRIVING CREATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIPS ANNOUNCED WITH CUEW, MUSIC CITY COUNCIL OF FUKUOKA AND KEF, WITH COLLABORATION FROM OTHER MAJOR INDUSTRY PARTNERS North-headquartered music development agency Generator has today...more
Believe UK and Tileyard Music launch new frontline label Tenace Records
Label to be spearheaded by Co-Presidents Charlie Arme & Michael Harwood. Former Universal Marketing Director Chris Dashwood appointed GM.Globally touring guitar-pop force Pale Waves revealed as debut signing. Believe UK and Tileyard Music have launched a new boutique, frontline label as part...more
Hannah Karp appointed EVP & Chief Communications Officer for Warner Music Group
Accomplished Journalist and former 'Billboard' Editor-in-Chief Joins WMG’s Executive Leadership Team Warner Music Group (NASDAQ: WMG) today announced that highly regarded editor and journalist Hannah Karp has been named EVP & Chief Communications Officer, effective January 26. She joins the company’s executive...more
Universal Music Greater China launches Def Jam Recordings China in Chengdu, the capital of Chinese hiphop
Together With Migu, A Leading Digital Content Platform Under China Mobile, UMG Opens Global Pathways for Chinese Hip-Hop Rooted in Local Culture Universal Music Greater China (UMGC), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced...more
Audiotool Launches Multiplayer Cloud DAW and Debuts Nexus, an Industry-First Platform for Building Music Production Tools
Audiotool, the browser-based music production platform with more than 300,000 monthly active users, today announced the open beta launch of its redesigned Audiotool Studio, featuring NEXUS, an open developer platform and API that empowers creators and partners to build custom...more
Jacob Alon revealed as this year's BRITs Critics' Choice winner
SUPPORTED BY RADIO 1 THE FIRST WINNER TO BE REVEALED FOR THE BRIT AWARDS 2026 WITH MASTERCARD SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2026 AT CO-OP LIVE, MANCHESTER ON ITV The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard have today announced that Jacob Alon is the winner of the prestigious BRITs Critics' Choice award...more
WMA announces Global Promotions and new hires as it celebrates 10 years in the US
As it celebrates its 10th anniversary in the US, global digital marketing and creative agency WMA today announced several new executive hires and key promotions internationally. Marking a decade at WMA herself, Crystina Cinti has been elevated to Global Senior...more
Pipeline emerges from stealth and unveils groundbreaking financing platform for independent music sector
Backed by Jamen Capital, Pipeline Raises Over $200 Million to Help Independents Unlock their IP Value, Fund Growth and Compete at Scale Pipeline, a new financing platform focused on music and the wider creative industries, has unveiled its company and offerings...more
Sonopress launches ecorecord.org
New platform consolidates information on sustainable record production around EcoRecord Sonopress, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of physical media, has launched ecorecord.org, a new platform dedicated to sustainable record production. The website expands the company’s existing sustainability approach, EcoRecord, and...more
Mouth Culture sign publishing deal with Notting Hill Music
Fast-rising Leicester alt-rock outfit Mouth Culture are pleased to announce they’ve signed their publishing with Notting Hill Music. The band have been making waves across the UK and beyond with their undeniable melody and musicianship, which hits hard in a...more
The Other Songs have recruited executive Harri Davies to the team as Head of A&R
Global independent music and entertainment company The Other Songs have welcomed globally recognised executive Harri Davies to the team as Head of A&R. Davies has an extensive record of identifying and breaking world-class talent. Most recently serving as Head of A&R...more
RTÉ Choice Music Prize - Irish Album of the Year 2025 / Shortlist Announcement
Celebrating 21 Years of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize RTÉ Choice Music Prize In association with IMRO and IRMA Irish Album of the Year 2025 - Shortlist Announcement A Week of Announcements on RTÉ 2FM Live in Vicar St, Dublin 5th March - with...more
WIN Elects New Board, Appoints New Chair and Vice Chairs in 20th Anniversary Year
Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the international network that brings together the global independent music community, has appointed its new board of directors for 2026, with Mark Kitcatt, CEO of Everlasting Records (Spain), as its new chair. Kitcatt has spent over four...more
Zoe Ball hosts a new award-winning podcast series
BBC Eras: Phil Collins for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds Zoe Ball is the host of a new series of the award-winning podcast Eras for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, focussing on the life and legendary career of Phil Collins, who...more
Netease Cloud Music and Universal Music Group announce strategic, multi-year licensing agreement for China
Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, and NetEase Cloud Music, a leading music streaming service provider in China, today announced a strategic multi-year license agreement for UMG's world-leading music catalog of artists and recordings across NetEase Cloud Music's streaming...more
Jerome Porritt named as Head of A&R at RCA Records UK
Sony Music UK today announces the appointment of Jerome Porritt as Head of A&R at RCA Records UK. Reporting into co-presidents Glyn Aikins and Stacey Tang, Porritt brings over a decade of experience in A&R, and most recently held the position...more
Nick Bright to join KISS
KISS is turning up the heat with the announcement that Nick Bright is joining the station, bringing one of the UK’s most exciting broadcast voices to the KISS line-up. Former BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Nick, will be on air from Monday 2nd February as he takes...more
Universal Music Group launches UK pilot of global education initiative ‘Sound Generation’
Sound Generation kicks off with UK pilot featuring a set of tailored music education resources for primary school The free, online programme will be piloted across all Camden primary schools before rolling out nationwide later this year This builds on UMG UK’s...more
2026 MOBO Awards: Nominations announced for Manchester ceremony
EUROPE’S BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF BLACK MUSIC AND CULTURE COMES TO CO-OP LIVE, MANCHESTER ON 26 MARCH TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW - VISIT MOBO.COM/TICKETS 2026 MARKS 30 YEARS OF THE MOBO ORGANISATION, THREE DECADES OF SHIFTING CULTURE, CHAMPIONING TALENT AND CREATING ICONIC MOMENTS SHOW HOSTS, SUPERSTAR PERFORMERS AND SPECIAL HONOUREES...more
AYO Music Group Grows Roster and Catalog, Expands Gapfinder Tool, and Releases Reissue of Rare Joe Washington Vinyl
Since its official launch in 2024, AYO Music Group, an active copyright administrator offering global administration of publishing, neighboring rights, and recordings, continued to grow throughout 2025 with new additions to their roster, further development of their Gapfinder tool, and upcoming...more
BMG launches SYNC+
A Unified Global Music-for-Media Powerhouse BMG announced today the launch of SYNC+, a new global service uniting Commercial Sync, Production Music, and Media Services under one integrated brand. SYNC+ combines BMG’s world-class repertoire, creative expertise, and strategic music services to deliver a seamless,...more
Youth Music reveals the next generation of diverse music talent in ‘Ones to Watch 2026’
Youth Music unveils 20 emerging artists tipped to shape the future of the UK music industry Alumni from Youth Music’s Ones to Watch lists, including ALT BLK ERA, JayaHadADream and Mali Hâf, have gone on to win MOBO awards and perform at Glastonbury Youth Music’s Ones to Watch list is powered by Wingstop for...more
Open letter from WIN to European Commissioner Dombrovskis: “Europe as a beacon of fair competition”
With just a few weeks until the European Commission’s final decision on the Universal/Downtown deal, WIN wrote to Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to warn that the proposed remedies will not mitigate the grave risk that the merger poses to fair competition...more
Modern Women have signed to One Little Independent Records
Modern Woman, the London art-rock outfit fronted by primary songwriter Sophie Harris, are set to release their anticipated debut album ‘Johnny’s Dreamworld’ on May 1st 2026 via their new label One Little Independent Records. ‘Johnny’s Dreamworld’ represents the culmination of...more
TMRW Music Group Joins LabelWorx for Global Distribution and Label Services
LabelWorx, the leading global distribution and label services provider for independent electronic music, today announced a new partnership with TMRW Music Group, one of Australia’s most respected and influential electronic music companies. Under the new agreement, LabelWorx will provide full...more
Atlantic Screen Group Secures $30m from Corrum Capital to Accelerate Film, TV Score and Music Catalogue Acquisitions
Atlantic Screen Group (ASG) is pleased to announce that it has secured up to $30m in funding from Corrum Capital. The investment will enable ASG to continue its strategic acquisition of film and television scores, while also providing additional capital...more
Amazon Music Unveils Global 2026 Artists to Watch Campaign
The initiative spotlights breakout artists poised to shape music in 2026, including Destin Conrad, Seyi Vibez, EJAE, Max Styler, PRESIDENT, NewDad, MEOVV, and Adam Klobi across 28 key playlists worldwide The program also includes seven new Amazon Music Originals from VENGAYO,...more
First details revealed for BRITs Fringe with Brighter Sound
BRING ON THE BRITs WITH MASTERCARD: THE 2026 NOMINATIONSWATCH ON WEDNESDAY 21ST JANUARY FROM 5PM ON THE BRITs’ INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK WHATSAPP ANNOUNCED AS 2026 OFFICIAL VOTING PARTNER THE BRIT AWARDS 2026 WITH MASTERCARDSATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2026 AT CO-OP LIVE, MANCHESTER ON ITV In a...more
Mercury Prize shines global spotlight on Newcastle and the North East
New figures have shown the region's economy received a boost of more than £1.4 million by hosting the 2025 Mercury Prize. A new report commissioned and published by Newcastle City Council has highlighted the huge impact the awards ceremony and fringe activity had...more
THE HEADLINES
Music Venue Trust annual report highlights ongoing issues, and optimism (see News)
Do Spotify’s AI Playlists change how algorithmic discovery actually works? (see Features)
A&R 2026: We lost "R" (see Opinion)
Do most artists peak with their first album? (see Analysis)
Court battle over unpaid royalties could have implications for the industry in the streaming era (see News)
Luminate released its 2025 year-end music report (see Reports)
Impala sets out crucial questions on UMG/Downtown, AI, sovereignty and more for EU & music sector (see Comment)
Spotify’s new co-CEOs highlight what’s ahead for the company (see Digital)
Music publishers sued by X in growing licensing battle (see News)
Call on EU to clamp down on unauthorised ticket reselling (see News)
Lucian Grainge outlines UMG's 2026 plans in staff memo (see News)
Skye Newman wins Radio 1's Sound of 2026 (see News)
Spotify now lets you share what you’re streaming in real time with friends (see Digital)