Heart back on top as sun shines on Kiss
Rajars: Heart 102.6 has leapfrogged Magic 105.4 to regain its position as the number one commercial radio station in London in terms of reach, according to the latest audience listening figures from Rajar.
Global Radio Heart moved back in to first place in the three months to 30 June with 2.2 million listeners per week, up 15.9% on the first quarter and 15.2% on the second quarter last year.
The station’s share of London’s commercial market also increased, up to 5.1% from 4.7% in the previous quarter.
Heart did drop behind Magic and 95.8 Capital in the first three months of the year but had finished 2009 on top when the station ended Magic 105.4’s three-year reign as the capital’s biggest commercial station.
Bauer’s Magic gained listeners in the quarter despite dropping behind Heart, up 2% month on month to 2.04 million. The station also registered the largest share in London on 6.4%, up 0.5% on the previous quarter.
Global’s Capital was up 0.9% quarter on quarter to 1.9 million listeners but saw its share drop steeply to 4.9% from 6% in the previous quarter.
At breakfast, Capital’s Johnny Vaughan and Lisa Snowdon remain the top commercial breakfast draw in the capital despite losing listeners.
The pair registered 1.12 million listeners in the quarter, down from 1.16 million last quarter and 1.15 million last year.
Heart’s Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott gained in second place with 925,000 listeners, up from 798,000 in the previous quarter and bettering the 858,000 registered a year earlier.
Kiss 100 pairing Rickie and Melvin took third spot, attracting 903,000, up on quarter one’s 656,000 and last year’s 789,000.
The station’s performance at breakfast helped lift the Bauer Radio station’s reach to 1.8 million, up 10.9% quarter on quarter.
Elsewhere in London, Global’s talk station LBC 97.3 continued to add listeners during the general election campaign and formation of the coalition Government. The station saw its reach climb quarter on quarter and year on year to reach 960,000 listeners per week in the quarter.
