BBC Radio 3 announces record RAJAR results

The latest Quarterly Summary released by Radio Joint Audience Research Limited (RAJAR) has revealed record results for BBC Radio 3, with a reach of over two million listeners, and the station’s highest figure for average hours listened in Radio 3’s history.

The number of listeners tuning in to radio broadcasts of the Proms on BBC Sounds was up 12% on last year, reflecting the popularity of this year’s festival, which saw an average in-person evening attendance of 96% at the Royal Albert Hall.

BBC Radio 3 and Proms controller Sam Jackson said: ‘It’s heartening to see these record-breaking RAJAR results, with more hours spent listening to Radio 3 than at any other time in the station’s history. The success of our new schedule, combined with a compelling BBC Proms season, demonstrably attracted high audiences this summer – and we’re especially delighted that our new weekend shows fronted by Tom Service and Jools Holland have seen significant year-on-year growth, alongside double-digit percentage increases for programmes ranging from Breakfast, to Essential Classics, to Record Review.’

This listener growth follows the implementation of a new schedule for the station. Introduced from April, Jools Holland’s new Earlier… show saw Radio 3’s lunchtime listenership grow by 44%, and Radio 3 Breakfast and Essential Classics (both extended in the new schedule) saw audience increases of 18% and 17% respectively. Saturday Morning with Tom Service delivered year-on-year audience growth of 45%, and In Tune grew by 29%.