Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) has reported a surge in commercial radio's share of listening to 75.1%, a figure it's saying is the highest level in a decade.

This increase, largely attributed to the rise of digital distribution, has seen commercial radio's market share climb by over 10 percentage points since S1 2020, according to the GfK Survey 6, 2024.

The latest radio survey reveals that commercial radio reaches 12.3 million weekly listeners, with an average time spent listening (TSL) of 12 hours and 51 minutes. The growth in listenership is being fuelled by younger audiences (18-24 and 25-39 year-olds), who have seen a 2.1% and 2.3% rise year-on-year respectively.

Breakfast radio continues to be a popular choice, drawing in over 8.6 million listeners each week, who tune in for an average of 3 hours and 40 minutes. In-car listening has seen a 3.3% rise to surpass 10 million weekly listeners, while at-work listening has increased the average time spent listening by a full hour year-on-year to 12 hours and 29 minutes.

Commercial radio streaming has seen a slight increase since the last survey, bringing the total number of weekly streaming listeners to nearly 3.6 million. At-home streaming has gained 109,000 listeners, reflecting a 4.6% rise since the last survey.

Commercial DAB+ only stations are making their mark, with TSL rising by 26 minutes year-on-year to 6 hours and 39 minutes per week.

"These results prove radio continues to connect with audiences anytime, anywhere. As listening habits diversify, our growth reflects the industry's creativity and commitment to ensuring commercial radio remains a dynamic and trusted source of education and entertainment," said Lizzie Young, CRA's Chief Executive Officer.

Over at Southern Cross Austereo, the media company was talking up its 26th consecutive win in the 25-54-year-old demographic.

SCA's Hit Network was again no.1 for women 25-54, while the Triple M network was no.1 for men 25-55. SCA's Hit and Triple M metro station wins for Survey 6 include: #1 Melbourne FM Breakfast show - The Fox's Fifi, Fev & Nick #1 Brisbane Station, Breakfast show and Drive show - B105, Stav, Abby & Matt, Carrie & Tommy #1 and #2 Brisbane radio stations - B105 and Triple M Brisbane #1 Adelaide Breakfast show - Triple M Adelaide's Roo, Ditts & Loz.

When it comes to footy, Triple M saw #1 reach in AFL and NRL #1 AFL broadcast in metro markets, reaching 700,000 P10+ across the weekend in Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth. SCA had the #1 AFL broadcast in metro markets, reaching 424,000 P25-54 across the weekend in Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth.

SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron, said: "Today's incredible result confirms that the Melbourne market has now settled, with the re-crowning of the local and lovable powerhouse of Fifi, Fev & Nick as Melbourne's indisputable number one FM Breakfast show. This show remains unwavering on creating joyful, Melbourne-focused and family-friendly fun, and Melbourne listeners have decisively responded by making the show number one again.

"SCA also continues to dominate the Breakfast shift elsewhere, with the brilliant Stav, Abby & Matt on B105 remaining Brisbane's number one Breakfast show, and Triple M Adelaide's Roo, Ditts & Loz continuing their record-winning number one streak."

SCA recently axed its Sydney Breakfast trio, Hughesy, Ed & Erin, in favour of installing The Jimmy & Nath Show for the rest of the year.

"SCA's strong Breakfast and Drive shows have continued to drive a dominant 25-54 'audience that matters' result nationally, maintaining significant leadership over our competitors in this commercially critical demographic for our advertising clients," continued Cameron.

SCA Chief Commercial Officer, Seb Rennie, added: "Combined with our growing SCA-ACE represented metro stations, the metro 25-54 commercial audience share is market leading at 35.3%, ahead of our nearest competition by 8.5 share points."

Meanwhile at Nova, the team were highlighting Smooth FM's number one position in Melbourne Radio with an 11% share, and as the most listened to station nationally with 1.288m (CUME) listeners in Sydney. Smooth FM Adelaide is the most popular DAB+ radio station with 44,000 listeners (CUME), an increase of 8,000 listeners, while Smooth FM Perth is the most popular DAB+ station in Perth with 81,000 listeners (CUME). Smooth FM 91.5 Afternoons with Simon Diaz is the #1 Afternoons show in Melbourne with a 13.2% share.

Nova said it's the most popular network for Breakfast, claiming more listeners than any other metro network at 2.167m (CUME).

"To be able to say that NOVA Entertainment has achieved the highest total audience of any metro network in every survey of 2024 is not something we take for granted. With Smooth FM achieving the #1FM station in Melbourne and Nova maintaining the most Breakfast listeners of any metro network are further proof points that we're doing the right things," said CEO, Peter Charlton.

"Our all-of-audio strategy continues to resonate with both audiences and commercial partners, something further demonstrated by today's results."