The Myers Review

John Myers
Radio Festival
30 June 2009

UK commercial radio revenues

Revenues & station numbers - m per annum at 2008 prices
350

272

268

261

255

248

303

315

800

205

226

250

242

300

288

310

1,000

122

107

106

177

600

143

150

126

172

200

400

60

50

49

49

48

42

38

26

19

19

19

19

200

16

50

33

76

100

num ber of analogue local com m ercial radio stations [left axis]
com m ercial radio revenues (m @ 2008 prices) [right axis]
[source: Ofcom, Radio Advertising Bureau, base: RPI]

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

0
1974

UK commercial radio listening

Commercial radio listening & station numbers - million hours listened per annum
350

272

268

261

248
255

303

315

40,000

205

226

250

242

300

288

310

50,000

30,000

122

106
107

143

150

126

172
177

200

20,000

19

19

19

60

50

49
49

48

42

38

10,000

16
19

50

26
33

76

100

[source: Ofcom, RAJAR]

number of analogue local commercial radio stations [left axis]

volume of listening to commercial radio (million hrs/annum) [right axis]

2008

2006
2007

2005

2004

2003

2001
2002

2000

1999

1998

1996
1997

1995

1994

1993

1991
1992

1990

1989

1988

1986
1987

1985

1984

1983

1981
1982

1980

1979

1978

1976
1977

1975

0
1974

UK commercial radio share of listening

100

177

143

126

150

122

200

172

205
50

48

50

315

100
305

288

272

268

255

248

242

250

226

300

261

350

310

Commercial radio share of listening & station numbers - % of total listening

80

60

49

47

46

45

46

45

44

38

43

43

42

42

40

20
50
0
2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

num ber of analogue local com m ercial radio stations [left axis]
com m ercial radio % share of total radio listening year-end [right axis]
[source: Ofcom, RAJAR]

UK commercial radio geographical coverage

Commercial radio geographical coverage & station numbers - % of UK
172
177
205
226
242
248
255
261
268
272
288
310
315
305

350
300
250

106
107
122
126
143

200

100
50

1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

3
9
16
19
19
19
19
26
33
38
42
48
49
49
50
60
76

150

num ber of analogue local com m ercial radio stations [left axis]
com m ercial radio % UK geographic coverage [right axis]
[source: Ofcom, RAJAR]

100

80

60

40

20

UK commercial radio licence numbers

Number of commercial radio licences issued by Ofcom (by size of Measured Coverage Area)
300

250

200

150
100

50

1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

<250k
[source: Ofcom, RAJAR]

250k-500k

>500k