Heart extends its lead as the UK’s biggest radio brand
- Friday, August 1st, 2025
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Global posted a record-breaking set of RAJAR results for Q2 2025 (31 March – 22 June), achieving its highest ever share (27.7%) and total hours (283 million).
With 29 million people tuning in weekly, it remains the UK’s number one commercial radio group.
Heart extended its position as the UK’s biggest commercial radio brand, now with 13 million weekly listeners. Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston & Amanda Holden remains the largest commercial breakfast show, attracting 4.2 million weekly listeners.
LBC reached 3.4 million listeners, with year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter growth across reach, hours and share. Nick Ferrari at Breakfast increased to 1.4 million listeners, while LBC News rose to 1.1 million.
Smooth secured 7.7 million weekly listeners, while Classic FM reached 4.7 million, with both networks’ specialist stations posting record figures. 
Radio X reached 2.4 million, with its decade spin-offs also breaking records. Gold Radio added 48,000 listeners in three months, now at 1.6 million, and The Official Big Top 40 remained the UK’s biggest chart show with 1.7 million weekly listeners.
Ashley Tabor-King CBE, Founder & Executive President of Global, said: “It was a huge moment last quarter to see Heart overtake Radio 2 as the UK’s biggest radio brand, and this quarter I’m delighted to see Heart extend its lead even further. For Global to continue to grow and extend its lead is a considerable achievement, and I want to thank every single globaller for their hard work, and our incredible listeners, be they on FM, DAB or Global Player, for their incredible loyalty. This is all helping commercial radio celebrate its highest-ever share of listening.”
James Rea, Chief Broadcasting & Content Officer at Global, said: “It’s incredible to see the audience growth across Global, another record share, and record hours. The market is hugely competitive, so to be leading the pack and delivering growth is not something we would ever take for granted. A heartfelt thank you to the world class teams at Global and the millions who tune in every day.”
