More people are tuning in to BBC Radio 3 so far this year, according to data released by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research). The listening audience of 2.03 million (April-June 2019) is up an impressive 6% on the total figure for 2018 (1.91 million).
It’s great news for the BBC’s flagship classical music station, which faces ever growing competition from the likes of Classic FM and new-kid-on-the-block, Scala Radio, and reflects how it has itself evolved in recent months, as controller Alan Davey says.
'BBC Radio 3 encourages as many people as possible to explore experimental, boundary pushing programming, from classical, jazz, avant garde and world music to arts discussion, drama, poetry and slow radio through intelligent and adventurous content. It’s a compelling offer and that’s why we’ve seen audiences remain strong at over 2 million listeners…'
The overall radio audience share for Radio 3 was 1.1% in 2018 and was 1.3% for the period reported on. The rest of the BBC’s main stations – particularly Radio 1 – are also cultivating growing audiences. James Purnell, Director of BBC Radio and Education is buoyant about the news amid a changing listening landscape.
'With 34 million people tuning in each week, our stations and programmes continue to make a difference in the daily lives of our audiences. Our biggest radio stations are the most listened to in the UK and yet again we’ve seen how loyal listeners are with many millions of people tuning in each week.
'I want our brilliant stations, programmes and podcasts to remain as relevant in people’s lives as listening habits continue to evolve. Already people are enjoying listening to us in different ways with a record 75 million downloads of Radio 4 programmes and podcasts this quarter as well as a record 7million people listening live to our stations online and through apps.'
