In order to raise awareness around the growing digital radio medium, last year marked the first time radio ratings included digital ratings as separate survey data. By releasing the data on the same day as the regular ratings, Commercial Radio Australia thought this would push the medium onto more media plans.
2018 was also a year of instability for the commercial breakfast slot, with the popular Kyle and Jackie O dethroned from their status as king and queen of radio in the fifth survey, with WSFM's Jonesy & Amanda moving to number one. However, the pair were able to quickly climb back to the top spot.
Meanwhile, 2GB had a consistently strong year, retaining the number one position Sydney for all eight surveys. Other stations didn’t have such an easy run, with 2Day FM experiencing ups and downs in audience shares with Em Rusciano exiting.
We take a look at the year 2018 in radio here:
1. First radio ratings of 2018
The first survey of 2018 looked at the results for the 21 January to 3 March period. It also began to show digital radio data, known as DAB+.
In Sydney, Macquarie Radio Network’s talkback show 2GB earned the most ears, with an 11.8% share of the market. While in Melbourne Fox FM’s Fifi, Fey and Byron breakfast show shot up in the charts with an audience share of 10.3%.
For digital radio in Sydney, ARN’s Edge Digital channel took the biggest share of the audience, with 79,000 listeners. It was followed by ABC Jazz with 77,000 listeners.
Alan Jones
2. Radio ratings: Rusciano hits five-year high; Will & Woody work wonders
The second survey of 2018 looked at the period from 11 February to 3 March and 11 March to 14 April. Yet again, 2GB took the number one spot in Sydney with 11.5% of the audience.
In Melbourne 101.9 Fox FM took out the top spot for total audience share, with 11.4% of the market.
Nova's Smooth FM came in second with an audience share of 10.1%, falling by 0.2%. It was followed closely by ARN's Gold 104.3, which grew 0.3%, reaching an audience share of 10%.
3. Radio ratings: Highest 2Day FM Sydney breakfast ratings in five years
The third radio ratings of 2018 looked at the period from 11 March to 14 April and 22 Apr to 26 May.
In the highlights for this survey, Southern Cross Austereo's (SCA) embattled 2DAY FM breakfast trio Em, Grant & Ed gained more listeners, taking a 4.9% share of the market.
It was the third year running SCA’s Sydney 2DAY FM had a new breakfast spot line up at the start of the year, following Rove & Sam in 2016, The Em Rusciano Radio Show with Harley Breen in 2017 and for 2018, the 2Day FM Breakfast with Em, Grant & Ed.
4. Radio ratings: Survey Four
The fourth radio ratings of 2018 looked at the period form 22 April to 30 June 2018.
Despite WSFM tightening its grip on the overall Sydney market, 2GB continued to dominate, holding the number one spot with a share of 14%. WSFM grew its audience by 1% to take a 10.7% share.
Smoothfm 95.3 and KIIS106.5 found themselves tied for third place, both with an 8.4% share, after a neck and neck race last survey saw KIIS take a narrow 0.1% lead.
5. Radio ratings: Infamous Kiis duo Kyle and Jackie O dethroned in Sydney radio
The fifth radio ratings survey of 2018 looks at the period from 27 May to 30 June and 15 July to 18 August 2018.
This time we looked at results across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
In perphaps the biggest radio shock of the year, Kyle and Jacki O were dethroned by WSFM's Jonesy & Amanda for the number one commercial breakfast slot.
Jonesy & Amanda
In one of advertisers' favourite booking segments, Kyle and Jackie O lost 1.7%, dropping to a 9.3% share. WSFM's Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones and Amanda Keller earned a 10.3% share.
6. Radio ratings: Kyle and Jackie O back on top
The sixth radio ratings of 2018 looked at the period from 15 July to 22 September.
After being knocked down in the previous survey, Kyle and Jackie O were back in the top spot for commercial radio breakfast with an audience of 10.2%. The duo increased their audience by 0.9% to take the second spot for breakfast.
Australian Radio Network's WSFM followed with a 9.3% audience share, down one percentage point.
7. Radio ratings: Kyle and Jackie O continue growth following return to top spot
The seventh radio ratings of 2018 looked at the period from 19 August to 22 September and 30 September to 3 November.
For total listeners in the Melbourne market, 3AW remained number one with a 14.5% audience share, growing by 1% since survey six.
In the FM battle, Nova's Smooth FM 91.5 took out the second spot for total audience share, reaching 9.8%, despite a slight decline of 0.1%.
SCA's 101.9 Fox FM and ARN's Gold 104.3 came in a close third with an audience share of 9.5%, growing by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.
Kyle and Jackie O
8. Radio ratings: Kyle and Jackie O close out the year on top
The final radio ratings of 2018 looked at the period from 30 September to 8 December.
In Sydney 2GB finished the year on top, with a 13.9% audience share, despite a slight decrease of 0.2% since the previous survey.
While in the Melbourne market, 3AW remained number one with a 14.8% audience share, growing by 0.3% since survey six.
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