Today FM celebrates five year high market share
You know what they say, the more the merrier!
The latest Joint National Listenership Report (JNLR) for October ’19 to Sept ‘20* has been released recording huge audience growth for Today FM across its daytime schedule, a 5-year market share high (7.8%) and a weekly listenership of 877,000 (100,000 more than nearest competitor 2FM).
Proving that more listeners have turned to radio since the start of COVID, Today FM has clearly been the companion of choice for many, looking for that perfect mix of information, entertainment and at times, distraction! Every show on Today FM from 7am to 7pm is celebrating bumper audience figures.
Despite new working from home habits and later commuting times, Ian Dempsey continued entertain the masses with his Breakfast Show audience (7-9am) now at 179,000 an increase of 11,000 compared to the last published figures in February.
Commenting on today’s listenership figures, Ian Dempsey said: “I’m delighted so many people are choosing radio as their constant companion these past few months. Live radio means we’re always there with you and you can take us with you wherever you go, which hasn’t been too far lately! The Breakfast show listeners have been great company for me too during all of this and I’m very grateful for that”.
In mid-morning (9am-12pm), Dermot & Dave are celebrating a record audience high of 183,000, (+20,000 BoB) making them the most listened to show in that time slot on commercial radio.
Mairead Ronan continues the winning streak with her lunchtime show (12-2pm) surpassing 100,000 listeners to reach 103,000 (+12,000 BoB) while Fergal D’Arcy broke records in the afternoon with 17,000 more listeners tuning in to this show (2-4.30pm) bringing his audience to 125,000, up 22,000 YoY.
Matt Cooper’s The Last Word (4.30-7pm) followed suit, increasing his drivetime audience by 13,000 to 152,000. During COVID, The Last Word has been lauded for its extensive coverage of COVID-19, balanced with exclusive and entertaining guests including Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who gave his only Irish media interview to Today FM.
Dermot Whelan, who won gold for Best Music & Entertainment Presenter at the recent IMRO Radio Awards said: “We’re so delighted with these JNLR figures. I feel very fortunate to be in a position to connect with so many Irish people on Today FM each day. 2020 has not been easy for a lot of people and radio has proven to be a place where our listeners can find a much-needed sense of community and reassurance. We promise to keep our listeners up to date and entertained and anyone who has heard our show knows we have mighty craic while we’re doing it!”
Dave Moore commented: “We are so thrilled with the latest audience figures! We love knowing people tune in and enjoy listening to us. The pandemic sucks but we’re a show where people can go to be informed and, at the same time, entertained. We’re delighted more people are learning that and tuning in”.
Commenting on the success of her show, Mairead Ronan, who recently celebrated one year on air said: “I’m thrilled to see so many people came to Today FM during a bonkers year. My lunchtime show has tried to give a much-needed distraction since the pandemic hit and what I really love about my job now is, it feels like I’m having a cuppa tea and a toastie each day with the listeners!”
Fergal D’Arcy now commands the biggest afternoon audience on commercial radio and the Galway man is thrilled: “We give the people what they want, the music they love, the biggest interviews and more opportunities to win. I’m just delighted to behind the mic!”
Phil Manzor, Today FM’s Content Director who joined the station earlier this year commented: “If we are to take any positives from the last 9 months of this pandemic it’s that it reignited Irish people’s love of radio. At a time when so much was uncertain, people looked for company in their day. Yes, they wanted to be kept informed, but they also wanted to escape from COVID from time to time. That’s where Today FM came into its own. Our job was to find the balance between the serious and not so serious, give our audience a reason to laugh, provide a platform to share their stories. I’m delighted to see our audience continuing to grow and that’s testament to a line-up of presenters and shows who love what they do and always put the listener first”.
