Tag: Greatest Hits Radio

Forth 1 and Greatest Hits Radio celebrate further record-breaking listener numbers

Forth 1, combined with sister station Greatest Hits Radio (Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk), has enjoyed further record-breaking listener numbers – its best in over two decades.

The latest impressive RAJAR figures for Q2 2023 show a record number of listeners now listen to Forth 1 and sister station Greatest Hits Radio (Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk).

An incredible 427,000* tune in across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk every week, which is an increase of 7,000 weekly listeners from the previous quarter and the highest total in 22 years.

That’s the equivalent of Easter Road and Tynecastle both at capacity – 10 times each!

Alongside Ewen and Cat’s award-winning breakfast show, the Ken Bruce effect has helped the Greatest Hits Network grow substantially across Scotland too, adding 51,000 weekly listeners to 553,000 (Q1 2023: 502,000).

Ken’s first show on Greatest Hits Radio across the UK – which features his popular music trivia quiz PopMaster – first aired on Monday 3rd of April 2023.

Clyde 1 and Forth 1 combined remain over the 1 million mark with 1,008,000 listeners.

There were some other great results across its stations in Scotland, with across in the West, combined Clyde 1 & Greatest Hits Radio Glasgow & The West also having record breaking results with 773,000 weekly listeners – the highest in 19 years!

Sister stations MFR, Northsound 1 and Tay FM are all up in reach too since the last set of results.

And when you combine all of the Scottish Hits Network and Greatest Hits stations, they now have a weekly total of 1,791,000 listeners – also the highest total in nearly 20 years.

Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for the Hits & Greatest Hits Networks across Scotland, said: “After record breaking numbers in our last set of RAJAR figures, it really is quite remarkable that Boogie, Arlene, Marty and the rest of the team have managed to break that record again by adding another 7,000 weekly listeners.

“These record breaking listener numbers are a testament to the talent and hard work of our whole team broadcasting live from our wonderful studios in St James Quarter each and every day and across the rest of Scotland.

“A huge thank you to the whole team on and off air who make this happen and the brilliant support from our listeners, clients, partners and sponsors.”

Seven year high for Forth 1 in latest listener figures

21 year record high for FORTH 1 & year record high for FORTH 1 & GREATEST HITS RADIO (FORTH 2) combined!

The latest RAJAR figures have been announced and reveal that Forth 1 remains the number one radio station across Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife and Falkirk, by a long way, with 364,000 weekly listeners (up 63,000 on the same period last year – Q1 2022).

Together with sister station Greatest Hits Radio (previously Forth 2), they reach an amazing 420,000 listeners every single week across the region – the highest figure in nearly 22 years! (Q2 2001). That number would fill a sold-out BT Murrayfield over 6 times!

Boogie in the Morning also had a fantastic set of results posting a record-breaking figure with their highest ever share of the weekday breakfast audience – an incredible 25.6%! That means one in four of all weekday radio listeners across the region wake-up with Boogie and Arlene. The translates into a total of 221,00 weekly listeners.

Not to be out done, Greatest Hits Radio Edinburgh (previously Forth 2), also had its highest reach in 13 years.  It now reaches 103,000 listeners! (up 62,000 from the previous year).

Together with the sister stations in the Greatest Hits Radio network, they now reach over half a million listeners across Scotland – 502,000!

Sister station Clyde 1 remains the largest radio station across in the West, by a long way, with weekly listeners of 656,000 (up 56,000 on the same period last year – Q1 2022).

Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for the Hits & Greatest Hits Networks across Scotland, said: “An absolutely incredible set of figures this quarter. A seven year high for Forth 1, a 13 year high for Greatest Hits Radio (previously Forth 2), a 21 year high for both stations combined, and a very special mention to the Boogie In The Morning team for a share of the audience of an amazing 25.6%!

“As they broadcast live from the heart of Edinburgh within the stunning St James Quarter, the team have never sounded better.

“It is all down to the incredible hard work and dedication from all our on-air and off-air teams as well as our clients, partners, and fantastic listeners.”

And the best bit is, there are so many more exciting things yet to come, with the likes of the legendary Ken Bruce & PopMaster of course, joining us only last month.”

Ken Bruce to join Greatest Hits Radio

GOING FORTH: The broadcasting legend will be on air with a new show on the station formerly known as Forth 2 from April 3rd 

The UK’s most popular radio host, Ken Bruce, is joining the team at Greatest Hits Radio across Scotland and the rest of the UK as part of the stations launch this April. 

Forth 2, which will rebrand to Greatest Hits Radio Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife & Falkirk, will launch with the iconic radio presenter. 

The Glaswegian presenter will be following in the footsteps of other legendary broadcasters when he becomes part of the Greatest Hits Radio family, with a brand-new mid-morning show from 10am – 1pm. Ken will kickstart a weekday line up that also includes presenters Simon Mayo at Drivetime and Jackie Brambles in the early evening.  

Ken, who began his broadcasting career working on hospital radio in Glasgow back in the early 1970’s and has become a radio icon, will now be joining Ewen and Cat and Stuart Webster who will be on presenting to the nation every weekday in the new line-up. Broadcaster Fred MacAulay will also be on air every Sunday.  

Playing the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s, Greatest Hits Radio is a station that celebrates the good times across Scotland and the rest of the UK. With music from the most iconic artists of all time, including Blondie, Queen, George Michael, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Elton John and Whitney Houston, it is home to presenters including Ewen Cameron, Cat Harvey, Fred MacAulay and Stuart Webster who will be on at between 1-4pm. 

Ken Bruce said: ‘I can’t wait to launch my new show on Greatest Hits Radio across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

“From beginning in hospital radio in Glasgow, to now launching a new show on Scotland’s first nationwide commercial radio station, it has been a 45-year journey I could have never of dreamed of as a young boy.’ 

Ben Cooper, Chief Content & Music Officer, Bauer Audio UK said: “Ken Bruce is a broadcasting legend, with the biggest radio show in the UK, so as well as today being an exciting announcement for Greatest Hits Radio and its growing audience, it is a hugely significant moment for the industry.

“What a fantastic start to a great year of increased ambition and innovation for Bauer Media Audio.”  

This announcement follows last week’s news that Greatest Hits Radio will become Scotland’s first national commercial radio station as Forth 2, Clyde 2, MFR 2, Northsound 2, Tay 2, West Sound in Ayrshire, and West Sound in Dumfries & Galloway all rebrand to Greatest Hits Radio on the same April 3rd date. 

You can listen to Greatest Hits Radio on DAB digital radio*, on your smart speaker, mobile device or online at greatesthitsradio.co.uk.