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COMMERCIAL RADIO REACHES 12.7 MILLION AUSTRALIANS

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has welcomed the GfK Survey 1, 2026 results. Survey 1 captured listening behaviour between 18 January and 28 February 2026 and is the first read of what promises to be a defining year for Australian audio.

The industry reaches 12.7 million Australians weekly1 - sustaining the consistent audience performance that has defined the medium since mid-2022 through a global pandemic, platform fragmentation and an increasingly competitive media landscape.

In a period marked by geopolitical turbulence, economic uncertainty and rapid technological disruption, audiences turn to trusted, live and local media. This remains commercial radio’s competitive advantage - whatever the market, whatever the moment, Australian commercial radio delivers the reach and relevance advertisers require.

CRA started the year demonstrating its impressive record of stability, scale and resilience, underpinned by its proven effectiveness with research presented by Professor Mark Ritson confirming that brands investing 11% or more of their media budget in audio unlock significantly greater campaign effectiveness.2

Lizzie Young, CEO of CRA said: "Radio's place in Australian life is built on trusted influence around the cultural conversations that shape our country, from moments of tragedy to times of triumph. Survey numbers speak to these moments, not just the strength of the medium - and when read holistically, they tell the story of radio’s role as a platform that has not just endured change but grown through it.”

"The commercial radio industry is entering an exciting new chapter - one defined by a level of industry collaboration for the benefit of audiences and advertisers alike. Our members are reaching audiences across AM, FM, DAB+, streaming and podcasting, and the investment in platforms like CRA Audio ID and RadioApp means we are delivering the precision, transparency and scale that advertisers require," concluded Young.

For the full 2026 survey dates and historical data, visit: https://cra.au/metro-ratings

Sources:

  1. GfK Radio 360 Ratings, SMBAP S1 2026, Commercial Radio listeners, All people 10+, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, Cume (000's).
  2. Advertising Council Australia's (ACA) Effectiveness Database (2018–2025).