COMMERCIAL RADIO GROWS FROM BREAKFAST TO BEDTIME AS MORE AUSTRALIANS LISTEN FOR LONGER
Commercial radio reaches 12.7 million Australians weekly across the five metropolitan markets — up 2.8% year on year — according to the GfK Metro Survey 6, 2026 results released today.1 Weekly metro audiences have now held above 12 million for more than four years.2
Commercial radio's audience grew year on year across every demographic, daypart and place of listening. Australians are also spending more time each week with commercial radio.1
Lizzie Young, CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA), said: "Australians are giving commercial radio more of their time, and audiences are growing at every age and wherever they listen. It's the only commercial media that's 100% locally owned and operated, delivering consistent, trusted and measurable scale. Where audiences spend their time, brands should spend theirs. And when brands invest in local media, they're backing Australian jobs, Australian voices and Australian stories."
Looking ahead, summer shifts in listening are worth planning for. Weekly listeners aged 25 54 lift 7% across summer3, and time spent listening is up 7% on weekend breakfast3. More Australians are spending more time with free, local radio. That's where brands are heard.
GfK Metro Survey 7, 2026 results will be released on Tuesday 24 November 2026. GfK’s 2027 radio ratings survey schedule is available here.
Sources: 1. GfK Radio 360 Ratings, SMBAP S6 2026. All people 10+, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, Cume (000s), unless otherwise stated. All numbers refer to commercial radio results unless otherwise stated. Historical results available on request. Age demographics: 10-17, 18-24, 25-39, 40-54, 55-64, 65+ 2. GfK Radio 360 Ratings, SMBAP S5 2022 – present. All people 10+, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, Cume (000s) 3. GfK MediaWatch Panel, SMBAP, P10+, commercial radio, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, listening for 1 min or more within defined period. Weekly reach & TSL, Pre-Summer (26 Oct – 29 Nov 2025) vs Summer (30 Nov 2025 – 31 Jan 2026).