Celebrations as figures show more listeners tuning into Downtown

Gary and Glen are rocking up the radio ratings! 🎙️

Published 16th May 2024
Last updated 16th May 2024

Today see’s the release of the latest RAJAR listening figures and in NI – radio as medium has never been stronger. Close to 1.5 million people in the region say they listen to the radio at some point each week – that means 93% of NI’s population are tuning into their favourite stations!

And speaking of favourite stations - it’s Bauer Media’s Northern Ireland station’s that are pulling even further ahead with record audiences – surpassing 800,000 listeners for the first time.

According to data just released, Downtown Radio’s audience has increased to almost 300,000 listeners, and it’s a celebration for Gary and Glen as their show becomes the Number 2 commercial breakfast show in Northern Ireland with 156,000 people tuning in for their music and banter each week.

As a network, the Downtown stations now have 360,000 listeners and a record 4.1m hours.

Stuart Robinson, Content Director for Bauer Media Audio stations in Northern Ireland said, Downtown has a longer relationship with the public here than any other station and we’ve been working hard to be visible at local events and communities recently. Just last week Gary and Glen took their show to the North West 200 and this week they’ll be broadcasting live from Lough Erne in Enniskillen. Downtown was also on hand to welcome the 40,000 Bruce Springsteen fans to Boucher Playing Fields on Thursday and this week we are broadcasting numerous shows live from the Balmoral Show where Downtown has its very own roadshow stage”.

Meanwhile sister-station Cool FM is once again the biggest station in the country with 527,000 people tuning in each week. The Cool FM Breakfast show is the overall biggest show in the country and even if you look at the much coveted 9am-10.30am timeslot, Cool FM has 297,000 listeners and now outperforms all other stations by weekly reach in Northern Ireland during this timeband.

Elsewhere within Bauer’s portfolio of radio stations, it is celebrating having the Top 3 most listened to Digital only stations in Northern Ireland – led by Downtown Country that now has 122,000 American and Irish country fans tuning in each week for over 1 million hours and newest addition GHR NI now reaches 70,000 listeners!

How to listen to Downtown Radio:

Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.