Heart takes top commercial spot in London

In the latest Rajar listening figures for Q3 2006 (July-September) released today, Chrysalis Radio’s Heart 106.2 has won back the top spot for commercial radio in London, with the biggest reach and share.

Heart 106.2 has increased its reach from 1.664 million to 1.714 million, adding 50,000 listeners quarter on quarter, with its listened to hours up 2.5 percent to 13.1million. Its share holds firm at 6.1%.

Barnaby Dawe, managing director of the Heart network, said: “We’re delighted to see how loyal our listeners are to both the brand and the presenters. We’ve got a great line up of talent and a strong programming team which have helped us deliver these great results. We’re looking forward to taking the Heart brand from strength to strength with our new marketing campaign which conveys Heart’s feelgood factor.”

Next in line was Magic 105.4 which while, holding onto 1.636 million listeners this quarter, has lost 12.4% of its listeners since the end of July to take a 5.3% share.

Capital 95.8 also dropped 11% this quarter to 1.461 million, with a total year on year decrease of 19.1%, holding on to a 4.7% share. Its sister station Capital Gold had the biggest increase of all the London stations this quarter, rising 19.7% to reach 706,000 and 1.7% share.

Smooth FM recorded the biggest decrease this quarter dropping 17.1% to 445,000 listeners and a 1% share, a year-on-year drop of 3.9%.

Dance and R&B station Kiss FM also lost listeners over the summer period, dropping 11.7% in Q3 and 2.9% year on year to 1.324 million and a 3.8% share.

Heart's sister station LBC 97.3 was one of the only London stations to post significant increases, by 24% and its hours by 22%, reaching 594,000 listeners and taking a 3.4% share. It also saw a 31% growth amongst 35-54 year olds and a 73% growth in its total ABC1 listeners.

Virgin London also fared well with a 3.1% increase on quarter to 1.117 million and a 3.4% share, but lost 4.2% of its listeners since 2005.

Indie and rock station XFM held onto its listeners, with a 0.5% increase this quarter, but has lost listeners in the past 12 months with a 12.9% decrease to 551,000 and a 1.5% share.

Check back to Digital Spy shortly for the results of the national radio, non-commercial and breakfast show figures.