Matthew explains why The Buggles couldn’t have been more wrong.
It was about 7 years ago, and I was picking up my daughter from primary school.
(I have never been one for making friends at the school gates as I always reckoned, I have enough friends – most of whom I see nowhere near enough of!)
Anyway, I was engaged in conversation by the retired grandfather of one of my daughter’s friends when he asked…
“So, what do you do for a living then?”
The usual question.
I explained that I was involved with the commercial Radio industry and had been for several years.
“Oh – never mind – I hear its dying on its arse.”
The chap had zero filter and even less knowledge. However, he was in fairness just regurgitating some of the commonly held theories of the day.
Well, here we are 7 years later, my daughter’s just finished her GCSEs, I have no idea where the aforementioned Grandfather is, and Commercial Radio has surpassed the 40 million mark.
Yes – that’s 40 million (!?!?) listeners a week for the first time in its history – surpassing 39.7 million – a previous record high, set in RAJAR Q1 2024.
Photo by Alexander Sinn on Unsplash
There are a multitude of reasons for this – and we all have our own theories and favourites.
Smart speakers are an obvious highlight – it’s just so much easier to listen! The proliferation of digital and online channels – another. The use of video within certain apps – yes, it’s all helped.
I’m less bothered why - however, I will always champion the medium for its accessibility and inclusiveness when some other mediums are becoming harder and harder to access.
If I ever bump into the school gate grandad again, I will make it my business to bombard him with some stats and be sure to let him know that Radio is in rude health and continues to go from strength to strength.
It most certainly isn’t ‘dying on its arse!’
Which is why it still makes a fantastic place to advertise any brand.
So why not get in touch and let us help you make the most of radio’s strong future.
