GFK Perth Radio Ratings: 96FM starts the year off with a bang in No.1 position with a 2.9% increase

Perth’s ARN station 96FM has jumped to the top of the overall GFK Perth Radio Ratings in the first survey of the year. The station improved 2.9% to rate #1 overall. Stela Media’s Marianne Stelmach, who has over two decades of radio industry experience, takes a closer look at today’s results.

#1 Overall – 96FM
#1 Breakfast – Nova’s Nathan, Nat & Shaun
#1 Drive – Nova’s Kate, Tim & Joel

96FM have started the year off well as the No. 1 station all people, followed very closely by Nova 93.7. There is only 0.4% difference. 96FM has nudged their way in front, coming from 3rd position in the last survey of 2021, with big increases in the 40 to 64 year olds and 65+. They are No. 1 for 40 to 54, 55 to 64 and 65+ year olds. Nova have held their position as No. 1 for 25 to 54 year olds. The last time 96FM were No. 1 All People was Survey 7 2020.

96FM also had a big jump of 2.5% with their Breakfast Show and have moved to No. 1 with their Morning, Afternoon Shows and Weekends.

Nova are still strong with the No. 1 Breakfast and Drive Shows and the biggest Cume weekly audience. They had a huge increase of 3.5% with 25 to 39 year olds, being the clear No. 1 in that demo.

Mix 94.5 had a slight increase with All People 10+ and are still in a strong 3rd position dominating with females. There has been a shift to a younger audience with strong increases in 10 to 17 and 25 to 39 year olds. There was also a strong increase in Drive and are a close No. 2 to Nova. They are still overall No. 2 in Cume.

6PR had a decrease in Share for All People 10+ sitting at No. 4 position but would be happy with the Breakfast Show, having a slight increase moving to double figures and holding it’s No. 4 position, and the overall Cume increase of 36,000 getting over the 200,000 mark to 207,000. This is a good result as traditionally Survey 1 is never a great survey for Talkback Radio in general.

6IX have held No. 5 position with an overall increase. They had the biggest increase (6.6%) in the 55 to 64 year olds, taking them to clear No. 2 position. A big positive shift for them commercially.

92.9 Triple M had an increase for All People but have stayed in No. 6 position by 0.1% to 6IX. Positive to see they had overall increases in the 10 to 17, 18 to 24 and 40 to 54 year olds demographics. All shifts also had an increase and are No. 1 Men 40 to 49.

96FM – 13.6% (2.9% Increase)
Nova – 13.2% ((0.6% Increase)
Mix 94.5 – 12.2% (0.2% Increase)
6PR – 7.8% (1.1% Decrease)
6IX – 6.0% (0.3% Increase)
92.9 Triple M – 5.9% (0.6% Increase)

Nova’s Nathan, Nat & Shaun – 14.4% (1.7% Increase)
96FM’s The Bunch with Clairsy & Lisa – 11.4% (2.5% Increase)
Mix 94.5’s Pete, Matt & Kymba – 11.2% (0.9% Decrease)
6PR’s Gareth Parker – 10.0% (0.1% Increase)
92.9 Triple M with Basil & Xav – 6% (0.2% Increase)
6IX’s Ian Blackley – 5.3% (0.2% Increase)

Cume Audience:

Great to see commercial radio is still really relevant with some big increases in audiences. Nova still has the most with 595,000 weekly listeners. 96FM had the biggest increase of 46,000 listeners.

Nova – 595,000 (36,000 Increase)
Mix 94.5 – 491,000 (2,000 Decrease)
96FM – 456,000 (46,000 Increase)
92.9 Triple M – 292,000 (17,000 Increase)
6PR – 207,000 (36,000 Increase)
6IX – 153,000 (4,000 Decrease)
Perth DAB+ Stations

The digital stations are still getting good listenership. RnB Fridays had the biggest increase of 13,000 listeners moving to No. 6 position. 96FM 80’s stayed No. 1.

96FM 80’s (ARN) 51,000 (10,000 Decrease)
Double J 39,000 (12,000 Decrease)
MMM Classic Rock (SCA) 36,000 (8,000 Increase)
Old School (SCA) 34,000 (2,000 Increase)
Smooth (Nova) 34,000 (20,000 Decrease)
RnB Fridays (SCA) 29,000 (13,000 Increase)
Coles Radio (Nova) 27,000 (3,000 Decrease)
Tik Tok Trending 24,000 (No Movement)
Easy 80’s Hits (SCA) 23,000 (11,000 Increase)
Triple J Unearthed 23,000 (No Movement)

Survey 1, 2022 was conducted by GFK for Commercial Radio Australia from January 16th to February 26th. The WA Border was closed with no lockdowns. The only new show launched is 92.9 Triple M’s new local Drive Show, The Rush Hour with Embers & Michelle.

Survey 2, 2022 will be reported from February 6th to April 2nd and results reported on Tuesday April 12th 2022.

Following a 25 year career at SCA, Fairfax, Macquarie Media, ARN and Nine, Marianne Stelmach (pictured below) has launched media representation company Stela Media.