Radio Ratings: smoothfm dominates while ABC celebrates key wins

Welcome to the second GfK metro radio survey of 2019.

Radio Today‘s comprehensive rolling coverage will bring you all the market #1s and GfK ratings cards from 9:30am.

Check back throughout the day for the big talking points, headlines, and top takeaways from each metro market; Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

There’s also detailed market analysis, as well as DAB+ ratings and how the networks will play a game we like to call The Spin.

Survey #2 for 2019 was conducted by GfK for Commercial Radio Australia between Sunday, March and Saturday, April 13.

SYDNEY:

• smoothfm being #1 FM overall in Sydney among People 10+ is starting to become a trend, and despite falling to 9.5% (-0.2) the network remains ahead of KIIS and WSFM.
• It was an excellent book for KIIS FM, up to 9.1% overall (+1.4), while the Kyle & Jackie O juggernaut rolls on, rising even further into double digits with 11.4% (+1.3).
• smoothfm’s Byron Webb is the #1 Drive show on FM, but ABC’s Richard Glover is the top rating Drive show across both bands, rising to 10.4% (1.1) to beat both smooth and 2GB.
• Despite losing top spot on Drive, 2GB gained share overall to finish with 14.5% (+1.1) as the #1 station in Sydney.
• Meantime there were big dips for both Triple M (-1.7) and WSFM (-1.6) on FM Drive, however, The Chaser on Triple M Afternoons had a good result, up 1.3%.
• triple j also lost ground overall and on Breakfast, a traditional fall following Survey #1 which is traditionally bolstered by Hottest 100 listening.

#1 FM Overall – smoothfm
#1 AM Overall – 2GB
#1 FM Breakfast – KIIS: Kyle & Jackie O
#1 AM Breakfast – 2GB: Alan Jones
#1 FM Drive – smoothfm: Byron Webb
#1 AM Drive – ABC: Richard Glover

MELBOURNE:

• Fox FM’s run as the #1 FM station in Melbourne has come to an end, toppled by smoothfm which rose to an 11% share of People 10+ (+1.3).
• Gold104.3 came in second spot, up into double digits with 10.1% (+0.7), as Fox finished with 9.9% (-0.7).
• A flat result for KIIS FM on both Breakfast and Drive, and ARN will be hoping a rise above 5% won’t be too far away.
• Smooth is also #1 on FM Breakfast, with Mike Perso & Jennifer Hansen securing 9.5% (+1.7) ahead of Fox and Triple M in second and third.
• Little change on Drive, with Fox still #1 for FM and 3AW top dog on AM.
• 3AW remained dominated in all key dayparts, comfortable #1 overall and for Ross & John on Breakfast.

#1 FM Overall – smoothfm
#1 AM Overall – 3AW
#1 FM Breakfast – smoothfm: Mike Perso & Jennifer Hansen
#1 AM Breakfast – 3AW: Ross & John
#1 FM Drive – Fox: Hughesy & Kate
#1 AM Drive – 3AW: Tom Elliott

BRISBANE:

• Not much change in the key FM dayparts in Brisbane, with Nova retaining top spot with 12.4% (-0.5) ahead of a congested pack, as well as Brekky and Drive.
• Hit105 bounced back after a disappointing first book, rising to 11.8%(+1.6), while 97.3FM were also up to 10.8% (+0.4).
• Ash, Kip, Luttsy & Susie retained the #1 Breakfast position with a 12.4% share (-0.5), while 97.3FM’s overall gain didn’t translate into Breakfast (flat on 9%).
• Nova’s concern may now be that the success on Breakfast and Drive isn’t being replicated on Mornings and Afternoons.
• 4KQ retain #1 AM, tying with ABC Brisbane who had a great book (+1.0) to 7.9%.
• ABC now holds market-leading positions on Drive with Steve Austin, and Breakfast with Craig Zonca & Loretta Ryan (10%)  defeating 4KQ’s Nick Michaels (-2.3 to 8.2%).

#1 FM Overall –  Nova
#1 AM Overall – 4KQ tied with ABC Brisbane
#1 FM Breakfast – Nova: Ash, Kip, Luttsy & Susie
#1 AM Breakfast – ABC: Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan
#1 FM Drive – Nova: Kate, Tim & Marty
#1 AM Drive – ABC Brisbane: Steve Austin

ADELAIDE:

• Mix 102.3 is still the market leader in Adelaide, rising even higher to a 13.9% share of People 10+ (0.6).
• ABC Adelaide continues to hold off FIVEaa and Cruise1323 for the top spot overall on AM, in doing so reaching double digits this book.
• Mix’s Jodie & Soda are still the king and queen of FM Breakfast (13.5%), but ABC’s Ali Clark is top of the tree overall on Breakfast (14.7%).
• Drive continues to be the thorn in Mix’s side, with Will & Woody steady on 12.7% (+0.1) still behind Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty with 13.1% (-0.4).
• Meantime Cruise’s Mark Elliston has snatched top AM Drive from FIVEaa’s Rowey & Bicks.

#1 FM Overall – Mix
#1 AM Overall – ABC Adelaide
#1 FM Breakfast – Mix: Jodie & Soda
#1 AM Breakfast – ABC: Ali Clarke
#1 FM Drive – Nova: Kate, Tim & Marty
#1 AM Drive –  Cruise1232: Mark Elliston

PERTH:

• SCA’x Mix94.5 remains the strongest station in the west, ending the second book of the year with 15.4% (-0.2) overall among People 10+.
• Nova is second both overall, Breakfast and Drive, while 96FM had some gains to celebrate; up to 8.3% overall (+0.5) and Paul & Lise on Breakfast to 7.3% (+1.1).
• Newly installed ABC pair Nadia Mitsopoulos & Russell Woolf retained their place at the summit of AM Brekky but had to settle for a tie with 6PR’s Steve Mills & Basil Zempilas who also finished on 9%.
• 6PR still managed finished #1 overall for AM and on AM Drive.

#1 FM Overall – Mix94.5
#1 AM Overall – 6PR
#1 FM Breakfast – Mix94.5: Clairsy, Matt & Kymba
#1 AM Breakfast – ABC: Nadia Mitsopoulos & Russell Woolf tied with 6PR: Steve Mills & Basil Zempilas
#1 FM Drive – Mix94.5: Kennedy Molloy
#1 AM Drive – 6PR: Oliver Peterson