Half a million listeners tune out of BBC Radio 2 and turn to commercial rivals trends now

Half a million listeners tune out of BBC Radio 2 and turn to commercial rivals trends now
Half a million listeners tune out of BBC Radio 2 and turn to commercial rivals trends now

Half a million listeners tune out of BBC Radio 2 and turn to commercial rivals trends now

BBC Radio 2 has lost 580,000 listeners in a year where they ripped up their schedule and older stars including Ken Bruce, Steve Wright and Paul O'Grady were shipped out for younger DJs such as Scott Mills.

The station has found itself at the centre of an ageism storm as commercial rivals playing more music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. 

These so-called 'Radio 2 refugees' have abandoned the station for Boom Radio - the station is aimed at baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 - and Greatest Hits Radio, the new home of Ken Bruce, who will take his beloved PopMaster quiz with him in March.

Radio 2 is still the UK’s most popular station but its overall weekly audience has fallen by 580,000 to 14.29million. 

Breakfast show host Zoe Ball has seen a drop in listeners while Ken Bruce's listenership is also down - although his show is still the most listened to on the station with 8.2million, according to Rajar.

Radio 2 has seen a drop in 580,000 weekly listeners as BBC bosses revamp the schedule with new younger DJs

Radio 2 has seen a drop in 580,000 weekly listeners as BBC bosses revamp the schedule with new younger DJs

Radio 2's breakfast show, presented by Zoe Ball, has lost the most weekly listeners among main BBC stations

Radio 2's breakfast show, presented by Zoe Ball, has lost the most weekly listeners among main BBC stations. 

The total was down 359,000 in the last quarter of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021.  However, it is still the most listened to breakfast radio programme with a weekly audience of 7.1million.

Radio 4's Today dropped by 282,000 to 6.1million in the same period. Radio 5 Live's breakfast show also lost around 200,000, down to 1.6million a week. 

The figures, published by research group Rajar, show all the major BBC stations saw a decline in listeners over the past 12 months. Radio 2 lost just over half a million listeners – down 3.9 per cent.

It came as Steve Wright, 68, was replaced in the afternoon slot after 23 years by Radio 1's Scott Mills, 49.

Paul O'Grady, 67, who was at Radio 2 for 14 years, quit his show months after he was forced to share the time slot with comedian Rob Beckett, 37, while Ken Bruce, 71, last month announced his departure after 31 years on the UK's most popular radio programme. 

He is moving to Greatest Hits Radio which boosted its audience by nearly a third in the last year to 4.3million a week. 

BBC insiders claimed feeling ‘unloved’ by bosses who failed to reassure him over a new contract even though they wanted to keep him was the reason for his decision to leave.

Bruce will move to Greatest Hits Radio on April 3. The station has grown its audience by nearly a third in the last year to 4.3 million a week.

Boom Radio, the station launched by veterans to target the ‘baby boomers’ born between 1946 and 1964, is also growing, attracting more than half a million listeners each week.

The station more than doubled its audience from 242,000 to 531,000 from 2021 to 2022.

Chief executive Phil Riley said: ‘As top DJs abandon the BBC, it seems the listeners are doing the same, and Boom Radio is providing a new home for those listeners with their favourite presenters.

‘In fact, in our own research almost 80 per cent of Boom listeners say they are listening less to Radio 2.’

Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism as a string of older DJs step back, including Paul O'Grady, Steve Wright, Ken Bruceand Simon Mayo, replaced by ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, RuPaul's Michelle Visage, Rylan and DJ Spoony

Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism as a string of older DJs step back, including Paul O'Grady, Steve Wright, Ken Bruceand Simon Mayo, replaced by ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, RuPaul's Michelle Visage, Rylan and DJ Spoony

One listener recently thanked the broadcaster for ‘providing a decent station for the listeners that Radio 2 no longer wants’ and another described themselves as a “Radio 2 refugee”.’

Boom Radio bosses poached O’Grady for a special Christmas Day show last year.

The BBC has lost more over 45s (798,000) compared to those aged 15-44 (479,000) in the last year.

Commercial stations have gained 802,000 over 45s, an increase of 4.2 per cent.

Radio 3 has suffered the biggest station-wide drop, down 6.3 per cent to 1.8 million, while Radio 1 - home to DJs including Greg James and Clara Amfo - is down 4.6 per cent to 7.7 million

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