The latest JNLR/Ipsos survey reveals that radio is enjoying its largest audience ever, with 3.5 million people tuning in each weekday — an increase of 57,000 listeners compared to the same period last year. The survey also shows that the 9:00 to 9:15 a.m. slot attracts the largest audience of the day, with 1.65 million listeners — 35% of the entire adult population.

Looking at trends over the past 10 years, it is clear that live broadcast radio continues to demonstrate remarkable strength.

While population increases have contributed to audience growth, radio’s average weekday audience has largely risen in line with overall population growth. Currently, 79% of adults listen to radio each weekday; 10 years ago, this figure was 84%.

Among the younger 15–24 age group, an explosion of media choices has meant that the percentage tuning in to live radio each weekday has declined. However, despite intense competition, a hugely impressive 63% of 15–24-year-olds currently listen to live radio at some point during the day every weekday. A population increase in this age group also means that 686,000 15–24-year-olds now tune in to radio each weekday — the highest number ever recorded.

The latest JNLR/Ipsos research also shows that, despite increased competition over the past 10 years, time spent listening to live radio has remained very consistent for both adults (224minutes) and 15–24-year-olds (155 minutes) over time.

Other key results from the latest JNLR/Ipsos survey include:

·     90% of all adults and 85% of 15–34-year-olds listen to radio every week.

·     68% of 15–34-year-olds listen to radio each weekday, while daily weekday listening among the hard‑to‑reach15–24-year-old cohort is also very strong at 63%.

·     79% of ABC1 adults listen to radio each weekday, while the figure for the main shopper is 81%.

·     Listening to local and regional radio remains very strong, with over 2.3 million adults tuning into their local or regional station every weekday.

·     74% of Dublin adults listen each weekday. The figures for other regions are: Rest of Leinster – 78%, Munster – 84%,Connacht/Ulster – 84%.

·     The Irish Audio Report, published in November last year and measuring all forms of audio listening, revealed that 97% of adults listen to audio content every week. Live radio dominates audio listening with a 76% share of total audio listening, followed by music streaming (12%), YouTube Music (6%), and podcasts (3%).

·     In terms of how people listen, 12% of all radio listening is now via a connected device, with 7% through a smart speaker and 3% via a mobile device.

·     For the younger 15–34 age group, 19% of all radio listening is now via a connected device, with smart speakers accounting for 7.5% and mobile devices for 7.4% of their total radio listening.

 ^{Source: JNLR/Ipsos 2025-2 (July 2024 to June 2025), JNLR/Ipsos2024-2 Audio Module (Apr’24 – Jun ’24 3 month data)}  

Ciaran Cunningham CEO Radiocentre Ireland said:

“Radio listening in Ireland is thriving, with today’s results underlining its enduring role at the heart of people’s daily lives. Millions tune in every day to enjoy exceptional content, with audiences spanning every age group, from younger listeners to older generations. While competition for younger audiences is increasing, radio broadcasters are continually adapting to create content that resonates with this age cohort. For brands, this is a powerful opportunity to tap into radio’s reach and influence—connecting with millions through both traditional broadcast and online listening.”

The infographic below contains some keys stats from the latest JNLR. If you click the button below, you can download a presentation containing comprehensive data from this JNLR/Ipsos release.