The good people who do the RAJAR* research were plenty busy over the General Election period, and the latest figures come slightly later than usual.
Like an exit poll, they tell us what people have actually voted for with their ears, and this time Downtown/Cool FM achieved a majority year-on-year, with 601,000 listeners tuning in to the Newtownards-based broadcaster each week.
Individually, Downtown increased in both reach (293,000 to 299,000) and hours (up by 25%), while Cool FM dipped in reach (361,000 to 349,000), though this is offset by a similar increase in hours (up 22%).
BBC Radio Ulster was the next most successful, but saw a slight drop in both reach (530,000 to 524,000) and hours (down 8%) across the year.
Citybeat and the Q Network, now jointly owned, will be happy with their increases in reach (Citybeat: 136,000 to 145,000; Q: 91,000 to 125,000) and hours (Citybeat up 33%; Q up 3%).
As in politics, not all parties stand in all constituencies, and U105 covers a smaller than provincewide area on FM. Its reach went from last year's figure of 192,000 to 180,000 now, and hours were down by 12%.
This research period ended before Downtown Country had launched on DAB, so keeping with the electoral analogy, it will be on the ballot paper next time.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI. The figures for each station relate to its own Total Survey Area.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan: http://www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective: http://www.pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk
Like an exit poll, they tell us what people have actually voted for with their ears, and this time Downtown/Cool FM achieved a majority year-on-year, with 601,000 listeners tuning in to the Newtownards-based broadcaster each week.
Individually, Downtown increased in both reach (293,000 to 299,000) and hours (up by 25%), while Cool FM dipped in reach (361,000 to 349,000), though this is offset by a similar increase in hours (up 22%).
BBC Radio Ulster was the next most successful, but saw a slight drop in both reach (530,000 to 524,000) and hours (down 8%) across the year.
Citybeat and the Q Network, now jointly owned, will be happy with their increases in reach (Citybeat: 136,000 to 145,000; Q: 91,000 to 125,000) and hours (Citybeat up 33%; Q up 3%).
As in politics, not all parties stand in all constituencies, and U105 covers a smaller than provincewide area on FM. Its reach went from last year's figure of 192,000 to 180,000 now, and hours were down by 12%.
This research period ended before Downtown Country had launched on DAB, so keeping with the electoral analogy, it will be on the ballot paper next time.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI. The figures for each station relate to its own Total Survey Area.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan: http://www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective: http://www.pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk