WLR FM is celebrating an all-time high in radio listenership following the release of the latest IPSOS JNLR results for the period January to December 2024. With remarkable growth across the station’s schedule, WLR FM continues to be the first choice for listeners in Waterford.
According to the latest data:
Daily Reach: 45,000 listeners – an impressive increase of 5,000 from the previous year.
Weekly Reach: 66,000 listeners – marking the best result in three years.
Market Share: Holding steady at 33.3%, demonstrating a strong and loyal audience.
Every weekday programme on WLR FM saw an increase in listenership, a testament to the dedication and talent of the station’s on-air team. Notable highlights include the outstanding performances of Ollie Carroll and Dymphna Nugent on The Big Breakfast Blaa, John Keane on the Spin-Home, and John O’Shea on WLR Gold. A special commendation goes to Damien Tiernan and Jennifer Long for their exceptional results for Déise Today and to Gemma Delaney for achieving WLR’s best lunchtime ratings in a decade.
The station’s specialist speech programming at 6 PM each day also experienced a surge in listenership, adding 1,000 new daily listeners. Weekend shows continued their strong performance, with Sean Organ, Timmy Ryan, Maria McCann, and Andy McCloskey making significant gains.
Reflecting on these results, Michael Byrne, CEO of WLR FM, stated: “These incredible results reaffirm the strength and relevance of radio in today’s media landscape. WLR FM remains a trusted and essential part of our community, delivering quality content, engaging discussions, and the best in music and entertainment. This success is a credit to our dedicated team, both on and off the air, and most importantly, to our loyal listeners. Radio listening is at an all-time high, and we’re thrilled to be leading the way.”
WLR FM’s success in 2024 was driven by key events such as two major elections, exciting outside broadcasts, extensive sports coverage, multiple documentary series, and winning the prestigious IMRO Station of the Year Award. The station’s renowned Christmas Appeal also played a pivotal role in strengthening community connection raising over €100,000 for St Vincent De Paul.
Nationally, the latest JNLR/Ipsos survey reveals that Irish radio is enjoying its highest audience ever.
Ciaran Cunningham CEO Radiocentre Ireland said: “It is fantastic to see record audience numbers listening to Irish radio. Today’s figures are a great reminder that Irish radio is such a central part of people’s lives, with brilliant content being consumed by millions of listeners every single day. Radio is where we hear our favourite songs first, laugh with our favourite presenters, and stay connected with what are the important stories of the day. It’s an exciting time for brands to harness the power of radio and speak to millions of listeners across broadcast and online platforms”.
As WLR FM looks ahead to 2025, the focus remains on growth, innovation, and delivering high-quality content to an ever-expanding audience.
