Love is on the air: WLR grows to 73,000 weekly listeners
As Valentine’s Day approaches, new IPSOS JNLR listenership figures show that audiences across Waterford are still very much in love with radio, and with WLR.
The latest JNLR figures for January–December 2025, confirm continued growth for WLR, with weekly reach now standing at 73,000 listeners.
That represents an increase of 7,000 listeners year-on-year, and further growth compared to the previous book, reinforcing the station’s strong connection with its audience.
Across the weekday schedule, WLR delivered solid performances, with year-on-year increases on several shows and clear growth in listening time.
Weekend listening was particularly strong, with reach increasing by 9,000 on Saturdays and 11,000 on Sundays, alongside gains in station share, showing that listeners are staying tuned for longer.
Individual shows also delivered standout results. 'Deise Today' with Damien Tiernan recorded a 3% year-on-year increase, while the weekday 6pm specialist programming in sport, farming, business and arts returned another strong book. Breakfast, daytime and evening programming all performed well, reflecting the overall strength and consistency of the station.
Speaking about the results, Michael Byrne, CEO of WLR FM, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted with these results. Increasing share and a strong weekly reach are key measures for us, and to be sitting at 73,000 listeners, up year-on-year and up again on the last book, is a huge vote of confidence from our listeners. It shows that people are not only tuning in but staying with us. The team across the station has done outstanding work, and these figures reflect the connection WLR continues to have with listeners across Waterford.”
The strong local performance reflects a wider national trend. More than 3.45 million Irish adults listen to radio on an average day in Ireland.
Radio continues to perform strongly across younger audiences despite growing media choice. 66% of 15–34-year-olds listen each weekday, while daily listening among 15–24s remains very strong at 61%, representing 421,000 young listeners tuning in each weekday.
FM remains the most common way people listen to radio, a reassuring reminder that radio continues to be a trusted and habitual part of everyday life at home and in cars.
Ciarán Cunningham, CEO of Radiocentre Ireland, said: “Radio continues to play a vital role in Irish society, reaching millions of people every day and remaining a trusted and valued part of people’s lives.
As we approach World Radio Day, these incredibly strong results highlight the unique power of radio to connect communities, create emotional engagement and deliver real impact for audiences and advertisers alike.”
With growing weekly reach, increased listening time and strong performances across the schedule, WLR’s latest JNLR results confirm that radio remains powerful, relevant and much-loved this Valentine's Day.
