WLR, the leading radio station in Waterford, proudly announces a significant milestone in its digital journey.

WLR recorded an impressive 11% increase in online listening in July 2024 compared to the same period last year. This remarkable growth underlines WLR's commitment to adapting to evolving listener preferences and enhancing its digital presence.

One of the most notable trends driving this surge is the exponential rise in smart speaker usage. In July alone, WLR logged an additional 7,000 listening hours through smart speakers compared to July 2023. This trend highlights the increasing preference among listeners for convenient and hands-free access to their favourite radio station.

The station's efforts to foster closer connections in Waterford have paid off significantly. July saw a notable uptick in interactions via text and WhatsApp messages, particularly during weekends during the many destination music programmes. This increase in real-time engagement reflects WLR's approach to listener interaction, ensuring listeners feel more connected and involved with their favourite programmes.

WLR's online presence continues to flourish across major social media platforms. The station has seen consistent monthly growth in engagement and followers on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn and Instagram. This sustained growth demonstrates WLR's ability to connect with a diverse audience through engaging and relevant content tailored to each platform. With follower numbers increasing by up to 10% across most platforms, WLR now boasts over 145K followers across all its social media channels.

WLR's reach extends far beyond Waterford, capturing a global audience across 111 countries in the past month alone. This international listenership underscores the station's appeal and the quality of its programming, which resonates with Waterfordians around the world.

WLRFM.com, the station's official website, consistently reaches new milestones each month, reinforcing WLR's leadership in the digital space. Serving as a comprehensive hub for live streaming, news and sports updates, death notices, and exclusive content, the website ensures listeners can stay connected with WLR anytime, anywhere. Showcasing remarkable growth, WLRFM.com experienced a 21% increase in users in July 2024 compared to July 2023, reaching over 1.5 million users in July 2024.

Stay with WLR this August for a mix of news, entertainment, music, and destination programming. WLR has become a trusted voice in Waterford and continues to innovate in the digital era.