The UK’s Number 1 Hit Music Station

2 December 2019, 14:42 | Updated: 29 June 2023, 11:14

The UK’s Number 1 Hit Music Station

When it comes to hit music, Capital is the UK’s number 1:

 

1.    Capital Network UK (Reach 6,151,000)

2.    Kiss UK (Reach 2,442,000)

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind BBC Radio 2 (Reach 14,379,000),BBC Radio 4 (Reach 9,715,000), BBC Radio 1 (Reach 7,653,000), BBC Local Radio (Reach 7,535,000) and Heart (Reach 8,896,000). As these stations play different music* to what you hear on Capital, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be the UK’s Number 1 Hit Music Station. 

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023, all stations run on a 6-month reporting period, ages 15+ (released 17.05.23).

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is London’s Number 1

 

1.     Capital London (Reach 1,646,000)

2.     Kiss London (Reach 902,000)

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind BBC Radio 4 (Reach 2,290,000) and BBC Radio 2 (Reach 2,267,000). As both of these stations play different music* to what you hear on Capital London, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be London’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across Capital London’s TSA – the area that our transmitters reach on FM.

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is Yorkshire’s Number 1 with a reach of 839,000.

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind BBC Radio 2 (Reach 1,298,000). As this station plays different music* to what you hear on Capital Yorkshire, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be Yorkshire’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across Capital Yorkshire’s TSA – the area that our transmitters reach on FM.

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is Manchester’s Number 1 with a reach of 367,000.

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind BBC Radio 2 (Reach 699,000), and Smooth North West (Reach 540,000) As these stations play different music* to what you hear on Capital Manchester, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be Manchester’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across Capital Manchester’s TSA – the area that our transmitters reach on FM.

 

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is Birmingham’s Number 1 with a Reach 367,000.

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind Heart West Midlands (Reach 432,000) As this stations plays different music* to what you hear on Capital Birmingham, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be Birmingham’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across Capital Birmingham’s TSA – the area that our transmitters reach on FM.

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is Liverpool’s Number 1 with a Reach 146,000.

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind Radio 2 (Reach 242,000) and Radio City (Reach 218,000) (As these stations play different music* to what you hear on Capital Liverpool, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be Liverpool’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across Capital Liverpool’s TSA – the area that our transmitters reach on FM.

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is the North East’s Number 1 with a reach of 356,000.

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind Radio 2 (Reach 522,000), Smooth North East (Reach 501,000) and (As these stations play different music* to what you hear on Capital, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be North East’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across Capital North East’s TSA – the area that our transmitters reach on FM.

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is Scotland’s Number 1 with a reach 378,000.

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind Radio 2 (Reach 587,000), Clyde 1 (Reach 611,000) (As these stations play different music* to what you hear on Capital, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be Scotland’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across Capital Scotland’s TSA – the area that our transmitters reach on FM.

 

Reach refers to the total number of different people or households exposed, at least once, to a medium during a given period. RAJAR (the official body for measuring radio audiences) defines the weekly reach of a radio station as the number of people who tune into a radio station for at least 5 minutes (within at least one 15min period) in a given week.

 

We are defining ‘hit’ as music from the current contemporary charts;, the Official Charts Company Top 40 and the Spotify UK Top 40.

 

When it comes to hit music, Capital is Wales’ Number 1 with a reach of 296,000.

 

In terms of all radio listening, Capital comes in behind BBC Radio 2 (reach 870,000) and BBC Radio 1 (reach 487,000). As these stations play different music* to what you hear on Capital in Wales, when it comes to playing the biggest and freshest tunes out there, Capital continues to be Wales' Number 1 Hit Music Station.

 

Data released from RAJAR Q1 2023 (released 17.05.23). Adults 15+ across IR Region Wales TSA.

 

BBC Radio 2 

According to the Ofcom BBC Operating License: “Radio 2: a service providing a broad range of popular and specialist music and speech output including news, current affairs and factual programming” (Ofcom BBC Operating License 4.2(1)(c) )

As such we would not count BBC Radio 2 as a hit music station.

 

BBC Radio 4 

According to the Ofcom BBC Operating License: “Radio 4: a speech-based service including news, current affairs, factual programmes, drama, readings and comedy

” (Ofcom BBC Operating License 4.2(1)(e) )

As such we would not count BBC Radio 4 as a hit music station.

 

BBC Radio 1

According to the Ofcom BBC Operating License: “Radio 1: principally a popular music services aimed at young audiences, with a commitment to the best new music, but also containing significant speech output” (Ofcom BBC Operating License 4.2(1)(1) )

In respect to music, the Ofcom BBC Operating license also states in section 2.39

  • 2.39.1 in each Financial Year at least 45% of the music in Daytime is from United Kingdom acts;
  • 2.39.2 in each Financial Year at least 50% of the music in Daytime is New Music, of which a significant proportion must come from new and emerging United Kingdom artists;
  • 2.39.3 in each week it broadcasts at least 60 hours of specialist music. For the purpose of this requirement, “specialist music” means music which appeals to specific groups of listeners, and focuses on a specific genre of music or on cutting edge music from a range of genres; 34 i.e. including presentation material during and at the end of programmes. 35 i.e. excluding presentation material.
  • 2.39.4 in each Financial Year it broadcasts at least 175 new sessions live or recorded within the previous three months (excluding repeats);
  • 2.39.5 the station plays a broader range of music than comparable providers, taking into account both the number of plays and the size of the playlist, at both Peak Listening Time and Daytime; 
  • 2.39.6 in each Calendar Year it offers at least two major social action campaigns.

As such we would not count BBC Radio 1 as a hit music station.

 

BBC Local Radio

According to the Ofcom BBC Operating License:

BBC Local Radio: a number of local radio services for audiences in different parts of England and the Channel Islands, providing a mixture of music and speech output; (Ofcom BBC Operating License 4.3(f )

Also the license states:

In respect of each BBC Local Radio station, the BBC must ensure that: 2.74.1 it provides news and information of particular relevance to the area and communities it serves at intervals throughout the day; and 2.74.2 it provides other content of particular relevance to the area and communities it serves.

As such we would not count BBC Local Radio as being hit music stations.

 

Heart 

The Heart Ofcom format document specifies that the remit of the station is to be ‘a mainstream popular music-led service for 25 to 44 year-olds, supplemented with news, information and entertainment. the service should have particular appeal to people in their 30s.’As Heart does not have a focus on current hit music, we would not count this as a hit music station.

 

Heart West Midlands

The Heart West Midlands Ofcom format document specifies that the remit of the station is to be ‘a mainstream popular music-led service for 25 to 44 year-old west midlanders, supplemented with news, information and entertainment. the service should have particular appeal to people in their 30s.’As Heart does not have a focus on current hit music, we would not count this as a hit music station.

 

Smooth North East

Smooth North East’s Ofcom format specifies that the remit of the station is ‘AN EASY LISTENING STATION FEATURING LIFESTYLE ORIENTED SPEECH, TARGETING A NORTH EAST AUDIENCE AGED 50 PLUS. It is clear, therefore, that Smooth North East’s service is not characterised nor defined by playing ‘hit’ music.

 

Smooth North West

Smooth North West’s Ofcom format document specifies that the remit of the station is ‘AN EASY LISTENING STATION FEATURING LIFESTYLE ORIENTED SPEECH, TARGETING A NORTH WEST AUDIENCE AGED 50-PLUS..’ It is clear, therefore, that Smooth North West’s service is not characterised nor defined by playing ‘hit’ music.

 

Radio City

Radio City’s Ofcom format document specifies that the remit of the station is ‘A LOCALLY ORIENTED MINSTREAM POPULAR MUSIC AND INFORMATION STATION FOR 15-44 YEAR-OLDS ON MERSEYSIDE..’. As such we looked at a playlist comparison, to show that Capital is focused on Hit Music. Looking at the week of 28th November 2019 to 4th December 2019, using RadioMonitor, comparing the 30 most played songs on Capital Liverpool, compared to the 30 most played songs on Radio City to both the Spotify UK Top 40 and the UK Official Charts for the same period, Capital’s songs are significantly more prominent in the charts as follows:

 

Capital Liverpool:

  • 60% of the top 40 songs played were also in the Spotify UK Top 40
  • 60% of the top 40 songs played were also in the UK Official Chart (Top 40)

Radio City

  • 45% of the top 40 songs played were also in the Spotify UK Top 40
  • 38% of the top 40 songs played were also in the UK Official Chart (Top 40)

 

As we have defined ‘hit music’ as the Official Charts Company Top 40 and the Spotify UK Top 40, with Radio City playing less than half of their top most played songs from these charts, we would not define the station as being characterised or defined by playing ‘hit’ music.

 

Clyde 1

Clyde1’s Ofcom format document specifies that the remit of the station is ‘A FULL SERVICE, BROAD MUSIC AND INFORMATION STATION AIMED PRIMARILY AT OVER 35s IN THE GLASGOW AND WEST CENTRAL SCOTLAND AREA.’. It is clear, therefore, that Clyde 1’s  service is not characterised nor defined by playing ‘hit’ music.

 

Further notes:

http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/analogue-main.htm

  • Spotify UK Top 40 can be found here:

https://spotifycharts.com/regional/gb/daily/latest

  • Official charts company UK Top 40 can be found here:

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20191129/7501/