Radio continues to command a dominant position in Irish media consumption, with almost four million adults tuning in weekly and 3.48 million listening daily, according to the latest Joint National Listenership Research figures compiled by Ipsos B&A for the period October 2025 to September 2026.
The JNLR/Ipsos 2026-3 report reveals that radio’s weekly audience stands at 3.992 million, representing 89 per cent of the population aged 15 and over. Daily listenership reaches 3.483 million people, equivalent to 77.6 per cent of adults, with listeners tuning in to an average of 1.5 stations each day and spending 233 minutes with radio between 7am and midnight.
Key facts
- Weekly radio audience in Ireland reaches 3.992 million adults, representing 89 per cent of people aged 15 and over
- Daily listeners total 3.483 million, spending an average of 233 minutes with radio between 7am and midnight
- 891,000 people aged 15 to 34 listen to radio daily, representing 64.6 per cent of that demographic
- Traditional AM/FM listening accounts for 87.8 per cent of time spent with Irish stations
- Bauer Media Audio Ireland reaches 2.29 million listeners weekly with a 29.59 per cent prime-time market share
Cross-Generational Appeal Demonstrates Radio’s Reach
The research highlights radio’s ability to connect with audiences across different age groups. Among younger demographics, 891,000 people aged 15 to 34 listen daily, accounting for 64.6 per cent of that age bracket. For adults aged 35 and over, daily reach extends to 2.592 million, representing 83.3 per cent of that population segment.
Listening duration varies significantly between age groups. Younger audiences spend an average of two hours and 54 minutes with radio daily, while listeners aged 35 and over dedicate four hours and 13 minutes to the medium each day.
Ciarán Cunningham, chief executive of Radiocentre Ireland, emphasised the medium’s effectiveness. “One of radio’s greatest strengths is its ability to reach across generations. We often hear about how difficult it has become to reach younger audiences, yet almost 900,000 people aged 15 to 34 are listening to radio every weekday,” he said.
Research presented at the recent Sounding Out conference by Professor Mark Ritson demonstrated that advertising campaigns incorporating audio proved 22 per cent more effective overall than campaigns without audio elements.
Platform Distribution Shows Traditional Dominance
Traditional radio sets remain the primary listening platform, with AM/FM reception at home or in cars accounting for 87.8 per cent of time spent with Irish stations between 7am and midnight. However, 542,000 people now access radio through digital platforms daily.
Smart speakers represent 7.9 per cent of listening time, followed by mobile devices at 2.9 per cent, computers at 1 per cent and television sets at 0.5 per cent. Digital platforms capture a larger share among younger listeners, with smart speakers accounting for 9.8 per cent of listening time for the 15 to 34 age group, mobile devices representing 6.8 per cent and computers 2.4 per cent, though AM/FM still dominates at 80.8 per cent.
Among major broadcasters, Bauer Media Audio Ireland maintained its position as Ireland’s largest radio group, reaching 2.29 million listeners weekly and 1.53 million daily, with a prime-time market share of 29.59 per cent. RTÉ Radio 1 retained its position as the country’s most listened-to individual station.
Today FM increased its weekly audience by 2,000 to reach 976,000 listeners, while daily reach grew by 3,000 to 527,000. The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show achieved a record 245,000 listeners, marking its seventh consecutive survey increase and maintaining its status as the most listened-to programme on Irish commercial radio.
Reporting based on original coverage by Adworld.