Who listened to the radio?

Apart from newspapers, radio is the most enduring of the mass media. And while newspaper circulation has taken a huge tumble in recent years, radio is holding relatively steady in terms of listener numbers (if not relative to the percentage increase in the overall population, but that's another story). Today will see the release of the first metropolitan radio survey for 2010. In Brisbane, manyeyes will be on the performance of the recent market leader Nova 106.9, which underwent some turmoil on and off air last year (including the resignation of breakfast anchor Kip Wightman, the arrest of his colleague Ashley Bradnam for drink-driving and a deal that saw half the parent company sold at a considerable discount to Lachlan Murdoch), and the former longtime No. 1 station B105, which has been blazing the comeback trail in recent times (especially with the performance of the national Hamish and Andy drivetime show but also with its breakfast team of Labby, Camilla and Stav, pictured). B105 management is confident of a strong showing this year. Also in the spotlight this year will be talk station 4BC. With the talk format blitzing the ratings in Sydney and Melbourne (so much so, that a new talk station will be launched in the Victorian capital soon), 4BC has been something of the poor cousin, often ending towards the end of the ratings pile. BC management will be expecting a stronger performance from its breakfast hosts Jamie Dunn and Ian Calder. Although not officially in competiiton with the commercial stations, 612ABC will also be looking to maintain its recent healthy results, especially in breakfast, where Spencer Howson was No.1 for five out of eight surveys last year (twice tied with Nova and three times outright). Looking to shore-up their healthy demographics will be Triple M, which appeals to older (but not old) males, and 97.3, which has a strong female audience. Overall in recent years, the market has remained tight with even the overall trailers, 4BH and 4KQ, remaining very competitive (unlike some commercial stations in Sydney and Melbourne, which have struggled to find viable audience shares). We're in for another fun ride, and you'll be able to read about the first results for the year right here. Stay tuned.
Disclosure: Brett Debritz is heard on 612ABC with Spencer Howson on Friday mornings.