The UK’s commercial radio market continues to demonstrate resilience against a backdrop of broader struggles in traditional media, with Global, the owner of Heart and LBC, reporting record listening hours. The company logged 288 million hours of listening in the final three months of 2025, representing 28% of the total UK radio market, according to recent Rajar analysis.
Global’s success is largely driven by its flagship station, Heart, which maintains its position as the UK’s most-listened-to commercial radio brand with 12.7 million weekly listeners. The station’s breakfast show, hosted by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, has seen a particular surge in popularity, attracting 4.1 million listeners each week.
“I’m so proud to see these record-breaking results, with people spending more time with us than ever before,” said Simon Pitts, Global’s chief executive. “Despite operating in an intensely competitive market, Global has again stretched its lead as the UK’s largest commercial radio group with the country’s top three commercial radio brands in Heart, Capital and Smooth.”
LBC’s Continued Growth in a Changing Media Landscape
Global’s news station, LBC, also experienced significant growth, increasing its reach to 3.4 million weekly listeners. Presenters Nick Ferrari and James O’Brien contributed to this expansion by growing their individual audiences. This performance is particularly noteworthy given the challenges facing the wider linear broadcast sector.
The media landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with the rise of social media and on-demand audio platforms like podcasts disrupting traditional radio consumption. This trend is evidenced by the decline in listeners for BBC Radio 2, which lost nearly 2 million listeners between autumn 2021 and September 2025, despite remaining the most listened-to radio station overall with 12.7 million weekly listeners. Radio 4’s Today programme also saw a 5% year-on-year decrease in weekly reach in the final quarter of 2025, falling to 5.5 million listeners. The BBC World Service experienced an even more substantial decline, with its reach down 15% year-on-year.
Global’s ability to buck this trend suggests a successful strategy of adapting to the evolving media environment. James Rea, Global’s chief broadcasting and content officer, highlighted the enduring strength of live radio, stating, “Audio is reaching more people than ever before, and live radio remains, beyond question, the single biggest way audiences consume it.”
City A.M.’s Strategic Shift and THG Acquisition
While Global thrives in the audio space, the print media sector continues to grapple with challenges. City A.M., a London-based free business newspaper, has adjusted its distribution strategy in response to changing commuter patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic. The publication reduced its print editions from four to three days a week – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – in January 2025, focusing on video and audio journalism on Mondays and Fridays.
This decision followed a previous reduction in print frequency in early 2023, when the Friday edition was discontinued due to low uptake as more workers embraced remote work. According to Virgin Media O2 data, only 48% of British workers currently commute to the office five days a week.
Christian May, City A.M.’s editor-in-chief, described the move as a necessary adaptation for a nimble and experimental organization. “Our print edition is hugely important to us…which is why we’ve relaunched 530 smart new distribution points across London,” he said. The reduced print circulation allows for a redeployment of journalistic resources towards video and audio content.
In a significant development, City A.M. was acquired out of administration by THG (The Hut Group) in July 2023. The acquisition came as a result of falling footfall and declining advertising revenue. THG, an online health and beauty retailer, plans to invest in both editorial and technological resources for the newsroom, as well as expand the publication’s coverage into areas such as sustainability and wellness technology.
Lawson Muncaster, City A.M.’s co-founder, described the deal as a “perfect fit,” emphasizing a shared belief in the power of business to improve lives. Matt Moulding, CEO of THG, added that the acquisition presented an opportunity to enhance THG’s adtech capabilities through the integration of a disruptive media outlet.
The contrasting fortunes of Global and City A.M. illustrate the divergent paths being taken by different segments of the media industry. While Global leverages the continued popularity of live radio and expands its digital audio offerings, City A.M. navigates the challenges of print media by adapting its distribution model and seeking new ownership to support its digital transformation.
