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More commercial radio listeners consuming radio than before lockdown

Upheaval around Covid-19 has led to changes in established spending habits with more consumers experimenting and switching brands according to research by RadioCentre.

The industry body for commercial radio found that since the start of lockdown, 30% of commercial radio listeners have tried a new brand, 25% higher than non-listeners.

The research, Radio and the road to recovery, also shows commercial radio listeners are 54% more likely to be influenced by advertising as one of the main reasons for swapping their usual purchase for something new.

The research, which was unveiled at Radiocentre’s Tuning In: Back to Business conference (today, 16th September 2020), also investigated listening habits as lockdown has eased and people have begun to return to work, and reveals that uplifts in radio listening captured in early lockdown have been maintained following relaxation of lockdown measures.

The data highlights how 36% of commercial radio listeners are consuming more radio than they were before lockdown, listening for an extra 94 minutes each day on average. Building on findings from an earlier study conducted during lockdown called Staying connected during the coronavirus crisis which showed a similar increase in numbers listening to more radio vs. pre-lockdown (+38%) this indicates that new listening behaviours been established whether people are at home or back in the workplace.

The research conducted by DRG also found that a third (31%) of those surveyed said that they are resuming normal shopping and social activities – especially true of key workers and those returning to work. Those working from home are also leading the charge in supporting the local economy, with 46% spending more in their local areas (compared to 31% on average).

Radio and the road to recovery is available as a downloadable Powerpoint presentation on the Radiocentre website.