Relations Group companyWhy radio works for PR
Radio reaches most of the UK every week, and people trust the voices they hear on it. That makes earned airtime unusually valuable.
UK radio listening figures
The latest RAJAR figures, for Q2 2026, were published on 6 August 2026. They show radio is still a mass medium in the UK.
Source: RAJAR Q2 2026, rajar.co.uk.
- 51.1 million UK adults (15+) listen every week
- 86.6% of the population tunes in weekly
- 20.3 hours a week for the average listener
- 1,040 million hours of listening a week in total
- BBC radio: 42.6% share of listening
- Commercial radio: 55.1% share of listening
- BBC Local and Regional radio: 6.9 million a week
- Commercial radio: 40.2 million a week
Trust and companionship
Radio is personal. People listen in the car, in the kitchen or at work, and they come to know the presenters.
When a presenter interviews your spokesperson, some of that trust passes to you. The listener hears an expert answering real questions, not a brand reading a script.
That is why a single strong conversation can go a long way. Ataxia UK's director of research spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live and Times Radio for Ataxia Awareness Day 2025.
Just five items delivered a combined reach of 7.0 million, with a 29:1 return.
Local reach
Local radio speaks to a place. RAJAR Q2 2026 shows BBC Local and Regional radio alone reaches 6.9 million people a week, and commercial radio reaches 40.2 million.
A local angle lets you reach customers where they live. Love Finance's Small Business Advice Week 2025 coverage shows how this works: every highlight was a North West station.
Its founder spoke on Heart North West, Smooth Radio North West, Capital North West and Capital Liverpool. The campaign returned 24:1.
Earned versus paid airtime
Paid airtime is advertising: you buy the slot, and listeners know it. Earned airtime is editorial, because a producer chose your story on its merits.
Earned coverage usually runs longer than an advert and carries more credibility. The presenter is, in effect, vouching for your spokesperson.
With payment by results, you also get some of the certainty of advertising. You agree a capped coverage budget and pay only for coverage that airs.
Source: RAJAR, all radio listening, Q2 2026, published 6 August 2026.
Questions we get asked
What is RAJAR?
RAJAR is the body that measures radio audiences in the UK. It publishes listening figures every quarter, and the industry treats them as the standard measure.
Is radio still relevant with podcasts and streaming?
Yes. RAJAR Q2 2026 shows radio reaching 51.1 million UK adults every week, 86.6% of the population. Listeners average 20.3 hours a week, which is a lot of attention for any medium.
Is BBC or commercial radio better for PR?
Both matter. BBC local stations are known for longer, conversational interviews, while commercial stations such as Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio reach large regional audiences. Most of our campaigns use a mix of the two.
How do you measure the value of radio coverage?
Every campaign ends with a coverage report showing items of coverage, combined audience reach, time on air, highlights and the value of the coverage. Several of our campaigns show returns of 20:1 or more.
Planning a radio campaign?
Book a call with Adam Cox, Chairman of Relations Group. Tell him what you want to get across and he will tell you honestly how radio could carry it.
or call 020 7158 0000