Commercial radio ad revenue hits £747m
UK commercial radio delivered record advertising revenues of £747 million in 2025.
The figure, released by Radiocentre, surpasses the previous high of £740 million set in 2022 and marks the strongest year on record for the sector.
Growth was driven by digital audio, with spend on digital ad formats rising 14.9 per cent year-on-year from £77.9 million to £89.5 million.
Radiocentre says this reflects continued increases in listening via connected devices, creating more opportunities for advertisers to reach audiences across platforms.
Revenue from commercial broadcasters’ digital audio formats has almost doubled since 2018, up from £45.4 million to £89.5 million. Over the same period, RAJAR MIDAS reports a 107 per cent increase in total commercial audio connected listening hours and a 56 per cent increase in commercial audio connected adult reach.
Radiocentre links the performance to radio’s position as a multiplatform medium, combining broadcast scale with digital targeting.
It also points to findings from its Speed of Sound report and joint analysis with WPP Media in High Gain Audio, which conclude that audio delivers higher profit return on investment than the all-media average in both short and full-term campaigns.
Chief Executive Matt Payton said: “Reaching record revenues underlines the strength of UK commercial radio and its evolving multiplatform offer.”