U-K Radio: Listening Booms While Music Streaming Stalls

U-K Radio listening figures have experienced a boom as a direct result of coronavirus, new figures suggest.

Global, which owns Capital FM and LBC, has said online listening rose by 15 per cent in the last week, with many favouring the radio over streaming apps.

In contrast, data from US analytics companies suggests that use of streaming apps such as Spotify has dropped by about 8 per cent.

“These figures indicate that the public are turning to radio in times of crisis,” a Global spokeswoman told the BBC.

The BBC has also said that streaming of its radio stations has risen 18 per cent since last week.

As people across the UK begin working from home as a result of coronavirus, it has been suggested that they have listened to the radio for “companionship”, which has resulted in the boom.

Radio Joint Audience Research (Rajar), the official organisation that measures radio listening figures in the UK, has not released its latest numbers yet.

According to trusted music industry monitor BuzzAngle, US music streaming between 13-19 March fell by 8.8% compared with the previous week.

"There are likely to be multiple causes," said BBC News music reporter Mark Savage.

"Fewer people are commuting to work or going to the gym and shops that use Spotify for their in-store music are closing their doors.

"People who stream music in the office also seem to be turning off and watching Netflix instead and there's a big rise in radio listening - suggesting we're seeking companionship alongside our music."

U-S analytics provider Alpha Data said streams in the US has dropped some 7.6 per cent during the week of March 13 to March 19 when many Americans first self-quarantined and other non-essential outlets and businesses closed across the country.

A similar slump was also seen in album sales and digital song sales. Physical album sales dropped by a staggering 27.6 per cent, digital album sales fell by 12.4 per cent, and digital song sales plummeted by 10.7 per cent.

This comes as the UK became the latest country to announce strict coronavirus lockdown measures for the country.