Trading Update: Brisbane’s Radio Shake-up
Reach is only half the story – Australian radio ratings highlights October 2026
Brisbane delivered the standout result in the latest radio ratings: 4BH is number one overall for the first time since 1984, with a 12.3% listening share. Its success highlights the power of being easy to leave on: familiar music, a consistent format and a strong connection with older audiences. That combination keeps listeners tuned in for longer, helping 4BH outperform stations with much larger weekly audiences.
Triple M took the breakfast crown, while B105 retained Brisbane’s largest weekly reach.
AG Take: For advertisers, it’s a useful reminder: reach tells us how many people tune in; listening share reflects how much of the market’s listening a station captures. The right choice comes back to who you need to reach and what you want to achieve.
Across the Other Major Capitals
| SYDNEY | smoothfm led overall at 13.2%, ahead of 2GB at 10.8%. 2GB retained the breakfast lead. |
| MELBOURNE | 3AQ led at 13.4%, followed by GOLD at 10.5% and smoothfm at 10.4%. Triple M recorded the biggest overall gain. |
| ADELAIDE | Triple M held both the overall and breakfast crowns, with 14.0% overall sharek, ahead of Nova at 10.8%. KIIS moved into third. |
| PERTH | Nova extended its lead to 18.3%, ahead of Mix at 11.5%. Triple M recorded the biggest overall gain, reaching 11.0%. |
Beyond the ratings, there’s useful research on radio’s role in the broader media mix. Analysis by Mark Ritson and Rob Brittain for Commercial Radio & Audio found that campaigns with positive excess share of voice, allocating around 11% of their media budget to radio, recorded roughly twice the number of very large business effects compared with the average campaign.
For brands, it’s a reminder that radio can contribute more than reach. With the right audience and creative, it can help strengthen the impact of the whole campaign. It’s something we consider when shaping the right media mix for your business.
This Uncensored CMO podcast episode on audio’s power to capture attention is also worth a listen if you’re interested.
