Spotify provides a listing of hot up-and-coming artists. BBC Radio 2 has lost 580,000 listeners in the past year due to the replacement of veteran icons such as Ken Bruce, Steve Wright, and Paul O’Grady with younger DJs like Scott Mills.
The station has become embroiled in an ageism controversy as commercial competitors play more music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
These so-called “Radio 2 refugees” have abandoned the station in favor of Boom Radio, which caters to baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964, and Greatest Hits Radio, the new home of Ken Bruce, who will bring his beloved PopMaster quiz with him in March.
Radio 2 is still the most popular station in the United Kingdom, but its total weekly audience has decreased by 580,000 to 14.29 million.
According to Rajar, both Zoe Ball and Ken Bruce have experienced a decline in listeners, while Bruce’s show remains the most popular on the station with 8.2 million listeners.
Radio 2 has lost 580,000 listeners each week as BBC executives update the schedule with younger DJs.
Comparing the last quarter of 2022 to the same period in 2021, the total decreased by 359,000. Nonetheless, its weekly audience of 7.1 million makes it the most popular breakfast radio program.
The audience for Radio 4’s Today fell by 282,000 to 6.1 million in the same period. Additionally, the breakfast show on Radio 5 Live lost approximately 200,000 listeners every week, bringing the total down to 1.6 million.
According to data supplied by the research organization Rajar, all of the major BBC stations experienced a loss in listeners over the past year. Radio 2 lost little over 500,000 listeners, or 3.9% of its audience.
After 23 years, Steve Wright, 68, was replaced by Radio 1’s Scott Mills, 49, in the afternoon slot.
Paul O’Grady, 67, who was at Radio 2 for 14 years, departed his show after being forced to split the time slot with comic Rob Beckett, 37, while Ken Bruce, 71, announced his departure last month after 31 years on the UK’s most successful radio program.
He is transferring to Greatest Hits Radio, which increased its weekly listener by roughly a third to 4.3 million in the past year.
According to BBC insiders, the reason for his departure was because he felt “unloved” by managers who failed to reassure him about a new contract even though they wanted to keep him.
On April 3, Bruce will switch to Greatest Hits Radio. In the past year, the station’s weekly audience has increased by over a third, to 4.3 million people.
Boom Radio, a station founded by veterans to address “baby boomers” born between 1946 and 1964, is also booming, with over 500,000 listeners per week.
Between 2021 and 2022, the station’s audience grew from 242,000 to 531,000.
Phil Riley, chief executive officer of Boom Radio, stated, “As top DJs leave the BBC, it appears that listeners are following suit, and Boom Radio is providing a new home for these listeners and their favorite presenters.”
According to our own study, nearly 80% of Boom listeners report listening to Radio 2 less.
Fans of Radio 2 have accused the BBC of ageism following the departure of a number of older DJs, including Paul O’Grady, Steve Wright, Ken Bruce, and Simon Mayo, who were replaced by ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, Michelle Visage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Rylan, and DJ Spoony.
One listener recently commended the broadcaster for “providing a decent station for the listeners that Radio 2 no longer wants,” while another referred to themself as “a Radio 2 refugee.”
Last year, Boom Radio executives recruited O’Grady for a special Christmas Day show.
In the past year, the BBC has lost more over-45s (798,000) than those aged 15-44 (479,000).
Commercial stations have attracted 802,000 listeners over the age of 45, an increase of 4.2%.
Radio 1 – home to DJs such Greg James and Clara Amfo – is down 4.6 percent to 7.7 million listeners per week. Radio 3 has had the largest station-wide decline, down 6.3% to 1.8 million listeners per week. Radio 4’s audience has decreased by 3.8% to 1 million.
The weekly reach of radio in the United Kingdom has increased from 49.4 million to 49.6 million.
Vanessa Feltz criticised the BBC of ‘ageism’ last month after it was reported that Ken Bruce turned down a contract and resigned Radio 2 due to the’seemingly ever-younger DJs’ and ‘edgier’ playlist.
The star broadcaster is departing the company after 45 years, and his midmorning show after 31 years, taking his beloved PopMaster quiz to Greatest Hits Radio.
Fans were left in tears and have promised to never listen to Radio 2 again after March, when Ken’s contract expires.
However, his departure has placed the BBC in the center of yet another ageism controversy, as another of its most prominent figures for decades has left.
Ms. Feltz said that the BBC let her go after she turned 60. She stated that older presenters are “not valued in the same way” and added, “The music isn’t as appealing because they changed it to appeal to a younger audience they’re so desperate to attract.”
She added on ITV’s This Morning, “Think about all the departing people: Paul O’Grady’s gone. I’ve gone. Steve Wright is present, but his presence is minimal. Chris Evans has left. Also Graham Norton’
Vanessa Feltz accused the BBC of ageism after it was revealed that Ken Bruce will join Greatest Hits Radio later this year, following the announcement that he will leave his midmorning weekday role on BBC Radio 2 after 31 years.
Ken, shown in the studio in 1984, was rumored to be dissatisfied with the direction Radio 2 was moving and is leaving with PopMaster.
Ken Bruce was rumored to have considered staying before deciding to join a competitor.
According to a source, Ken is still extremely ambitious, and the BBC really offered him a new contract. However, after months of negotiations, he decided it was time to pursue new options.
The insider told The Sun, “The music has become edgier and more contemporary, and the DJs appear to be getting younger, which worries the old guard.”
Rylan Clark and Gary Davies are rumored to replace him on the mid-morning show he has hosted since 1986, with the exception of a brief hiatus between 1990 and 1992.
Radio 2 is attempting to modernize itself by playing fewer music from before the 1990s and hiring younger DJs, including some from Radio 1.
Ken’s BBC salary of over £400,000 is set to climb significantly when he moves to the station controlled by media giant Bauer. Bruce’s current 9.30am to noon radio show, which includes the daily PopMaster quiz, is the most popular program on British radio, with over 8.5 million weekly listeners.
His departure comes after the corporation cancelled Steve Wright’s Radio 2 afternoon show after more than 20 years and replaced him with 49-year-old former Radio 1 host Scott Mills, prompting audience anger.
According to sources at the time, Wright’s departure was part of efforts to reduce the average age of Radio 2’s major presenters.
Paul O’Grady, 67, and Vanessa Feltz, 60, are two other senior hosts who have gone over the past year. The 37-year-old comedian Rob Beckett has replaced O’Grady, while the 38-year-old Welsh broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans is taking over for Ms. Feltz. Graham Norton, 59, previously left Radio 2 to join Virgin Radio, and his Saturday morning slot was given to Claudia Winkleman, 51.
Ken Bruce stated that he has done everything possible at the BBCV and desires a new challenge for the remainder of his career.
Ken Bruce (seen with his close friend Rod Stewart) is leaving the BBC after 45 years, departing Radio 2 to join Greatest Hits Radio.
Yesterday evening, the BBC denied emphatically that it had opted not to renew Bruce’s contract.
According to an industry insider, Radio 2 is undergoing a “massive network reinvention.”
Bruce’s resignation was a “seismic event,” according to a senior station source, because he was “the heart of the profession.”
Rylan Clark, age 34, DJ Spoony, age 52, Dermot O’Leary, age 49, Jason Manford, age 41, Matt Lucas, age 48, and Ms. Winkleman are among the most prominent candidates mentioned as replacements.
Yesterday, listeners reacted with irritation and dismay to Bruce’s departure. One person remarked on the station’s Facebook page, “Sadly, Radio 2’s decline continues.”
Another commented, ‘Absolutely devastated. Since Steve Wright’s departure, the only daily program I listen to on R2 is Ken. Bruce, who will depart in March, joined the BBC in 1977 as a Radio Scotland employee. Yesterday, the father of six announced to his audience, “I’ve decided it’s time for me to leave Radio 2.”
My present contract will expire in March… nothing stays the same forever.
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