Radio Ratings: Brisbane listeners turn to Triple M, 4KQ as 4BC suffers blow in post-COVID survey

After an unprecedented five-month pause in radio ratings, today’s survey has revealed a new power struggle in Brisbane’s radio rankings, with Nova and Triple M locked in a tight battle.

The COVID-19 shutdown has seen Brisbane radio audiences shift back to local staples Triple M, Nova and 4KQ as the reshuffled 4BC line-up took a hit.

The highly anticipated third radio survey of 2020 was released today following an unprecedented five month pause in the ratings due to the global pandemic, which had significant effects on the radio landscape.

Triple M was Brisbane’s most listened to station, Monday to Friday, with a growth of 1.1 points to 11.4 per cent audience share, while the station also won the mornings and afternoons timeslots.

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4KQ breakfast team, of Mark Hine, Laurel Edwards and Gary Clare, had the biggest growth in survey 3 of 2.7 points.

Overall, they pipped Nova 106.9 at the post, with the station growing to 11.3 per cent, Monday to Friday, followed by B105 on 10.7 per cent of the audience and 97.3 on 10.3 per cent.

Nova was Brisbane’s preferred station in the seven-day week, recording a 1.1 point growth.

“In a world right now where inconsistency is the norm, we’ve worked hard to deliver a station and shows that are consistently entertaining Brisbane every day - shows that our city loves - and that’s shown in the results today,” said Triple M Brisbane’s content director Scott Menz.

“We’re proud to be a station made for Brisbane, from the top of Caxton street, and have got plenty more in store for our listeners before 2020’s done.”

Below them a new power struggle emerged between the AM stations, with 4KQ – which was third in the second survey in April – leapfrogging both ABC Brisbane and 4BC to dominate overall with 9.1 per cent of the audience, Monday to Friday.

4KQ grew significantly in every timeslot, other than drive, including a massive 2.7 points through breakfast show Laurel, Gary and Mark.

The station toppled Ray Hadley’s morning show on 4BC, but Hadley – on 11.2 per cent behind 4KQ’s 11.5 per cent – remained the top performer for 4BC, which struggled overall.

Neil Breen took over Alan Jones' breakfast radio program on Brisbane's 4BC in June. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

The survey was the first test for Neil Breen, who replaced Alan Jones in breakfast in what was the first locally produced breakfast program on 4BC in five years, while Scott Emerson took up the drive show in July.

Both presenters took a hit, with Breen’s breakfast show dropping 1.5 points (8.2 per cent) to come in behind ABC Brisbane’s Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan (11 per cent) and 4KQ’s Laurel, Gary and Mark (9.9 per cent).

It was, however, an improvement on Jones’ average audience share of 7.9 per cent in 2019.

Emerson’s drive show dropped 0.7 points to 3.6 per cent, behind ABC Brisbane (7.6 per cent) and 4KQ (6.3 per cent).

Greg Byrnes, Nine Radio’s Head of Content, said the swing away from 4BC was expected in their first survey.

“At 4BC we made a commitment to expand local content with Neil Breen in Breakfast and Scott Emerson in Drive. Both have been embraced in Brisbane and have a solid foundation to build from,” he said.

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Meanwhile Nova’s Ash, Kip, Luttsy and Susie bounced back to dominate breakfast in Brisbane, with a 12.2 per cent share of the audience – a growth of two points.

Zonca and Ryan continued their growth for ABC, coming in second in breakfast, tied with B105’s Stav, Abby and Matt with 11 per cent of the audience.

Nova 106.9’s Ash, Kip, Luttsy and Susie were no. 1 in breakfast.

Triple M’s The Big Breakfast had a solid result in third, growing 0.9 points to 10.4 per cent of the audience.

Laurel, Gary and Mark tied on 9.9 per cent with FM rivals Robin, Terry and Bob on 97.3.

“At 4KQ we’re all about good times and great classic hits, and that’s what we all turn to, when times are tough,” 4KQ host Laurel Edwards said.

“It’s our songs that makes you feel good, and conversations that bring back memories of happier times. Gary, Mark and I genuinely have a great time together, and to know our listeners laugh along with us, is a real treat.”

The survey measured the period of July 26 to September 19, so recent changes weren’t reflected in the data – including Joel Creasy replacing Marty Sheargold on Nova’s drive show and Nova axing Brisbane daytime announcers Katie Mattin and Jack Tree in favour of syndicated programming from Sydney.

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Nova had grown in mornings but sat behind their three FM rivals, while they placed second in afternoons behind Triple M.

Nova’s juggernaut drive show managed to cling onto the crown, with 14.5 per cent of the audience, ahead of Hit 105’s Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee, which grew 1.9 points to 13.4 per cent.

With the next survey accounting for Creasey’s inclusion, all eyes will be on whether the swing away from Nova continues in drive.