Hits Radio Live is a British digital radio station owned by Bauer Radio. The station broadcasts a mix of contemporary and classic hits aimed primarily at a 25-44 audience.
Hits Radio is available across the UK on DAB digital radio, online, and via mobile apps. It launched in June 2018, replacing The Hits Radio network. As of 2022, it has over 2 million listeners weekly.
Some key things to know about Hits Radio Live:
Music Format
Hits Radio Live plays a mix of pop, rock, dance and R&B hits from the last five decades. This includes current chart hits and recurring ‘throwback’ tracks from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The music spans genres like pop, rock, dance, hip hop and soul.
The station focuses mostly on hits from the past 10-15 years, but also features classics from earlier decades. This gives the station a wide-ranging feel aimed at listeners aged 25-44.
On Air Team
The Hits Radio on air team includes nationally known presenters like Fleur East, James Barr and Sarah-Jane Crawford. Lots of the presenters have experience hosting shows across the Hits Radio network and Bauer’s other stations.
In addition to playing music, presenters deliver entertainment news, pop culture stories and interviews. The presenting style is upbeat, lively and contemporary.
Target Audience
Hits Radio Live is marketed primarily at 25-44 year olds. This age group spans older Millennials and younger Gen X listeners. The music mix and presentation style cater to adults who grew up on pop, rock and dance hits from the past few decades.
Many listeners tune in for a taste of throwback tracks from their youth, alongside the big hits of today. The station also attracts youngerMillennials who enjoy a wide range of pop and rock music.
Reach & Availability
Hits Radio broadcasts across the UK on DAB digital radio, online via hitsradio.co.uk and through mobile apps for iOS and Android. It can be accessed across the country on digital radio sets and through internet streaming.
As of 2022, the station claims to have over 2 million listeners each week. The majority of listening happens through digital platforms rather than FM radio. Hits RadioLive is also available on smart speakers like Amazon Alexa.
Ownership & History
Hits Radio Live is owned and operated by Bauer Radio, part of the Bauer Media Group. Bauer has been producing radio shows and stations for over 50 years in the UK.
Hits Radio itself originally launched in 2003 as The Hits. It rebranded as The Hits Radio network in 2008 with stations serving different areas across the UK.
In 2018, The Hits Radio network consolidated into one national digital station known as Hits Radio UK. This later rebranded as Hits Radio in 2020 and began carrying the Hits Radio Live name for all live programming.
Music Mix & Playlisting
Hits Radio Live plays an upbeat mix of contemporary hits and recurring throwback tracks. The station’s broad music selection includes the following:
Chart Hits
The playlist heavily features current and recent hits from the official UK Top 40 singles chart. You’ll hear the latest releases from pop stars like Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Adele alongside emerging artists.
Pop & Dance
Uptempo contemporary pop and dance from stars like Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris and Lady Gaga make up a big portion of the sound. Other genres like R&B, hip hop and EDM are also regularly featured.
80s Classics
Iconic hits from the 1980s get frequent airtime in the mix. Songs like “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics, “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper are recurrent hits.
90s & 00s Throwbacks
Nostalgic tracks from the 1990s and 2000s also make regular comebacks. Expect throwback jams like “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers and “Lovefool” by The Cardigans.
Rock Anthems
Energetic rock and indie tracks appear across the decades, from classics like “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi to newer alternative hits like “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man.
Slow Jams
The occasional slower tempo hit gets mixed in, like “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac and “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi. But most tracks are upbeat and energetic.
Notable Shows & Segments
In addition to its music mix, Hits Radio Live provides entertainment shows and segments presented by its roster of hosts. Some notable programs include:
The Official Chart with Will Manning
Airs Sunday afternoons and counts down the top 40 biggest hits from the official UK singles chart, with commentary and interviews.
Download Charts with Wes Butters
A countdown of the UK’s most downloaded songs each Monday evening with analysis of the latest chart rankings.
The Pulse of the Nation
Weekday segments during The Vodafone Big Top 40 where Wes Butters checks in with Hits Radio presenters around the country.
Trending
A look at currently trending pop culture stories and celebrity news delivered on weekday mornings by different Hits Radio presenters.
The anecdote of the day
A daily morning segment where presenters share funny, uplifting or entertaining stories and anecdotes submitted by listeners.
80s/90s/00s Hour
A recurring one-hour block focusing on hit throwbacks from the 1980s, 1990s or 2000s.
Take That Tuesday
Every Tuesday evening, Sarah-Jane Crawford dedicates an hour to hits from British superstars Take That.
Notable Presenters
Hits Radio Live employs a team of experienced presenters with backgrounds in commercial radio. Here are some of the main on-air personalities:
Presenter | Shows |
---|---|
Fleur East | The Fleur East Show (weekdays 10am-1pm) |
James Barr | Hometime with James Barr (weekdays 4pm-7pm) |
Sarah-Jane Crawford | Sarah-Jane Crawford (Saturday & Sunday mornings) |
Wes Butters | The Vodafone Big Top 40 (Sunday afternoons) |
Will Manning | The Official Chart (Sunday afternoons) |
Other presenters appear on shows like The Pulse of the Nation, Trending and specialty segments like Take That Tuesday. The roster rotates throughout the week and weekend.
Listenership & Audience
Hits Radio Live has a broad national audience across the UK. Here’s a closer look at its reach and listener demographics:
Weekly Reach
As of 2022, Hits Radio claims to reach over 2 million weekly listeners. This makes it one of the most popular national digital stations operated by Bauer Radio.
Audience Size
In its last reported quarter (Q2 2022), Hits Radio Live averaged 1.7 million listeners per week.
Demographics
The core Hits Radio audience is adults aged 25-44. Around 60% of listeners are within this age bracket. The 25-34 and 35-44 age segments make up the largest shares of the audience.
Gender Breakdown
Hits Radio has a nearly equal male-female listener split. According to Bauer, 49% of the audience is male and 51% is female.
Location
As a national digital station, Hits Radio Live attracts listeners from across the UK. Bauer’s data shows around 3% of listening comes from London, 2% from the West Midlands and between 1-2% each from other major metro areas.
How to Listen
Hits Radio is accessible across the UK on digital platforms:
DAB Digital Radio
Hits Radio Live broadcasts on DAB digital radio stations throughout the UK. You can tune in on any DAB+ compatible radio device.
Online
Listen live through the website hitsradio.co.uk or via the Hits Radio app for laptops and desktops. Create a free Hits Radio account to access online streaming.
Mobile Apps
Download the Hits Radio mobile app for iOS and Android to listen on your smartphone or tablet. Mobile listening enables you to tune in anywhere.
Smart Speakers
You can listen by asking Alexa devices to “Play Hits Radio” or similar voice commands. Hits Radio is available on Alexa, Google Home and other smart speakers.
Advertising & Sponsorship
As a commercial station, Hits Radio generates revenue through advertising, sponsorships and promotions. A few ways it integrates paid content include:
Commercial Breaks
Short ad breaks air every few songs during music hours. These feature sponsor messages and radio commercials targeting the station’s audience.
Sponsored Segments
Certain programs or segments like Trending are sponsored by advertisers and contain integrated sponsor messages.
Contests & Giveaways
Hits Radio runs numerous contests offering prizes like vacations, electronics and tickets. These always feature and promote the contest sponsors.
Live Reads
Presenters frequently read advertising copy from sponsors known as “live reads.” These blend into the programming more naturally than traditional commercials.
Digital Display Ads
The Hits Radio website and mobile apps feature display ads, banners and other digital ad units from sponsors. These aim to reach the station’s digital audience.
Overall the advertising is balanced and not excessive compared to most commercial radio. The promotions and contests also engage listeners and give the chance to win appealing prizes.
Competitor Stations
As a contemporary hit radio station, Hits Radio Live competes for audience with similar FM, digital and online stations in the UK including:
Capital FM
The flagship contemporary hit station operated by Global Radio. Capital broadcasts regional FM frequencies and a national DAB station with comparable audience size and demographics to Hits Radio.
Heart
Global Radio’s popular adult contemporary network also attracts many listeners in Hits Radio’s core age demographics.
Absolute Radio
Bauer’s national adult rock station that provides some competition for rock and alternative audiences.
BBC Radio 1
The BBC’s flagship pop music station has overlap with Hits Radio’s target audience and younger pop fans.
Kiss
Another major commercial hit radio brand with stations across the UK in a similar musical format to Hits Radio.
Despite the competition, Hits Radio Live has carved out a successful place in the UK radio landscape and continues growing on digital platforms. Its broad music mix and accessible style give it wide appeal across demographics and regions.
Conclusion
Hits Radio Live delivers an upbeat mix of contemporary pop, rock and dance hits along with recurring throwbacks for 25-44 year old listeners. It broadcasts nationally on DAB digital radio and online/mobile platforms.
The station features current chart hits and familiar favorites spanning multiple decades. Long-running presenters like Wes Butters and new voices like Fleur East keep the sound and programs lively. Over 2 million weekly listeners enjoy tuning in for a dose of upbeat hits from the past five decades.
With its accessible format, seasoned on-air team and strong digital focus, Hits Radio has become a leading contemporary hits outlet. It provides a fun soundtrack for adults who grew up with the big pop, rock and dance hits of the 1980s, 1990s and beyond.