Historical Metro Ratings

[TV-Expert]

• The last AM music station to take out #1 overall in Sydney was 2CH in S3/1984 (2WS was equal #1 with 2UE earlier that year).

• 2CC in Canberra was last #1 overall in S1/1989, when it scored 23.8%, just ahead of FM104.7’s 23.1%.

• On the Central Coast of NSW, 2GO outrated Coast Rock FM in 1991, scoring 27% to Coast Rock’s 26.2%. This was back when it was still on AM before it converted to FM the following year.

• Even more incredibly, in Melbourne, 3MP managed to take out #1 overall throughout much of 1992!

[SydneyCityTV]

@Brianc68

With 4KQ being equal No 1 in the latest Brisbane survey it made me wonder when was the last time an AM music station topped a survey. I think it would also have been 4KQ. If I recall correctly 4KQ won a survey in about 1993 or 1994 beating B105 and 4MMM. I think it was only one survey and it coincided with 4BH’s failed flip to talk with New 882.

It seems that your recollection is correct:

BTQ7 7NEWS/4KQ TOPPLES B105

Following that survey (which I think would’ve been the first of 1994), B105 probably would’ve been the most dominant force in Brisbane radio during the 1990s and Early 2000s?

@TV-Expert

The last AM music station to take out #1 overall in Sydney was 2CH

If I’m being honest I would’ve expected it to be 2SM, 2UW or maybe 2WS given the amount of support that station had in the Western suburbs even during the days it was still on AM.

@TV-Expert

• On the Central Coast of NSW, 2GO outrated Coast Rock FM in 1991, scoring 27% to Coast Rock’s 26.2%. This was back when it was still on AM before it converted to FM the following year.

…and when it was a proud local institution, rather than the sad regional Triple M station it is now.

[TV-Expert]

@SydneyCityTV

@TV-Expert

• On the Central Coast of NSW, 2GO outrated Coast Rock FM in 1991, scoring 27% to Coast Rock’s 26.2%. This was back when it was still on AM before it converted to FM the following year.

…and when it was a proud local institution, rather than the sad regional Triple M station it is now.

The last time 2GO was #1 was in 2009, when it scored 17.5%. This was followed by Star 104.5 with 14.3% (when it was a rock station) & Sea FM with 12.4%.

Back when, 2GO was owned by Macquarie Southern Cross Media, in which it was still local from 5 or 6am until 6pm on weekdays. Its music log was still done locally, tailored for the local market, and provided a wide variety of music from the 70s to today.

These days, Star 104.5 is the most local commercial station on the Central Coast, which is certainly being reflected in this year’s ratings survey.

[TelevisionAU]

@TV-Expert

The last AM music station to take out #1 overall in Sydney was 2CH in S3/1984 (2WS was equal #1 with 2UE earlier that year).

when was the last time 2SM was #1?

From what I gather, 3XY was last #1 in Survey 1, 1983 (12.1%)

3MP still managed to hit #1 in Survey 2, 1994 with 14.5% share, but within 12 months it was down to 7th place (8.4%)

[HUFF]

@TelevisionAU

when was the last time 2SM was #1?

From what I gather, 3XY was last #1 in Survey 1, 1983 (12.1%)

The last time 2SM was #1 was S3/1979 (tied with 2UE with a 17.0)
S2/1979 was the last outright #1 for 2SM with a 17.5.
S3/1979 was the end of a 3 year streak at the top for 2SM.

S1/1983 was the last time 3XY was #1, they were tied with 3AW/1278 with a 12.3 share.

[TV-Expert]

In response to the June 1991 aircheck of 2Day FM that was posted in the “Radio History” thread:

@TV-Expert

At the time of the above aircheck, 2Day came very close to toppling 2MMM off the top of the Sydney radio ratings for the first time, with only 0.2% separating the two.

Here is the Sydney ratings results for S4/1991.

#1: 2MMM: 14.6
#2: 2DAY: 14.4
#3: 2UE: 12.7
#4: 2WS: 10.5
#5: 2CH: 7.5
#6: 2KY: 6.5
#7: 2BL: 6.4
#8: 2UW: 6.1
#9: 2GB: 5.9
#10: 2JJJ: 2.6
#11: 2RN: 1.8
#12: 2SM: 1.7
#13: ABC-FM: 1.6

[HUFF]

The last time 2GB had a share as high as it did today’s release… 1973:

[NewsWeary]

Just had a look at the names that would’ve been presenting on 2GB weekdays at that time: Steve Parsons, John Pearce, Gwen Plumb, Anne Deveson, Brian White, Paul Lynch, Howard Craven.

[TV-Expert]

@NewsWeary

Just had a look at the names that would’ve been presenting on 2GB weekdays at that time: Steve Parsons

Who of course was a lot more associated with 2WL/Wave FM in the Illawarra, where he was practically an icon there. Apart from his brief stint at 2GB from 1972 until 1975, he had been part of the Illawarra radio scene for over 30 years, mainly at breakfast & later in mornings. He was also heard on ABC Illawarra for a few years after he had left Wave FM in 2006.

Radioinfo article from 2006:

Wollongong radio icon retires - RadioInfo Australia

[TV-Expert]

@SydneyCityTV

It’s interesting to note that 2CH was receiving 4.8% around this time last year (first survey after the pandemic-induced break), just before the switch to SEN. Has any other Sydney radio station ever lost 4.1% of listeners in the space of a year?!

Here are the past ones that spring to mind which come close (if not more than that in some cases):

• 2UE went down from 8.4% in S1/1986 to 4.7% in S1/1987.
• 2GB went down from 11% in S2/1988 to 6.9% in S2/1989.
• 2MMM went down from 19% in S8/1991 to 12.4% in S8/1992.
• 2SM went down from 7.1% in S8/1994 (as Gold 1269) to 3% (as KICK-AM).
• 2WS went down from 10.5% in S1/1998 to 7.1% in S1/1999.
• Mix 106.5 went down from 9.2% in S8/2000 to 5.7% in S8/2001.
• 2UE went down from 13.1% in S7/2001 to 8% in S7/2002. This was due to Alan Jones & Ray Hadley moving across from 2UE to 2GB.
• 2Day went down from 9.3% in S1/2013 to 4% in S1/2014. This was due to Kyle & Jackie O moving across from 2Day to KIIS.

As for the reverse:

• 2UE went up from 4.9% in S4/1987 to 11.9% in S4/1988.
• 2Day went up from 8.7% in S2/1990 to 15.7% in S2/1991.
• 2WS went up from 7.3% in S6/1992 (on AM) to 14.1% in S5/1993 (on FM).
• 2UW/Mix 106.5 went up from 4.1% in S1/1994 (as 2UW) to 7.2% in S1/1995 (as Mix 106.5).
• 2MMM went up from 8.2% in S2/1998 to 12.1% in S2/1999.
• 2GB went up from 3.3% in S8/2001 to 10.2% in S8/2002.
• 106.5 went up from 4.3% in S1/2013 (as Mix) to 8.4% in S1/2014 (as KIIS).

[crankymedia]

@TV-Expert

2SM went down from 7.1% in S8/1994 (as Gold 1269)

Gold1269 is the way to go for any owner who doesn’t mind paying royalties unlike Bill.

[nickatnights]

Sydney’s radio ratings from 1983 - 1985:

• 2WS is a consistent rater as it taps into the western suburbs
• Triple M hits No. 1 in 1984 with 13.5%, although a resurgent 2SM (as the Rock of the 80s) annoys the heck out of Rod Muir as it peaks at a 10% share
• 2UW is No.1 in 1981 and it’s relaunch as Magic 11 in 1984 is a fail.
• 2UE falls below 10% in 1985 as Laws leaves for 2GB, but does not start until mid year
• Check out 2CH!

[TV-Expert]

@TV-Expert

@Ant5476

What about the crazy move Triple M Sydney made in late 2008 when they tried “Music that Rocks”
Triple M started playing Top 40, pop and dance music with a splattering of rock music to try and attract younger listeners from Nova,

I remember them playing Don’t Hold Back by the Potbelleez on high rotation, a dance track on Triple M!!! It was a massive ratings failure for that time. I think Triple M rates lower now under the inept hands of SCA.

Actually, 2MMM rated worse back then than it does now. In S2/2009, it got to as low as 3.2%, just below that of ABC Classic FM (as it as known then). It was also beaten by Vega (now Smooth), which had 4.7% that survey. 2Day was the #1 FM station with 10.3%.

@Ant5476

Out of interest what did Nova 969 rate then as Triple M was targeting Nova then?

Here’s the full rundown of stations’ overall ratings for S2/2009 in Sydney:

#1. 2GB: 14.6
#2. 702 ABC: 11.3
#3. 2Day: 10.3
#4. Nova: 7.5
#5. 2UE: 7.3
#6. WSFM: 6.5
#7. 2CH: 5.5
#8. Mix 106.5: 5.0
#9. Vega: 4.7
#10. ABCFM: 3.3
=#11. 2MMM: 3.2
=#11. 2JJJ: 3.2
#13. 2RN: 2.4
#14. ABC NewsRadio: 1.8

In the 25-39s, Nova rated 15.6%, 2nd behind 2Day’s 17.8%. 2MMM rated only 6.8% in that demo, down 1.1% from the previous survey (S1/2009), whilst 2Day & Nova went up.

[TV-Expert]

@nickatnights

It would be fascinating to know how the cumes have changed for each demographic over the last 20 years.
For example, this survey shows that there are 471 000, 10-17 year olds who listen to the radio in Sydney each week. The largest group are the 25 - 39 year olds - with 1.2M listeners.
What were these figures a decade ago? Two decades ago?

I don’t have the full cumulative figures for S1/2002, but I do have those for S1/2012.

Survey 1, 2012 - Sydney

10-17s: 407,000
25-39s: 1.062m

So interestingly enough, there are more people listening to the radio now than 10 years ago, although 2KY/Sky Sports Radio was not listed in 2012. Not to mention the fact that the local radio market was quite different back then.

The overall ratings in S1/2012 was as follows:

#1: 2GB: 13.4
#2: ABC702: 9.4
#3: 2Day: 8.3
#4: WSFM: 7.8
#5: 2JJJ: 7.4 (Hottest 100 factor)
#6: 2MMM: 6.7
=#7: Nova: 5.6
=#7: 2UE: 5.6
#9: Mix 106.5: 5.1
#10: 2CH: 4.4
#11: ABC Classic FM: 3.2
#12: Sydney’s 95.3FM: 2.7 (this was before it was relaunched as Smooth, which has been successful)
#13: 2RN: 2.6
#14: ABC NewsRadio: 2.2

[Laoma]

@TV-Expert

The overall ratings in S1/2012 was as follows:

#1: 2GB: 13.4
#2: ABC702: 9.4
#3: 2Day: 8.3
#4: WSFM: 7.8
#5: 2JJJ: 7.4 (Hottest 100 factor)
#6: 2MMM: 6.7
=#7: Nova: 5.6
=#7: 2UE: 5.6
#9: 2CH: 4.4
#10: ABC Classic FM: 3.2
#11: Sydney’s 95.3FM: 2.7 (this was before it was relaunched as Smooth, which has been successful)
#12: 2RN: 2.6
#13: ABC NewsRadio: 2.2

No MIX 106.5?

[TV-Expert]

@Laoma

No MIX 106.5?

Oh shoot, I forgot!

Fixed it now.

[nickatnights]

Thanks TV-Expert.

Who would have guessed a 20% increase in those younger age groups?

[HUFF]

In 2002, 10-17 cume was 337,000 and 25-39 cume was 827,000.

It should be noted that total market population in 2002 was 3.65m. In 2012 it was about 4.2m, and the current estimate is 4.83m, so the cume increases have more or less kept in line with the overall population increases.

[TV-Expert]

Thanks for that.

Whilst on 2002, since I have provided the overall Sydney ratings for S1/2012, it’s only fair that I do one for S1/2002 as well.

The survey took place just before Alan Jones had started on 2GB after having moved across from 2UE.

#1: 2Day: 13.8
#2: 2UE: 11.9
#3: 2MMM: 9.1
#4: Nova: 8.6
#5: ABC702: 8.1
#6: Mix 106.5: 7.0
#7: WSFM: 6.1
#8: 2CH: 5.1
#9: 2GB: 4.9 (the station’s fortune was about to change very soon from that point)
#10: 2JJJ: 4.4
#11: 2RN: 2.4
#12: ABC Classic FM: 2.3
#13: ABC NewsRadio: 2.2
#14: 2KY: 2.1
#15: 2SM: 0.8

[thesub1]

Isn’t it amazing to see how 2MMM has declined for no real reason.

What could’ve caused its decline?