BBC 6 Music draws record listeners

BBC Radio 6 Music has won record audience figures, reaching almost 2 million listeners over the past 3 months. The digital-only station now has 1.99m listeners tuning in each week, up from 1.73m last year – a 15 per cent increase, reports IANS. 6 Music’s audience has more than doubled since a public campaign saved it from a proposed closure in 2010. Lauren Laverne hosts the most-listened to show, drawing 868,000 pound each week. ‘The brilliant figures for Radio 6 Music shows the network continues to go from strength to strength, cementing its position in the digital space,’ said Bob Shennan, controller Radio 2, 6 Music, Asian Network and director, BBC Music. ‘I’m thrilled that Shaun Keaveny, Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie are all reaching record audiences – with Lauren Laverne leading the charge as the most listened to show on the station.’ The station’s listening figures overtook those of BBC Radio 3 for the first time in July, prompting MP Tom Watson to suggest that Radio 3 should give up its FM slot to 6 Music as a result of being leapfrogged by the digital service.