More FM has retained its position as the number one music radio station that Kiwi audiences tune into at breakfast time, according to the final commercial radio survey of 2019.
Nationwide, the station has secured a 9.1 percent share of music radio audiences at the start of the day, between 6am - 9am. The GfK survey results also show that for the first time ever, More FM has grown its total audience to 566,100 - beating its closest competitor, The Edge, by just 100 listeners.
"It's fantastic for the team, they will be happy today," says Leon Wratt, MediaWorks Radio Group Content Director.
Wratt admits it is surprising The Edge has taken second place to More in terms of overall listenership.
"More FM has had a really good year. The investment we've made into More FM in terms of its entertainment and local shows is really paying off for us."
MediaWorks radio brands make up seven of the top 10 commercial radio stations in the country, including the top three drive shows. The Rock leads between 3pm - 7pm, followed by The Breeze and More FM respectively.
Wratt says the result is a testament to how strong MediaWorks's radio brands are.
"Last time the top drive show was [The Breeze's] Robert Scott, this time it's The Rock, and prior to that we've had other people up there as well," Wratt says.
"It's a close competition. Everyone gets a chance to take the crown."
This year's change in The Rock's drive-time hosting line-up appears to have paid off, with the afternoon duo of Jay Reeve and Duncan Heyde claiming the title of the country's number one drive show.
"It's fantastic to see The Rock finish the year really well. There's definitely going to be some beers and some Woodys cracked at The Rock this afternoon, they'll be loving today."
The Breeze has managed to increase its lead as the number one music station nationally, holding an overall audience share of 9.2 percent.
Wratt says The Breeze has "been the rockstar of the year", with continued growth and positive results nationwide throughout 2019.
NZME earned another strong result with Newstalk ZB's performance, which Wratt says isn't surprising given the Rugby World Cup's effect on listenership.
"It was just a solid book, they'll be happy with that."
Meanwhile, MediaWorks radio's digital reach continues to expand, with its content-streaming app Rova boasting 3.5 million streams - a 141 percent increase on last year.
"It's massive. It's showing that there really is an increasing use of digital as a way of tuning into radio. The investment that the whole industry is making in that is great."
The full GfK Total New Zealand Commercial Radio Survey can be read on its official website.
