Shaping UK radio’s future and influencing landmark legislation 

The UK radio industry faced major disruption due to shifts in how today’s audiences consume radio. Broadcasters were concerned that smart speaker platforms could come between them and their audiences, making radio services harder to find and access. 

Radiocentre, the industry trade body for UK commercial radio, commissioned MTM to explore the impact of smart speakers on listening and develop policy recommendations for the sector. 

This became a multi-year partnership, exploring how regulation could help protect radio and the public value it delivers to audiences. 

Working with Radiocentre and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), MTM led a groundbreaking multi-year programme exploring the impact of smart speakers on UK radio. 

The work began with a review of the UK smart speaker market, designed to build an evidence base for policy recommendations and help protect radio’s role and maintain relevance in a changing audio landscape. 

MTM focused on how easy radio services were to find and access on smart speakers, and the commercial implications of these new platforms and technologies. The research ultimately informed a set of crucial policy recommendations for Radiocentre and Government. 

MTM’s research highlighted several challenges for UK radio in the growing smart speaker market. We found that, without action to protect the prominence and discoverability of radio services, broadcasters risked losing visibility and listener engagement. 

Radiocentre presented the findings to Government, contributing to the evidence behind a wider government review of digital radio and audio. This led to the Digital Radio and Audio Review and its recommendations to Government. 

A second MTM study, commissioned jointly by Radiocentre and DCMS, helped shape Radiocentre’s case for new legislation. Proposed protections included giving Ofcom-licensed broadcasters a default route to listeners, preventing platforms from redirecting users to competing services, protecting free distribution, and stopping platforms from adding unauthorised content or advertising. 

These protections were ultimately included in the Media Act 2024, helping secure the prominence and long-term viability of UK radio in the digital age.