Ireland’s independent radio station have been providing choice for listeners since 1989 when licensed and regulated competition in the broadcast arena was introduced.

The sector is celebrating the role it has played in the history of radio in Ireland at a conference in Cork at the end of this month.

Radio broadcasting had been in place since 1925, but the advent of independent broadcasting meant that listeners for the first time had options in Ireland in terms of national and local broadcasting. That has continued and expanded since, with innovative radio stations providing services throughout Ireland, each tailored to reflect and respond to listener’s needs and interests.

Key services offered by the independent radio sector are news and current affairs coverage overseen by each individual station editor-in-chief, wide-ranging discussion programmes, plays of a wide range of music genres including by Irish traditional and break-through artists, local and national sports coverage, extensive content on cultural and social affairs, and Cláir Ghaeilge.

Crucially Ireland independent stations provide connection, banter and companionship for listeners, and a vital emergency information service during weather or other types of crisis. Radio listeners do not need to sign contracts, have broadband or to navigate pay-walls or cookie systems to listen in. Radio is always-on and available to anyone, and is highly reliable during storms.

The independent radio sector contributes over 146 million euro to the Irish economy through payroll for employees, tax, rates and purchases of goods and services. The sector employs over 1,000 people in all regions and invests over 3.5 million euro annually in vital masts and transmission infrastructure. The sector provides high quality training and careers for people from all backgrounds and is very inclusive and open.

The sector has a very strong track record of providing fair, accurate and balanced information to listeners and its complies fully with all applicable regulations and laws.

Radio has strong benefits for advertisers because it is a trusted medium which the vast majority of the population listen into daily, according to independent research (over 80% per of the population listen to radio each day, according to the latest JNLR survey). People listen into radio at the same times, and a large proportion of listening is in vehicles. Radio cannot be skipped or scrolled through and notices or ads make an impression.