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Chrysalis Radio last week posted an impressive 50 per cent increase

in sales, buoyed by the success of its Galaxy and Heart stations.

For the year ending 31 August, the group’s turnover was pounds 27.5

million.

But even more important than the 50 per cent rise in sales was the

group’s move into profitability, with a net operating profit of pounds

0.7 million compared with a loss of pounds 0.1 million last year.

Chrysalis is now the fourth-largest radio group behind GWR, Emap and

Capital, with an audience of almost 25 million adults, delivering almost

35 million listening hours - equivalent to a 7.3 per cent share of all

UK commercial radio listening.

The launch of Galaxy North East on 1 June was described as

’spectacularly successful’. The third-quarter Rajar results showed it

had a weekly audience of 415,000, equivalent to a 20 per cent reach, and

a market share of 9 per cent.

Galaxy 101 in the Bristol and Cardiff areas consolidated its market lead

with a weekly reach of 388,000, and a market share of 6.6 per cent.

Galaxy 102 in Manchester, and Galaxy 105 in Yorkshire continued to

perform well.

Chrysalis’s 100.7 Heart FM in the Midlands recorded a weekly reach of

857,000 listeners, making it the leading station in the region, while

London’s Heart 106.2 increased its weekly reach by 15 per cent to

1,490,000, a market share of 4.6 per cent.

All the stations now have an online presence via Chrysalis Radio Online,

which launched in September.