KM GROUP's five radio stations in Kent are gaining a strong fan base, according to the latest quarterly listening figures from RAJAR (Radio Joint Authority Research Ltd) with particular growth in the west of the county.

KM-fm in Medway made significant gains, with weekly audiences of 47,000 compared with 39,000 in the previous quarter. It's a similar picture at KM-fm's Tonbridge station, with 47,000 listeners tuning in each week between July and September, compared with 38,000 in the previous three months. In the year to date, the stations have upped their audience by 30,000 adults.

In East Kent, year on year, Thanet's TLR has increased its weekly reach by 14 per cent and increased its listening hours by nearly 25 per cent. Weekly audiences are now 35,200 compared with 34,500 in the previous quarter.

CTFM in Canterbury is performing steadily, capturing almost 2,000 more listeners a week between July and September, compared with the previous three months. In Folkestone, Neptune Radio's weekly listening figures are up some 8.3 per cent for the year.

Earlier in October the Radio Authority confirmed that Kent and Sussex Radio Limited had retained its licence to broadcast as KM-fm to the Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells area.

Of the latest audience figures, Kent Messenger Group chief executive David Lewis said: "We are committed to providing the very best local radio service for the community, delivering really relevant local news and to our local listeners."

The KM Radio division is a rapidly growing part of the group's operation. In 1999 the KM took control of the Thanet based station, TLR 107.2FM and, after managing the station for a year KM Radio bought a controlling interest in the Canterbury based station, 106 CTFM serving Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable.

In September 2001, KM Radio acquired Neptune Radio serving Dover, Folkestone, Deal and Romney; creating a group of stations around the East Kent coast from Dungeness to Seasalter.

In March 2002, the KM purchased Mercury 101.6FM, serving Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks together with Medway Mercury based in Rochester creating a group of stations across the county providing a unique local news and advertising service playing a wide range of current and classic hits. The two Mercury stations were re-launched in September this year as Km-fm.

KM Radio has become an important local broadcaster offering advertisers a powerful competition of newspaper and radio 'Sight & Sound' advertising packages.