Landmark moment marks a new era of collaboration across broadcast leaders in Europe and Australia on a new vision to secure listener access to radio in connected cars

Hamburg/London, 19 June, 2025 – Bauer Media Group today joined the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on stage in Madrid at WorldDAB Automotive 2025 to unveil a new, unified vision for how broadcasters and car manufacturers can support radio listening in connected cars. This strategic alignment comes at a crucial time, with radio accounting for over 80% of in-car audio consumption today.

The vision, Radio Ready, centres around three key principles: firstly, radio should be prominent and convenient; secondly, radio apps should be discoverable; and thirdly, voice assistants should be reliable. The goal, ultimately, is to secure and promote radio’s place in cars as automotive technology — and the needs of listeners — continue to evolve.

This is the first time there has been a united initiative for public service and commercial radio. The working group is key partners across Europe, including Bauer Media Group, European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Association of European Radios (AER), BBC, Global, NRJ, RTL, Radio France and SR who further got support of the initiative from Antenna Group and Radio Hamburg in Europe. Momentum is building on a global scale, too, with RCA, the body representing all commercial radio stations in Australia, signing up earlier this week. The working group invites all other broadcasters and trade bodies to join the working group and support Radio Ready.

Bauer Media Group has played a role in bringing together key voices across the radio industry in Europe and Australia, helping to foster greater alignment and collaboration at a crucial moment for in-car radio. By actively championing a unified approach, Bauer has been playing a role in building the momentum needed to engage effectively with the automotive sector.

Tobias Nielsen, Senior Vice President Digital, Bauer Media Group who joined the presentation at the stage in Madrid said: “It is essential for democracy and public safety in times of emergency, as well as the cultural value that radio offers that it remains accessible, prominent, and easily discoverable in connected cars in the future. We are pleased to see the alignment that we have achieved across the radio industry as we believe it is essential for us to work together with the automotive industry to ensure that people can continue to access radio in the connected cars of the future.”

ENDS

About Bauer Media Group
We are a media business focused on creating content that matters to millions of people across Europe. Our offer covers print and online publishing, audio broadcasting and entertainment, Out of Home advertising, and investments in other media related sectors. We are one of Europe’s largest Publishers, with almost 500 million copies sold each year. From women’s and celebrities’ magazines and TV listings to food and special interest, we own some of Europe’s most popular digital and print publishing brands. Our Audio business operates more than 150 radio and podcast brands, reaching over 61 million listeners every week. Bauer Media Outdoor is one of Europe’s leading Out of Home advertising businesses, with more than 100,000 advertising panels. Family-owned in the 5th generation, Bauer Media focuses on the long-term with a consumer first mindset. Our workforce of over 12,000 shares a common purpose: to deliver content and services that enrich people‘s everyday lives. For more information go to www.bauermedia.com.

Press contact:
Bauer Media Group
Grace Walker
Senior Communications Manager
T: 07861 081000
E: Grace.Walker1@bauermedia.co.uk