Recent data from Finnpanel shows that the listener numbers for Suomipop, a popular radio channel in Finland, have sharply declined. Between November 2025 and January 2026, the channel averaged only 563,000 weekly listeners, which is considerably less than its main competitor, Nova, which attracted an average of 898,000 listeners during the same period. This decline marks a significant change in the Finnish radio landscape, as Suomipop has historically been one of the leading channels in the market.

A closer look at the listener statistics reveals a stark contrast in their morning programming, the prime time for radio shows. From November to January, Nova's morning program garnered an average of 514,000 listeners weekly, in contrast to Suomipop's 275,000. This gap indicates that not only is Suomipop losing overall listeners, but it is also struggling to compete during critical broadcast segments, which are essential for attracting advertising revenue and maintaining audience engagement.

This downturn in Suomipop's popularity is part of a larger trend in Finnish radio over the past few years. Just a few years ago, the competition was much closer, with both channels reaching over a million weekly listeners in late 2020. In 2018, Suomipop even surpassed Nova in popularity. The current decline highlights the dynamic nature of media consumption and suggests that Suomipop may need to rethink its strategies in order to regain its competitive position against Nova and other emerging radio platforms.