Brandwave

George FM vs Magic:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, George FM had more branded searches than Magic among radio stations in New Zealand. George FM had about 8,100 branded searches, while Magic had 1,120. George FM made up 3.5% of all radio station searches we track, and Magic accounted for 0.49%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about radio stations, George FM appeared in three of the five answers and Magic in none.

Among radio stations in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

George FM, about 7 searches for every 1 for Magic

George FM 8.1K searchesMagic 1.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

George FM, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Magic in 0

George FM in 3 of 5Magic in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

George FM, the only one of the two named

George FM first in 3Magic never named

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Top radio stations in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, George FM was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Magic did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. RNZ National1st
  2. Newstalk ZB2nd
  3. ZM3rd
  4. The Edge4th
  5. More FM5th
  6. The Rock6th
  7. The Hits7th
  8. The Breeze8th
  9. George FM9th
  10. +5 more
  11. Magic–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • RNZ National5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Newstalk ZB4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • The Rock4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ZM4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • The Breeze3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • The Edge3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • More FM3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Radio Hauraki3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • George FM3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Magic0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about radio stations

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is George FM or Magic more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for George FM and Magic by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 radio stations we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

George FM and Magic among radio stations in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for George FM, Magic. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNewstalk ZBThe RockRNZ NationalThe BreezeThe EdgeMore FMRadio HaurakiCoastGeorge FMThe HitsZMMai FMThe SoundMagicFlava
Oct 202526.9%10.5%22.5%6.1%2.8%6%5.3%5%4.3%3.7%2.2%2.3%0.56%1.8%0.25%
Nov 202528.4%8.7%22.4%7.4%2.7%5%5.6%5.2%3.7%3.4%2%2.5%0.46%2.3%0.27%
Dec 202527.1%9.3%22.3%7.2%2.6%5%6.5%6.3%3.5%3.5%2.1%2.4%0.53%1.4%0.26%
Jan 202628.1%7.7%24.5%6%2.6%5.1%6.7%5.7%3.6%3.5%2.7%2%0.48%1.2%0.26%
Feb 202627.6%8.5%22.8%6.1%2.6%6.2%6.6%5.1%2.9%4.1%2.7%2.9%0.48%0.95%0.39%
Mar 202628.8%8.7%24.2%6.4%2.7%6.2%5.6%5.1%2.5%3.5%2.3%2.5%0.41%0.83%0.33%
Apr 202630.8%7.7%25.5%7.3%2.4%4.7%4.9%4.5%3.3%3%2.5%2.2%0.43%0.74%0.24%
May 202631.2%8.7%22%6.7%2.9%5.6%5%5.4%2.7%3.7%2.5%2.2%0.5%0.59%0.3%
Jun 202631.7%8.2%22%6.3%2.5%5.7%5.1%5.5%2.7%3.9%2.4%2.7%0.51%0.57%0.3%
Jul 202628.1%9.5%23.6%6.6%2.6%5.2%5.5%4.9%3%4.8%2.4%2.4%0.48%0.59%0.32%
Aug 202629.4%11%20.6%6.4%2.4%5.4%7%4.4%3.1%3.8%3%2.1%0.41%0.66%0.34%
Sep 202626.9%20.5%16.7%5.6%5%4.9%4.3%4%3.5%3.3%2%1.9%0.56%0.49%0.26%

How has the George FM and Magic comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • George FM was ahead of Magic in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, George FM’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand moved from 4.3% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 8.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Magic’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand moved from 1.8% to 0.49%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1K to 1.1K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand radio stations in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, The Edge overtook Radio Hauraki and 5 others to rank 5th among radio stations in New Zealand, with 5% of the searches.

  2. George FM’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.7% to 3.5% in September 2026.

  3. In September 2026, Magic fell from 13th to 14th among radio stations in New Zealand.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using George FM’s and Magic’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

George FM

1 branded search term

  • george fm

Magic

4 branded search terms

  • magic radio
  • magic rova
  • rova magic
  • rova magic radio

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among radio stations

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