Brandwave

Magic vs The Sound:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, The Sound had more branded searches than Magic among radio stations in New Zealand. The Sound had about 1,300 branded searches, while Magic had 1,120. The Sound made up 0.56% of all radio station searches we track, and Magic accounted for 0.49%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about radio stations, The Sound appeared in two of the five answers and Magic in none.

Among radio stations in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

The Sound, about 16% more searches than Magic

The Sound 1.3K searchesMagic 1.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

The Sound, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Magic in 0

The Sound in 2 of 5Magic in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

The Sound, the only one of the two named

The Sound first in 2Magic never named

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Top radio stations in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, The Sound was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but 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
  • The Sound2 of 5Named in 0 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 Magic or The Sound more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Magic and The Sound 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.

Magic and The Sound among radio stations in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for The Sound, 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 Magic and The Sound comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: The Sound took it in September 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Sound’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand held steady at 0.56%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.3K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, The Sound rose from 14th to 13th among radio stations in New Zealand.

  2. 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 Magic’s and The Sound’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.

Magic

4 branded search terms

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

The Sound

1 branded search term

  • the sound radio

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among radio stations

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