--- title: "Mai FM vs ZM: Which is searched more in New Zealand?" description: "Is Mai FM or ZM more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the radio stations set in New Zealand. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/mai-fm-vs-zm" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Mai FM vs ZM: Which is searched more in New Zealand? Is Mai FM or ZM more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the radio stations set in New Zealand. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Compared**: Mai FM and ZM - **Competitive set**: radio stations - **Market**: New Zealand - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **Mai FM Share of Search**: 1.9% - **ZM Share of Search**: 2% ## Is Mai FM or ZM more popular in search? - In September 2026, Mai FM and ZM were level in searches among radio stations in New Zealand, with an estimated 4.4K versus 4.7K branded searches, at 1.9% and 2% of the total. - The lead changed hands 5 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: ZM took it in January 2026, Mai FM took it in February 2026, ZM took it in April 2026, Mai FM took it in June 2026, ZM took it in August 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mai FM’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand moved from 2.3% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 4.4K. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ZM’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand moved from 2.2% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5K to 4.7K. ## Top radio stations in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, ZM was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Mai FM was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. ZM was listed before Mai FM in every answer that named either. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | RNZ National | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | Newstalk ZB | 2nd | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | ZM | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | The Edge | 4th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | More FM | 5th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | The Rock | 6th | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | The Hits | 7th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | The Breeze | 8th | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | George FM | 9th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | The Sound | 10th | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Coast | 11th | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Mai FM | 12th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Radio Hauraki | 13th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Flava | 14th | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Magic | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about radio stations - Asked ChatGPT "Which radio station should I use in New Zealand?": 1. ZM, 2. RNZ National, 3. The Breeze, 4. The Rock - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best radio stations in New Zealand?": 1. The Edge, 2. ZM, 3. More FM, 4. The Rock, 5. George FM, 6. RNZ National, 7. The Breeze, 8. Newstalk ZB, 9. Radio Hauraki, 10. Mai FM - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best radio station in New Zealand for music and news?": 1. Newstalk ZB, 2. RNZ National, 3. The Breeze, 4. The Hits - Searched Google, AI Overview "new zealand radio stations": 1. Newstalk ZB, 2. RNZ National, 3. The Edge, 4. The Hits, 5. ZM, 6. More FM, 7. The Rock, 8. The Sound, 9. Coast, 10. George FM, 11. Mai FM, 12. Flava, 13. Radio Hauraki - Searched Google, AI Overview "radio stations nz": 1. Newstalk ZB, 2. RNZ National, 3. The Edge, 4. The Hits, 5. ZM, 6. More FM, 7. The Rock, 8. The Sound, 9. Coast, 10. George FM, 11. Mai FM, 12. Flava, 13. Radio Hauraki Not named in any answer: Magic. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in New Zealand on October 19, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for New Zealand radio stations in September 2026? - 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. - In September 2026, ZM lost share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand, from 3% to 2%. - Mai FM’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.7% to 1.9% in September 2026. ## Month by month | Month | Mai FM estimated searches | Mai FM Share of Search | Mai FM rank | ZM estimated searches | ZM Share of Search | ZM rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | 5.4K | 2.3% | 11 | 5K | 2.2% | 12 | | Nov 2025 | 5.4K | 2.5% | 11 | 4.4K | 2% | 13 | | Dec 2025 | 4.4K | 2.4% | 11 | 4K | 2.1% | 12 | | Jan 2026 | 3.6K | 2% | 12 | 4.9K | 2.7% | 10 | | Feb 2026 | 5.4K | 2.9% | 10 | 5K | 2.7% | 11 | | Mar 2026 | 5.4K | 2.5% | 11 | 4.9K | 2.3% | 12 | | Apr 2026 | 4.4K | 2.2% | 12 | 5K | 2.5% | 10 | | May 2026 | 4.4K | 2.2% | 12 | 5K | 2.5% | 11 | | Jun 2026 | 5.4K | 2.7% | 10 | 4.7K | 2.4% | 12 | | Jul 2026 | 4.4K | 2.4% | 11 | 4.4K | 2.4% | 12 | | Aug 2026 | 4.4K | 2.1% | 12 | 6.4K | 3% | 10 | | Sep 2026 | 4.4K | 1.9% | 12 | 4.7K | 2% | 11 | ## How each brand is measured Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mai FM’s and ZM’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. - **Mai FM**: Measured on the search term “mai fm”. - **ZM**: Measured on the search terms “iheartradio zm”, “live zm”, “radio zm”, “ZM”, “zm dunedin”, “zm listen live”, “zm live”, “zm radio” and “zm secret sound”, summed into one figure. - [Mai FM profile](/demand/nz/brands/mai-fm) - [ZM profile](/demand/nz/brands/zm) - [All radio stations in New Zealand](/demand/nz/categories/nz-radio-stations): The set both shares are measured inside, 15 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Mai FM or ZM more popular in search? In September 2026, Mai FM and ZM were level in searches among radio stations in New Zealand, with an estimated 4.4K versus 4.7K branded searches, at 1.9% and 2% of the total. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Mai FM vs ZM: Which is searched more in New Zealand?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/mai-fm-vs-zm This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/mai-fm-vs-zm. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.