Brandwave

RNZ National vs The Sound:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, RNZ National had more branded searches than The Sound among radio stations in New Zealand. RNZ National had about 38,500 branded searches, while The Sound had 1,300. RNZ National made up 16.7% of all radio station searches we track, and The Sound accounted for 0.56%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about radio stations, RNZ National appeared in all five answers and The Sound in two. RNZ National was mentioned before The Sound in every answer.

Among radio stations in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

RNZ National, about 30 searches for every 1 for The Sound

RNZ National 38.5K searchesThe Sound 1.3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

RNZ National, mentioned in every answer we collected

RNZ National in 5 of 5The Sound in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

RNZ National, named ahead of The Sound in every answer

RNZ National first in 5The Sound never first

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Top radio stations in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, RNZ National appeared in all five answers. The Sound was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. RNZ National was listed before The Sound in every answer.

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. The Sound10th
  11. +5 more

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
  • The Sound2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 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 RNZ National or The Sound more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for RNZ National 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.

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

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

3 findings
  • RNZ National was ahead of The Sound in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RNZ National’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand moved from 22.5% to 16.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 52.2K to 38.5K.
  • 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?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, The Rock overtook RNZ National to rank 2nd among radio stations in New Zealand, with 20.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, RNZ National lost share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand, from 20.6% to 16.7%.

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

How are branded searches counted?

21 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using RNZ National’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.

RNZ National

20 branded search terms

  • checkpoint rnz
  • morning report rnz
  • rnz afternoons
  • rnz checkpoint
  • rnz listen live
  • rnz live
  • rnz live stream
  • rnz morning report
  • RNZ National
  • rnz national live
  • rnz national radio
  • rnz national schedule
  • rnz nights
  • rnz panel
  • rnz radio
  • rnz saturday morning
  • rnz sunday morning
  • rnz the panel
  • saturday morning rnz
  • sunday morning rnz

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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