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Radio Resources

• Commonly used terms
• Radio facts and figures
• Guide to radio station formats
• Number of stations by format
• Number of radio stations by state
• Top 100 radio markets
• Events in 2009
• Tips for spokespeople

Radio Facts and Figures

• More than 600 million radios in use in the U.S.
• Average U.S. household has 5.6 radio receivers
• Radio reaches 96% of people 12 and older weekly
• People 12 and older listen more than 3.2 hours daily
• Over 13,500 registered radio stations in the U.S.
  Based on Arbitron figures

Radio Listenership Figures and Trends

Although radio advertising revenue may be suffering during this economic downturn, listening to the radio continues to be part of Americans' daily life, according to results of a nationwide telephone survey from American Media Services.  This survey shows radio listenership remains consistently strong. The study found:

• Four out of five (80 percent) say they usually turn on the radio when they get into their car; and
• Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) said they are listening to the radio as much or more than they did five years ago.

In fact, according to Arbitron’s Radio Today (2008 Edition), the big picture for radio overall is its remarkable, enduring reach.  Highlights include:

• Far more than 90% of all consumers 12+ years old listen to the radio each week. This is a higher penetration than television, magazines, newspapers or the Internet.
• Radio reaches people everywhere they are: at home, at work, in the car and elsewhere.
• News and talk radio audience is the second largest listening audience, second to country music
• Radios listenership has been consistently strong for the decade between Spring 1997 and 2007, declining just 0.1% in the three years from Spring 2005 to 2007.
• Most recent data finds a jump in nearly every daypart for the percentage of adults who listened to radio at least once per week:

• Among Men 55+, ratings were up in every daypart and, in most cases, reached six-year highs. 
• Reach among Women 45+ was better than in most dayparts than it’s high mark in 2002.

Information compiled in June of 2009

Effectiveness of Radio

• Mobile medium
• Captive audience
• Highly Targetable
• Great source of news information for listeners

Radio Information and Organizations

1. National Association of Broadcasters, visit www.nab.org.
2. Arbitron, visit www.arbitron.com.
3. Radio-Television News Directors Association, visit www.rtndf.org.
4. Radio Heard Here, visit www.radioheardhere.com.