Radio By The Numbers
What percentage of U.S. adults listens to AM/FM radio in a typical week according to recent Nielsen Audio reports
90%. Roughly nine in ten adults, making AM/FM radio the top-reach audio medium in the U.S.
True or False: Younger audiences no longer listen to AM/FM radio.
False. A large share of Gen Z and young adults still listens to AM/FM radio every week.
What is a primary reason listeners say they choose local stations over pure play audio brands?
Local news, information, and personalities that reflect their own community.
What do marketers call it when they coordinate radio, display, video, and social into one unified strategy?
Omnichannel or integrated advertising.
Roughly what proportion of Americans age 12+ owns a smart speaker today?
About one‑third of Americans.
True or False: More Americans listen to AM/FM radio each week than to any single streaming audio platform.
True. AM/FM radio’s weekly reach is higher than any one streaming service.
When advertisers compare ad‑supported audio platforms, which one generally delivers the broadest campaign reach—AM/FM radio or digital‑only streaming?
AM/FM radio delivers the broadest ad‑supported audio reach.
Why is local advertising, such as local radio, so critical for small and mid‑sized businesses?
Most of their customers live nearby, so locally targeted media like radio drive a large share of store visits and calls.
What Townsquare solution helps Central Texas businesses extend messaging beyond the airwaves into digital and social campaigns?
Townsquare IGNITE
When people talk to smart speakers about audio, what is one of the most common commands?
Asking the device to play a favorite radio station or stream.
Which generation spends the most total time with AM/FM radio—Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, or Gen Z?
Gen X (1965-1980), which has the heaviest time spent with broadcast radio among ad-supported audio options.
Roughly what portion of ad‑supported audio listening is still consumed live rather than on‑demand?
The majority of ad‑supported audio time is still live broadcast radio, not on‑demand.
For which goal do advertisers often see local radio as especially strong: national e‑commerce, hyper‑local awareness/events, or global brand building?
Hyper‑local awareness and community events.
When brands add digital extensions to radio, what typically happens to overall reach and frequency?
Combined campaigns increase total reach and reinforce frequency compared with using either channel alone.
What is “dynamic ad insertion” in streaming and podcasts?
Technology that swaps in targeted ads in real time so different listeners hear different, more relevant messages.
In in‑car listening, which choice still dominates ad‑supported audio minutes—AM/FM in‑car radio, streaming, or podcasts?
AM/FM in‑car radio still dominates ad‑supported in‑car listening.
What is one of the biggest misconceptions about radio’s place in the digital era?
That digital “replaced” radio, even though combining radio and digital produces stronger reach and results than digital alone.
Why do on‑air talent endorsements often outperform generic recorded spots?
They create trust and credibility, leading to higher recall and response than non‑personality ads.
Name one way social media can amplify a radio campaign’s impact.
It can echo on‑air messages with clickable posts, boost contest participation, and drive direct engagement or retargeting.
Looking ahead to 2026, which audio segment is forecast to grow ad spend the fastest—traditional radio, digital audio/streaming, or print?
Digital audio/streaming, although broadcast radio remains a large and stable medium.
Roughly what share of all ad‑supported audio time in the U.S. still goes to AM/FM radio?
About two‑thirds (67%) of ad‑supported audio time, more than any other single platform.
When brands add AM/FM radio to digital‑only campaigns, what typically happens to overall campaign performance?
They gain meaningful incremental reach and stronger sales impact versus digital‑only plans.
What is a key advantage local radio offers that national pure play streaming platforms cannot easily match?
Deep community integration through local hosts, events, and causes tied to specific towns and regions.
What is one major benefit for advertisers when radio and digital are bought and managed through a single provider like Townsquare Media | Central Texas?
Unified strategy, audience targeting and reporting, making performance easier to understand and optimize.
Name one emerging capability that is making audio campaigns more measurable for advertisers.
AI‑driven attribution and real‑time dashboards that connect audio exposure to web or app actions