Despite the digital age threatening its relevance, radio’s powerful and persistent reach across demographics—from 91% of rural Americans to 92% of European seniors—proves the airwaves are very much alive and telling a complex story of listener habits.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 82% of U.S. adults aged 18-34 reported listening to AM/FM radio at least once a week, marking a slight decline from 85% in 2020
- Women aged 25-54 in the U.S. comprised 52.3% of total radio listening hours in Q4 2022, averaging 12.4 hours per week
- Rural U.S. residents listened to radio 15% more than urban dwellers in 2022, with 91% weekly reach in rural areas versus 76% in cities
- The average U.S. radio listener tuned in for 12.6 hours per week in 2023, with peaks during morning drive time at 28% of total hours
- 91% of weekly U.S. radio listeners aged 16+ used AM/FM in-car in 2023, accounting for 68% of total listening time
- UK adults listened to live radio for 3.1 hours daily on average in Q1 2023, with 75% multitasking during commutes
- Country music held 19.2% share of U.S. radio listening in 2023, strongest among 35-54 demo
- News/Talk formats captured 22% of U.S. PQRS (persons quarter hours) in Q1 2023, up 1.5% YoY
- In the UK, music-driven stations like pop/CHR led with 42% audience share in 2023
- 68% of U.S. radio listening in 2023 occurred via car dashboards, totaling 10.5 hours weekly per listener
- Smart speaker radio plays grew 25% YoY to 22% of U.S. audio in 2023, Alexa leading
- In the UK, DAB digital radio accounted for 62.3% of all listening in Q1 2023
- U.S. AM/FM radio revenue grew 2% to $1.47 billion in 2023 despite streaming rise
- Global radio ad spend reached $28.5 billion in 2023, U.S. 40% share
- UK commercial radio revenue up 12% to £1.4 billion in 2023, digital boost
Radio remains widely popular across diverse groups and regions despite evolving listener habits.
Demographics
- In 2023, 82% of U.S. adults aged 18-34 reported listening to AM/FM radio at least once a week, marking a slight decline from 85% in 2020
- Women aged 25-54 in the U.S. comprised 52.3% of total radio listening hours in Q4 2022, averaging 12.4 hours per week
- Rural U.S. residents listened to radio 15% more than urban dwellers in 2022, with 91% weekly reach in rural areas versus 76% in cities
- Hispanic Americans aged 18+ had a 2023 radio audience share of 18.7%, up 2% from 2021, driven by regional Mexican formats
- Baby Boomers (aged 59-77) accounted for 28% of total radio listening time in 2023, preferring news/talk at 45% usage rate
- African American listeners aged 18-34 made up 14.2% of urban radio audiences in 2022, with 88% weekly engagement
- In the UK, 65% of listeners aged 16-24 tuned into radio weekly in 2023, primarily via DAB digital radio
- U.S. men aged 35-64 represented 31.5% of sports radio listeners in 2023, averaging 10.2 hours weekly
- Seniors aged 65+ in Europe had a 92% radio reach in 2022, listening 20.3 hours per week on average
- Millennials (aged 27-42) in Canada showed 78% weekly radio listenership in 2023, down 4% from 2019
- Asian Americans comprised 7.8% of U.S. radio listeners in 2023, with highest affinity for ethnic language stations at 62%
- In Australia, Gen Z (16-24) radio reach was 71% weekly in 2023, favoring music stations at 85% preference
- Low-income U.S. households (under $30k) had 89% radio penetration in 2022, versus 72% for high-income ($100k+)
- Female listeners in India aged 18-35 grew 12% YoY in 2023, driven by FM regional content
- U.S. veterans aged 35+ listened to radio 18 hours weekly in 2022, 25% above national average
- In France, urban youth (18-24) radio listenership was 68% in 2023, preferring podcasts hybrids
- LGBTQ+ Americans showed 84% radio engagement in 2023, highest for pop/CHR formats at 56%
- In Brazil, rural listeners aged 25-54 reached 95% weekly in 2022, averaging 22 hours
- U.S. college-educated listeners (bachelor's+) were 41% of news radio audience in 2023
- Teens (12-17) in Germany had 62% radio reach in 2023, up 5% from streaming competition
- In the U.S., 55% of parents with children under 12 listened to radio daily in 2022 for family content
- Middle East expatriates aged 25-44 showed 76% radio usage in 2023, multilingual stations dominant
- U.S. disabled adults had 87% radio access rate in 2022, highest for audio-only medium
- In South Africa, urban black listeners aged 18-34 were 82% of FM audience in 2023
- Gen X (43-58) in the UK accounted for 32% of total listening hours in 2023
- U.S. Hispanic women aged 25-49 grew radio time 8% to 14.1 hours weekly in 2023
- In Japan, elderly listeners (65+) averaged 25 hours weekly in 2022, 40% news content
- Australian Indigenous communities had 98% radio penetration in 2023, community stations key
- U.S. blue-collar workers listened 16.5 hours weekly in 2022, 22% above white-collar
- In Mexico, urban millennials reached 79% weekly radio in 2023, regional Mexican top
Demographics Interpretation
Radio stubbornly remains the steadfast, democratic background noise of our collective lives, defiantly stitching together a fragmented world where everyone from rural veterans to urban Gen Z still finds their particular frequency, proving that while our tastes and technologies diverge, the simple human need for a voice in the room endures.
Device Usage
- 68% of U.S. radio listening in 2023 occurred via car dashboards, totaling 10.5 hours weekly per listener
- Smart speaker radio plays grew 25% YoY to 22% of U.S. audio in 2023, Alexa leading
- In the UK, DAB digital radio accounted for 62.3% of all listening in Q1 2023
- Mobile apps delivered 18% of U.S. radio streams in 2023, iHeartRadio top app
- Home radios (traditional) used by 41% weekly in Canada 2023, declining 5% YoY
- In France, 55% of listeners used connected cars for radio in 2023, up 12%
- Portable radios held 12% U.S. usage in 2022, beach/workout scenarios
- Australia saw 34% smart speaker penetration for radio in 2023, Google Home rising
- In Brazil, 82% still used analog FM/AM receivers in 2023, rural dominant
- German online radio streams via apps reached 28% total in 2023
- U.S. TV-connected radio apps grew to 9% usage in 2023, Roku/Smart TV
- India FM via mobile phones at 65% in urban 2023, JioTune integrations
- South Africa car radio remained 75% of listening in 2022
- UK desktop/laptop streaming at 15% in 2023, work-from-home boost
- Mexico hybrid radio (app+traditional) used by 22% in 2023
- Japan digital radio (ISDB-T) adoption at 48% in 2022, urban lead
- U.S. wearables (smartwatches) for radio at 4% niche in 2023
- Italy app-based radio listening up 18% to 25% in 2023
- Spain in-car digital radio (DAB+) at 19% in 2022, growing
- Australia OTT streaming radio at 16% total in 2023
- French tablets for radio declined to 6% in 2023, mobiles overtaking
Device Usage Interpretation
Radio’s eternal road trip is now detouring through smart speakers and smartphones, proving that while the dashboard remains king, listeners are happy to let their voices, screens, and watches do the dial-turning.
Genre Preferences
- Country music held 19.2% share of U.S. radio listening in 2023, strongest among 35-54 demo
- News/Talk formats captured 22% of U.S. PQRS (persons quarter hours) in Q1 2023, up 1.5% YoY
- In the UK, music-driven stations like pop/CHR led with 42% audience share in 2023
- Classic Hits/Oldies preferred by 28% of U.S. listeners aged 55+ in 2022, 15% market share
- Regional Mexican grew 5% to 7.8% U.S. share in 2023, Hispanic demo dominant
- Sports radio accounted for 11% of U.S. male listening in 2023, evenings peak
- In Canada, Adult Contemporary held 25% share in 2023, women 18-49 at 68% preference
- Urban AC/R&B formats drew 12.4% U.S. share in 2022, African American core
- Talk radio in Australia captured 18% weekly reach in 2023, 35-64 demo lead
- Classical music stations had 4.2% U.S. share in 2023, highest educated listeners
- In France, French pop/variete led with 35% share in 2023, urban youth favorite
- Religious radio formats reached 9% U.S. audience in 2022, South highest penetration
- Rock formats declined to 8.5% U.S. share in 2023, but loyal 25-44 demo
- In India, Bollywood/Hindi film music dominated FM at 55% preference in 2023
- Jazz/Blues niche held 2.1% U.S. share in 2023, urban metros strong
- Spanish Tropical/Salsa grew 3% to 3.7% U.S. in 2023, Florida lead
- In Germany, Schlager (German pop) topped charts at 28% share in 2023
- Adult Hits/Variety stations at 10% U.S. share in 2022, broad appeal
- In Brazil, Sertanejo (country) led with 32% share in 2023, rural strong
- Public radio/news in U.S. had 14% share in 2023, NPR affiliate peak
- EDM/Dance formats reached 6.8% U.S. young adult share in 2023
- Hip-Hop/Rap held 15.3% U.S. share in 2023, 18-34 demo 45% affinity
- In the UK, Asian music networks captured 8% national share in 2023
- Oldies in Canada declined to 7% share in 2023, but loyal seniors
Genre Preferences Interpretation
Radio listeners around the world, from middle-aged Americans with their country twang to French youth vibing to pop, are building their own cultural silos on the dial, proving that while music may be a universal language, its dialects are fiercely local and tribal.
Industry Trends
- U.S. AM/FM radio revenue grew 2% to $1.47 billion in 2023 despite streaming rise
- Global radio ad spend reached $28.5 billion in 2023, U.S. 40% share
- UK commercial radio revenue up 12% to £1.4 billion in 2023, digital boost
- U.S. radio stations totaled 15,423 in 2023, down 1% from peak
- Canada's radio market share vs. digital fell to 22% in 2023
- France radio audience stable at 83% weekly reach in 2023, podcasts challenge
- Australia radio ad revenue hit AUD 1.2 billion in 2023, 5% growth
- Brazil radio stations grew to 9,500 in 2022, community focus
- Germany public radio funding steady at €7.2 billion in 2023
- U.S. streaming radio overtook traditional at 52% total audio in 2023
- India FM stations expanded 8% to 4,200 in 2023, urban saturation
- South Africa radio revenue up 7% to ZAR 2.8 billion in 2022
- UK DAB coverage reached 99% population in 2023, FM phase-out talks
- Mexico radio market valued at $450 million in 2023, digital hybrids rise
- Japan radio listenership down 4% to 78% weekly in 2022
- U.S. podcast revenue surpassed radio ads at $2 billion in 2023
- Italy radio ad spend grew 3% to €600 million in 2023
- Spain radio employment at 28,000 jobs in 2022, stable
- Australia listener hours totaled 13 billion in 2023, flat YoY
- French digital radio revenue up 20% to €150 million in 2023
Industry Trends Interpretation
Radio is proving to be the stubborn party guest who, despite everyone talking about the new streaming DJ, still manages to quietly refill the punch bowl and keep a significant part of the conversation going.
Listening Habits
- The average U.S. radio listener tuned in for 12.6 hours per week in 2023, with peaks during morning drive time at 28% of total hours
- 91% of weekly U.S. radio listeners aged 16+ used AM/FM in-car in 2023, accounting for 68% of total listening time
- UK adults listened to live radio for 3.1 hours daily on average in Q1 2023, with 75% multitasking during commutes
- In 2022, 44% of U.S. radio listening occurred between 6-10 AM, driven by morning shows
- Canadian radio listeners averaged 15.2 hours weekly in 2023, with 62% daily habit among commuters
- 73% of French radio listeners tuned in via mobile apps or smart speakers in 2023, up 15% from 2020
- Australians spent 13.8 hours weekly on commercial radio in 2023, 55% during work hours
- In Brazil, daily radio listening peaked at 4.2 hours in 2022, with 80% household penetration
- German listeners averaged 4 hours daily in 2023, 40% while cooking or cleaning
- 65% of U.S. P1 (primary) radio listeners tuned in at least 5 days a week in 2023
- In India, FM radio listening averaged 2.8 hours daily in urban areas in 2023, mornings dominant
- South African listeners spent 18.5 hours weekly in 2022, highest in Africa for commercial radio
- 52% of UK radio time was consumed out-of-home in 2023, cars leading at 48%
- Mexican radio fans listened 16.7 hours weekly in 2023, 70% via traditional receivers
- 78% of Japanese radio listeners incorporated it into routines like waking up, averaging 3.5 hours daily in 2022
- In the U.S., weekend radio listening was 9.2 hours per person in 2023, up 3% leisure focus
- Italian listeners averaged 3.9 hours daily in 2023, evenings for talk shows at 35%
- 61% of Spanish radio audiences multitasked with chores in 2022, total time 14 hours weekly
- U.S. evening drive (4-7 PM) captured 22% of weekly radio hours in 2023
- In Australia, breakfast radio slots reached 82% of audience weekly in 2023, 4.1 hours average
- French weekend listening rose 7% to 10.5 hours in 2023, family-oriented
- 49% of Brazilian listeners tuned in during lunch hours in 2022, averaging 2 hours daily
- UK smart speaker radio usage hit 28% of total in 2023, 1.2 hours daily average
Listening Habits Interpretation
The statistics reveal radio as the stubbornly resilient soundtrack to daily life, stubbornly blaring from car dashboards and kitchen counters worldwide as we cling to its curated companionship through commutes, chores, and morning rituals that we clearly cannot face in silence.
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