Radio Listener Demographics: 69 User Facts & Numbers [2023]

With so many different types of radio stations, from talk shows to Top 40 hits, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly who makes up the radio listener demographic.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the various demographics of radio listeners to help you better understand the audience that radio reaches.

So, let’s turn up the volume and get started!

Quick Demographic Facts About Radio Listeners

• Radio reaches 97% of women and men aged 18-49, with 65.9 million female and 65.4 million male listeners.
• 93% of U.S. teens are reached by radio monthly.
• During an average week in June 2021, radio reached 88.1% of all American men aged 35-64 years.
• Radio has a weekly reach of around 82.5% among adults in the United States.
• There are over 15,445 radio stations in the U.S.
• 68% of Americans aged 12 and older listened to online audio in the past month as of early 2021.
• 62% had listened to online audio in the past week.
• More than 71.2 million adults aged 18-34 use radio each month, reaching 90% of adults in this age group.
• Nearly 59.6 million adults aged 35-49 use radio each month.
• Radio has the largest reach with Generation X (ages 35-54), with 80.5 million listeners tuning in during an average month (97% of the Gen X population).
• Millennials (ages 18-34) have 71.6 million listeners tuning in monthly (95% of the Millennial population).

Here are the demographics of sports radio listeners.

These demographic facts showcase the wide reach and popularity of radio among different age groups and genders in the United States.

Age Demographics of Radio Listeners

• Generation X (ages 35-54) leads radio listenership, with 80.5 million listeners tuning in during an average month, representing 97% of the Gen X population.
• Millennials (ages 18-34) follow closely, with 71.6 million listeners tuning in monthly, constituting 95% of the Millennial population.
• In June 2021, radio reached 88.1% of American men aged between 35 and 64 years during an average week.
• Radio also shows a weekly reach of approximately 82.5% among all adults in the United States.
• During an average week in Spring 2021, 43.5% of U.S. Classical radio listeners were over 65 years of age.

These numbers indicate that radio continues to be a relevant and far-reaching medium across various age groups, with notable popularity among older generations.

This is quite different from the demographics of TV viewers.

Gender Demographics of Radio Listeners

• During an average week, radio reach around 88% of American men aged between 35 and 64 years.
• For both women and men aged 18-49, radio listenership was nearly equal at 65.9 million (97%) and 65.4 million (98%), respectively.

In looking at the data, it becomes apparent that radio continues to have significant reach across various age groups and both genders, maintaining its popularity and impact on society.

Here are the demographics for Radio 4 (BBC) listeners in the U.K.

Ethnicity Demographics of Radio Listeners

• Hispanics: Radio reaches 97% of the Hispanic population aged 12 and older.
• African Americans: 92% of the African American population aged 12 and older tune into radio broadcasts.

Despite the demographic differences, both Hispanic and African American listeners dedicate a significant amount of time to radio. African American listeners surpass their Hispanic counterparts by a small margin:

• African American listeners spend an average of 20 minutes more per week listening to radio broadcasts as compared to Hispanic listeners.

The information highlights the widespread reach of radio across different ethnic groups, reflecting its ongoing relevance in catering to diverse audiences.

Education Level Demographics

• High school graduates make up a sizeable portion of radio listeners, with around 65.9 million women (97%) and 65.4 million men (98%) tuning in weekly in the 18-49 age bracket.
• Among those with a higher education, radio reaches 88.1 percent of American men aged between 35 and 64 years.
• Online audio listenership has steadily grown since 2007, and as of early 2021, 68% of Americans aged 12 and older have listened to online audio in the past month, and 62% in the past week.

Radio enjoys consistent listener demographics across various education levels. The numbers demonstrate the platform’s continued relevance and broad reach, regardless of educational background.

Other Interesting Facts About Radio Listeners

• Over 71.2 million adults aged 18-34 use radio each month, reaching 90% of adults in this age group.
• Nearly 59.6 million adults aged 35-49 use radio each month.
• During an average week in June 2021, radio reached 88.1 percent of all American men aged between 35 and 64 years of age.
• Radio’s reach is greater among Hispanics (97%) than African Americans (92%); though African-American listeners spend slightly more time on a weekly basis (20 minutes) than Hispanic listeners.
• The number of radio listeners aged 13-34 has grown by 116% in 7 years.
• The radio industry generated $18.6 billion in revenue in 2020.
• There are currently over 15,000 radio stations in the United States.
• FM radio remains the most popular listening platform in the United States, with 91% of adults listening to FM radio in a given week.
• The average amount of time spent listening to radio each week by Americans aged 18 and over is 11.7 hours.
• 45% of Americans listen to online radio in their cars.
• Radio reaches more Americans each week than any other platform, including TV and smartphones.
• In 2020, the average monthly time spent listening to radio in the United States was 105 minutes.
• 57% of Americans listen to FM/AM radio in their cars.
• 47% of Americans aged 18-34 listen to podcasts.
• The top reason Americans listen to radio is for entertainment (43%).
• Radio remains the leading source of music discovery, with 47% of Americans discovering new music through the platform.
• 66% of Americans believe that radio is important to their daily lives.
• 42% of Americans listen to radio while at work.
• 80% of Americans listen to radio to keep them company.
• The average radio listener tunes in for 2 hours and 42 minutes per day.
• The average American household has 1.5 radios.
• 79% of adults aged 18-34 say that they have heard an advertisement on the radio in the past week.
• 37% of adults aged 18-34 say that they have made a purchase after hearing a radio advertisement in the past week.
• The radio industry employs over 90,000 people in the United States.
• The top radio format in the United States is Country, with a market share of 14.1%.
• The top radio company in the United States is iHeartMedia, with a market share of 17.9%.
• Radio advertising revenue in the United States is projected to reach $12.5 billion in 2021.
• The top advertiser on radio in 2020 was Geico, with 2.8 million radio ads aired.
• The number of Americans who listen to podcasts each week has grown by 25% over the past year.
• The most popular time of day to listen to the radio is during the morning drive time, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
• 56% of Americans listen to radio at home.
• 17% of Americans listen to radio on their smartphones.
• The average American radio listener is 52 years old.
• 68% of Americans ages 12 and older listened to online audio in the past month as of early 2021.
• 62% of Americans ages 12 and older had listened to online audio in the past week.

These statistics paint a picture of radio’s relevance and growth across different age groups and ethnicities, highlighting its continued importance as a media platform.

Sources

• https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2023/the-steady-reach-of-radio-winning-consumer-attention/
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/809387/radio-reach-usa-by-age-gender/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/4763/radio-industry/
• https://backlinkfy.com/blog/2019/07/27/radio-listeners-demographics-user/
• https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/report/2017/how-america-listens/
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/568093/radio-reach-usa-by-gender/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/2845/radio/
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/245279/distribution-of-us-radio-audiences-by-their-age/
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/582988/reach-of-radio-in-the-us-by-demographic
• https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/02/12/for-world-radio-daykey-facts-about-radio-listeners-and-the-radioindustry
• https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/audio-and-podcasting
• http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2017/the-steady-reach-of-radio-winning-consumer-attention/
• http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/09/13/facts-about-us-adults-who-listen-to-online-audio/