Study: 91% of Marketers, Agencies Commute to Work

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, November 2, 2026 | 11:28am CT

Cumulus Media | Westwood One

Nine in ten marketers and media agency executives now commute to work at least some days, according to new research commissioned by the Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group. The findings are examined by Chief Insights Officer Pierre Bouvard in the group's latest blog post, which connects workplace attendance with opportunities for AM/FM radio advertisers.

An Advertiser Perceptions survey of 304 agency and brand respondents, conducted October 1-13, found that 59% commute all or most days, while 32% commute some days. The combined 91% compares with 63% in April 2022.

The share working in the office all or most days increased from 53% in October 2025, although it declined from 64% in April 2026. Eight percent reported working exclusively from home.

A separate nationally representative Quantilope survey of 1,600 adults ages 18 and older, conducted in October, found that 87% of Americans who commuted before the pandemic currently work outside the home. That places their commuting rate four percentage points below the advertising industry respondents.

However, typical Americans reported more days at the workplace, averaging 4.7 per week compared with 4.2 for marketers and agency executives. Among advertising industry respondents, 51% reported working in the office five days a week.

Bouvard argues that commuting patterns reinforce AM/FM radio's value for advertisers. The blog cites Edison Research's third-quarter 2026 "Share of Ear" report, which found that AM/FM accounted for 81% of ad-supported audio listening in cars and trucks.

Both groups were most likely to work at their workplaces Monday through Thursday, with Friday recording the lowest weekday attendance.

The advertising industry survey also found that 80% of respondents had resumed in-person meetings with media vendors, while 81% had resumed attending in-person conferences and events.

Read the full blog post here.