Radio Adds More Than 1.9 Million Weekly Listeners

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, June 14, 2011 | 2:53pm CT

Arbitron released highlights from its RADAR 109 National Radio Listening Report, which is scheduled for release on June 20. The report shows radio's continued strength with a year over year increase of about 1.9 million weekly listeners ages twelve and older. The number of Persons twelve and older listening to radio each week now reaches an estimated 241.5 million, representing 93.1% of all persons twelve and older.

As compared to the June 2010 report, the number of radio listeners increased across all major demographics, with Adults 18-34 showing the biggest gains, adding nearly 350,000 weekly listeners in the age group in the past year. There are now nearly 66.5 million Adults 18-34 listening to radio each week, or 93.6% of all members of this demographic. The number of Teens 12-17 listening to radio also continues to rise, increasing 158,000 listeners versus June 2010, reaching more than 22.8 million weekly listeners or 92%.

According to RADAR 109, radio continues to reach more than 93% of Black (non-Hispanic) Persons 12 and older and more than 95% of Hispanics aged 12 and older on a weekly basis, or 29.8 million and 36.5 million respectively. Hispanic listeners 12 years rose by 1.1 million listeners compared to the June 2010 report. Hispanics 18-49 increased sharply in the last year, adding close to 600,000 weekly listeners since June, 2010.

The sample size for the RADAR 109 Report is 395,531 persons 12 and older. The report includes data from all 48 Arbitron PPM markets. The survey dates for RADAR 109 were from April 1, 2010 through March 30, 2011.