Smart Speakers Bring AM/FM Radio Back Into The Home

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 24, 2019 | 12:18pm CT

Westwood One

According to Nielsen's Q1 2019 Total Audience Report, smart speaker adoption is at a high point with 28% of U.S. homes owning a smart speaker. This explosion of usage has caused a shift in media use as AM/FM radio is being brought back into the home via smart speaker radio streaming. A new smart speaker infographic illustrates from Westwood One show who's streaming on smart speakers, when they're listening, where smart speaker streaming is taking place, and more.

Here's a look at who is streaming AM/FM radio stations on smart speakers, when they're listening, and where smart speaker streaming is taking place:

• Smart speaker ownership is bigger than ever: According to Nielsen, 28% of U.S. households own a smart speaker.

• Smart speaker streaming is on the rise: 19% of streaming listening to AM/FM radio stations occurred via smart speaker at the start of this year, up from 9% in January 2018.

• Streaming audiences skew female: 68% of the total music streaming audience is female, compared to 50% of the on-air audience to the same AM/FM radio stations. Across the board, streaming formats also skew more female including Adult Contemporary, CHR, Country, Classic Hits, Classic Rock, Rock, and Urban.

• Smart speaker users listen longer and more often: Smart speaker AM/FM radio streamers listen to 7:55 hours and 6.3 sessions per month, higher than the average streaming listener.

• Smart speaker streaming is a weekend activity: A higher proportion of smart speaker streaming occurs on Saturdays and Sundays. Smart speaker listening on the weekend peaks between 11AM and 6PM.