A new study commissioned by Cumulus Media | Westwood One finds that marketers, media agencies and the average American are spending more time commuting to work, creating opportunities for AM/FM radio to reach consumers during their daily drives. The October 2026 research also shows that AM/FM radio continues to account for the overwhelming majority of ad-supported audio listening in cars and trucks. Westwood One’s Audio Active Group commissioned the research as part of its ex

For the first Nielsen survey in 2026, there’s just one adult contemporary station at the top of its market in the eight non-embedded markets on Day 1 of October PPMs, covering Sep. 16-Oct. 14. That’s in Houston, where iHeartMedia’s “Sunny 99.1” KODA has ruled for 15 straight surveys. The bigger picture, however, shows AC as strong as ever in seven of these markets, and poised to get even stronger as the holiday season gets closer. Here’s a quick review of AC in those other si

Political advertising has shattered another milestone, surpassing $11 billion in aired spending for the 2025-26 election cycle as an extraordinary October surge pushes the market into record territory. AdImpact says $3.84 billion in political ads aired during October alone, up 54% from October 2022. With future advertising reservations included, the cycle has now surpassed $11.6 billion, making it the most expensive political advertising cycle on record — even without a presi

RCS Worldwide has appointed Tammy Halcomb as Senior VP of Products and Merideth Kelly as Senior VP of Global Client Experience and Transformation, expanding the broadcast software company's leadership team as it focuses on product innovation and client relationships. Halcomb reports to Chief Technology Officer Chip Jellison, while Kelly reports to CEO and President Susan Larkin. Halcomb brings more than 25 years of experience in broadcast technology, enterprise software, adve

iHeartMedia New York’s “Z100” WHTZ has announced the lineup for its free “All Access Lounge,” the annual pre-event celebration for “Jingle Ball 2026.” The Dec. 11 event at Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom will feature performances from six artists, interactive brand activations and giveaways, including opportunities to win tickets to that evening’s concert at Madison Square Garden. The “All Access Lounge” Presented by M&M’S will run from noon to 5pm ET, featuring perfo

The U.S. ad market is nine for nine when it comes to posting monthly growth. Guideline’s U.S. Ad Market Tracker recorded a ninth consecutive month of growth in September. The firm says total spending rose 1.3% compared to a year earlier. That is slightly stronger growth that was recorded in August. Both months’ growth trails the gains seen in June and July when the World Cup marketing push helped deliver double-digit gains. The smaller growth is likely due in part to some of

With Election Day just one day away, the 2026 political advertising cycle is nearing its conclusion, leaving behind record broadcast television ad volumes, billions in spending and some unexpected shifts in where campaign dollars have gone. A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project, using AdImpact spending data through Oct. 25, provides a detailed look at how candidates and outside groups allocated their advertising budgets, which states attracted increased spending in t

The U.S. Hispanic population represents an increasingly important opportunity for advertisers, with the group accounting for 78% of U.S. population growth since 2020 and projected to generate more than 90% of population growth over the next five years, according to Claritas’ 2026 U.S. Hispanic Market Report. The report, which examines Hispanic demographics, consumer behavior, entertainment preferences and shopping habits, estimates the Hispanic population will exceed 71 milli

Friday may be podcasting’s best-kept scheduling secret. While thousands of new episodes flood podcast apps every Tuesday, a sweeping new Podchaser analysis finds that Friday is the least crowded weekday in nearly every podcast category, potentially giving creators an opportunity to stand out. And the research offers additional clues about how the industry’s biggest shows approach publishing, from releasing episodes before sunrise to delivering fresh content multiple times a w

FCC Chair Brendan Carr is pushing back against claims that he is threatening broadcasters over unfavorable election polling, insisting the agency is only reminding stations of their legal obligations when reporting on fabricated polls. Commissioner Anna Gomez, meanwhile, says the warning itself risks intimidating broadcasters into self-censorship, even as neither commissioner identified a specific station that has violated FCC rules. The dispute resurfaced Thursday (Oct. 29)