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)

The weekday commute home may be tough, but radio’s afternoon drive hosts work hard to make it easier, not to mention entertaining and informative. According to Inside Radio’s TOP 10 ranking of PM drive hosts – based on weekly cume delivery of persons 6+ Mon.-Fri. 3-7pm, during Nielsen’s Q3 2026 wave (Jul.-Sep. three-month average) –iHeartMedia adult contemporary “106.7 Lite FM” WLTW New York’s 20-year PM drive host Rich Kaminski places first with a 1.4 million cume. Among the

iHeartRadio is adding a simplified listening option to its mobile app, giving users a way to switch between its full functionality and a streamlined interface focused on favorite stations and recently played content. The new Lite Mode is available on iOS and Android, with a toggle at the top of the app's homepage. The feature provides quick access to Presets, Recently Played and Local Radio without requiring listeners to leave the screen. The new option emphasizes currently p

On Air Fest is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a lineup of prominent podcast personalities and live recordings when the audio and storytelling festival returns to Brooklyn Feb. 23–25, 2027. Megan Rapinoe, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro and Dan Harris are among the first wave of talent announced for the three-day event, which will also host the Podcast Business Summit and the Ambies awards. The 2027 festival will operate under the theme “10 Years On,” revis

The Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) is expanding its needs-based College Scholarship Program to include more students pursuing careers in radio and television, regardless of whether they come from a broadcasting family. Less than six months after launching the program, the foundation has revised its eligibility requirements to broaden access to students who meet its academic and financial criteria. The changes increase the number of scholarships available and the to

The Supreme Court has set a date to consider whether to take up Nielsen’s antitrust battle with Cumulus Media, putting the radio ratings dispute on the justices’ calendar for a conference next month among the nine justices. The case centers on a lower court ruling that blocked Nielsen from requiring broadcasters to purchase its local radio ratings to gain access to its complete national ratings service. The court’s docket now lists Nielsen’s petition as “distributed for confe