Radio sellers have several reasons to approach 2027 with confidence, according to analysis from BIA Advisory Services, even as the absence of a major election is expected to weigh on total radio revenue. Michael Guerity, SVP, Market Intelligence and Strategic Communications at BIA, outlined five opportunities for radio during the Radio Advertising Bureau’s recent webinar, “Radio’s Next Chapter: The 2026-2027 Local Advertising Forecast.” The analysis draws from BIA’s September

With Election Day weeks away, the legal battle over broadcasters’ lowest political advertising rates is complicating further. A federal appeals court has given the FCC just two days to act on a challenge to its political advertising policy, potentially setting up another round of litigation that could change which political advertisers qualify for discounted rates during the final weeks of the campaign. In a sharply worded 2-1 ruling, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals order

With three-quarters of 2026 now in the books, there are clear trends for radio formats in key demos for this year, and year-to-year, according to Inside Radio’s analysis of average-quarter-hour share data in PPM markets, covering Monday-Sunday 6am-midnight. When it comes to share gains, the standout formats continue to be contemporary Christian — which in the September 2026 survey ranks 10th among persons 18-34 and 12th for 25-54s — and modern/alternative rock, which ties for

The rise of video podcasting may be changing how people consume their favorite shows, but new research suggests it is not coming at the expense of audio. Instead, podcast consumers are increasingly moving between listening and watching depending on where they are and what they’re doing. Research from SiriusXM Media and Edison Research finds 90% of monthly podcast consumers listened to an audio-first podcast during the past month, nearly identical to the 89% who consumed a vid

U.S. consumers plan to spend more during the 2026 holiday season, but much of the increase will go toward food, decorations, dining and entertainment rather than traditional gifts, according to a new survey from JLL. Americans expect to spend an average of $1,243 on the holidays this year, a 9.7% increase from last year and nearly back to the level recorded two years ago, JLL said. The increase follows a 2025 holiday season in which consumers trimmed spending. The growth is b

Audio advertising measurement is expanding beyond traditional metrics such as reach and frequency, with marketers increasingly able to connect exposure to outcomes including brand awareness, website visits, app downloads, store traffic and sales, according to iHeartMedia. The company says measurement solutions now cover broadcast radio, streaming audio and podcasts, with different approaches available depending on an advertiser’s objectives and key performance indicators. Tho

Daylight saving time will end on Sunday, Nov. 1 this year, the earliest date allowed. The clock change’s impact on daytime-only stations and full-power status for many AMs has been cast into jeopardy, as efforts to end DST have gained support in Washington. But in what may be a positive indicator for broadcasters, supporters of the clock change practice are standing firm even in the face of an increasingly frustrated President. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who last year sidelined

With Q3 2026 a wrap in Nielsen’s 20 non-embedded PPM markets reporting on Days 1 and 2, looking at each format’s total wins for the quarter’s three surveys, including September (covering Aug. 20-Sept. 16), adult contemporary stations maintain an edge over news/talk, with AC’s 14 total wins for the three books vs. news/talk’s 13. How does this line up with the first two quarters of this year? AC racked up 13 wins in Q1 and 16 in Q2, in each case a wider lead over news/talk, wi

Following Urban One Dallas’ May 2026 purchase of Service Broadcasting’s urban contemporary “K104” KKDA-FM and urban AC KRNB (105.7), the company has made format and programming adjustment to both stations, along with its rhythmic CHR “97.9 The Beat” KBFB. Undergoing the most changes is KRNB, which shifts its focus to R&B hits from the 90s to today and adjusts its brand to “105.7 RnB,” with a logo similar to that of Philadelphia sister WRNB. At “97.9 The Beat,” Urban One’s Rea

The Golden Globes is bringing its Best Podcast award back for a second year, expanding the pool of shows eligible to compete as podcasting becomes a permanent part of the Hollywood awards show. Thirty podcasts are eligible to submit for consideration for the 84th Golden Globes, up from 25 in the category’s inaugural year. The list was once again compiled by the Golden Globes’ data partner Luminate. The field includes some of podcasting’s biggest names, including “The Joe Roga