For years, marketers have underestimated AM/FM radio’s reach, ROI and measurability. Based on new research from Advertiser Perceptions, this continues to be the case. “Ad industry perceptions of media audiences are often completely opposite reality,” Cumulus Media/Westwood One Audio Active Group Chief Insights Officer Pierre Bouvard says in Westwood One’s blog. Indeed, when asked “What percentage of Americans are reached by AM/FM radio in a typical week?” responses from Adver

As the popularity of podcasts continues to grow, with an active audience making for a compelling advertising environment, how do brands getting started with the medium ensure their ads are reaching the right listeners? A new report from iHeartMedia tackles that question by focusing on choosing podcasts that fit an advertiser’s audience, and starting with the listeners it needs to reach. A marketer needs to identify podcast environments that naturally align with those listener

The radio industry blitz to push a bill that would require AM radio in every passenger vehicle dashboard is among the issues that kept the National Association of Broadcasters spending in Washington during the third quarter. Disclosure filings show NAB spent $2.7 million on lobbying activities during Q3, which was a 6% increase from a year earlier. The increase comes even though the 119th Congress is winding down and often groups pull back on lobbying efforts to save resource

The growing adoption of artificial intelligence and Apple’s expansion into the smart home market could help accelerate growth in a sector that has expanded gradually but steadily, according to a new forecast from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan. The research firm projects U.S. smart home device shipments will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% from 2025 through 2030, reaching 105.8 million units. Annual shipments totaled an estimated 84.4 million units in

The political makeup of America’s podcast audience is increasingly looking like the nation as a whole, a significant change from just four years ago when Democrats held a commanding advantage among podcast listeners. New research from Signal Hill Insights shows that as podcasting has grown into a mainstream medium, its audience has become more politically diverse, with Independents now accounting for the largest share of monthly consumers. The shift comes just ahead of the No

iHeartMedia is promoting more precise audience-targeting strategies for local radio advertisers, combining traditional factors such as geography, format, and time of day, with identity-based targeting and measurement typically only available in digital media, to help businesses reach potential customers and measure campaign results. The company outlines four primary considerations for local audio campaigns: location, station format, time of day and audience. The strategy is i

Economic uncertainty is prompting consumers to delay major purchases and reduce spending on dining, retail shopping and travel, although many continue to prioritize essential expenses and purchases that they consider worthwhile, according to a new study from Katz Analytics. The survey of 1,000 consumers conducted this month found that 56% of respondents are delaying major purchases because of economic uncertainty. Nearly half said they plan to cut back on dining out (49%) and

Podcast listening held steady at the top of Triton Digital’s U.S. Podcast Ranker in September, with the three largest sales networks maintaining their positions and both iHeart Audience Network and Audioboom posting increases in average weekly downloads. Triton reports iHeart Audience Network remained the largest podcast sales network in the U.S., with 67.3 million average weekly downloads, up 2.1% from August’s 65.9 million. That kept iHeart more than four times the size of

The Federal Communications Commission has cleared the way for Hoffmann Media Group to acquire Audacy’s six-station St. Louis radio cluster, rejecting an objection that raised concerns about media consolidation, editorial independence and the future of local journalism. The decision removes the potential regulatory hurdle for Hoffmann as it makes its first move into radio broadcasting, part of a broader strategy to build a national media business combining newspapers, digital

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) has named Callie Luttman, morning show host at Saga Communications’ “Mix 94.5” WLRW in Champaign-Urbana, IL, as the recipient of its 2026 Behind the Mic Mentorship. The year-long program provides women in radio with one-on-one mentoring from senior industry leaders in programming, talent development, audience growth and brand strategy. Luttman also will have the opportunity to attend the 2027 NAB Show in Las Vegas for additional pr