By The Numbers: NAB Says 2025 Saw Americans Get Behind The Broadcast Industry.

The National Association of Broadcasters is characterizing 2025 as a year defined by lobbying intensity, infrastructure positioning, and a strong return for its trade-show franchise.

According to figures circulated in its year-end recap, the trade group logged 238,797 messages to policymakers supporting modernization of broadcast ownership rules, along with more than 820,000 messages sent to Congress advocating for the mandatory inclusion of AM radio in passenger vehicles.

That outreach helped. On the legislative front, NAB tallies 377 lawmakers who have gone on the record as backing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R.979/S. 315). Nicole Gustafson, Senior VP of Government Relations at the National Association of Broadcasters, says the “intense pressure” lawmakers have been feeling — including from constituents calling and repeatedly asking about the bill — helps “create momentum” for its passage. In a recent NAB podcast, she said they remain “very optimistic” the bill will come to a vote in the coming weeks. “We expect an overwhelming vote in the House,” she predicted.

Another potential factor was that the organization’s political fundraising arm, NABPAC, also reported $896,500 in donations to federal candidates in 2025. That may help other issues beyond AM in dashboards. In its year-end review, NAB also highlights congressional opposition to a radio performance royalty regime, noting a congressional majority is resisting any performance tax and another legislative majority is rejecting a federal performance royalty structure.

“The support of the majority of the House reflects a clear understanding of the enduring, essential role of local radio stations in communities across the country,” NAB President Curtis LeGeyt said last month when the milestone was achieved. He said lawmakers understand broadcast radio is a trusted community partner, a vital resource in times of crisis, and a powerful platform for artists to connect with their fans.

Beyond Washington, NAB says its trade-show ecosystem continued to rebound last year after suffering from pandemic pullback in business travel in recent years. The NAB Show in Las Vegas last spring drew 55,000 attendees from 160 countries. It was also supported by nearly 1,100 exhibitors, including 125 new companies. Separately, NAB Show New York in the fall added 12,000 attendees and 260 sponsors, 51 of them new.

The year also marked 25 years for NABLF’s Broadcast Leadership Training Program, a milestone NAB included alongside its economic impact claims. The group reiterated that U.S. radio and TV stations generate $1.19 trillion in economic activity and support 2.46 million jobs. It also noted that the NAB’s Broadcast Career Link hosted 23,000 job postings that generated more than 216,000 job-page views during 2025.