Pew Research Analysis: One In Four U.S. Radio Stations Has Faith Focus.

A new analysis from the Pew Research Center finds that religious programming remains a significant presence on American airwaves, with faith-related content woven throughout broadcasts and reaching millions of listeners nationwide.

The report, “Religious Radio Across America,” draws on an extensive review of approximately 440,000 hours of programming from more than 2,000 religious radio stations in July 2025, along with survey data from more than 5,000 U.S. adults.

The report bolsters other data pointing to religious radio’s ascension. According to Inside Radio/PrecisionTrak’s monthly station counts for February, religion (including stations featuring religious teaching, hymns and other related content) has surpassed country for the first time ever, hitting a new 2,156-station high. Country had led all formats since January 2015.

In the Pew report, researchers found that about a quarter of all AM and FM radio stations in the U.S. have a religious focus, reflecting the continued prominence of faith-based broadcasting in the media landscape.

Religion is a central feature of this programming. According to the report, “the overwhelming majority of broadcast time dedicated to spoken content (86%) contains references to religion or religious teachings.” On average, that amounts to more than 10 hours per day per station that includes religious discussion, even when faith is not the primary topic.

At the same time, religious radio is not limited strictly to sermons or worship. The study found that stations frequently address everyday issues through a religious lens. Topics such as personal advice, social and political commentary, and family life each account for roughly two hours of daily programming per station on average.

Listening habits reflect the broad reach of this content. About 45% of U.S. adults say they listen to some form of religious audio programming, whether through radio or online platforms. Among those listeners, many say they tune in for spiritual reasons, including finding the content uplifting, relaxing, or helpful for guidance in daily life.

Still, the importance of religious programming varies among audiences. Roughly 37% of listeners say such content is “extremely important” or “very important” to their spiritual lives, while others view it as less central.

The report also highlights differences in how religious groups engage with radio. Large majorities of white evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants report listening to religious programming, while smaller shares of Catholics and non-evangelical Protestants say the same.

Christian stations dominate the religious radio landscape. About 63% of stations identify broadly as Christian, with smaller shares tied to specific denominations such as Baptist or Pentecostal traditions, and about 8% identifying as Catholic.

Programming styles can differ significantly between these groups. Catholic stations, for example, tend to emphasize talk programming over music, airing more than 15 hours of talk content daily on average, compared with less than five hours on other Christian stations. They are also more likely to feature interactive elements such as call-in segments.

Music nevertheless remains a major component of religious broadcasting overall. About 37% of Americans say they listen to religious music, and music accounts for roughly half of all airtime on religious radio.

While religious content dominates, the report finds that political discussion plays a more limited role in why audiences tune in. About four in 10 listeners say they encounter political or social commentary at least sometimes, though many report hearing it rarely or never. Among those who listen to religious talk shows specifically, exposure to such topics is more common.

Even so, relatively few listeners cite keeping up with news and current events as a primary reason for listening, suggesting that spiritual and personal motivations outweigh political interests for most audiences.

The findings illustrate the enduring role of religious broadcasting in American life, blending traditional faith-based messages with discussions of everyday concerns. Religious radio continues to serve not only as a source of worship and teaching, but also as a platform for community connection and guidance.