Radio Remains America’s Top Reach Medium Across Demos, Nielsen Finds.

AM/FM radio continues to outpace all other media platforms in weekly reach, according to the latest Nielsen data that reaffirms the medium’s dominant role in American media consumption. Based on insights from Edison Research’s Share of Ear and Nielsen’s broader measurement of the media landscape, the report shows that radio reaches more adults each week than any other single medium, digital or linear.

In a blog post, Katz Radio Group notes that more than 225 million adults, or 9 in 10, listen to radio every week. Radio holds the No. 1 spot for reach among adults 50–64 and 65+, and ranks second for adults 18–34 with a weekly reach of 79%, highlighting the platform’s strong generational crossover. The data underscores what broadcasters have long known: AM/FM remains central to the daily habits of Americans of all ages.

Beyond reach, radio’s dominance extends to time spent with ad-supported audio. AM/FM radio accounts for 70% of all ad-supported audio listening, according to Share of Ear. Even among younger adults 18–34, a group often assumed to favor digital streaming, traditional radio commands 50% of ad-supported audio usage.

“Radio fans are smart and loyal,” Katz Radio Group notes, emphasizing how listeners continue to access their favorite stations not just over the air, but across smartphones, tablets, connected TVs, and web platforms. The report also highlights a surprising data point: each week, 60 million more adults listen to the radio than use the internet on a computer.

The takeaway for advertisers is clear: in a fragmented media world, AM/FM radio still offers unmatched reach, frequency, and time-spent, especially for ad-supported audio. Whether it’s news, sports, music, or talk, listeners are tuning in, and marketers are being reminded why radio remains a media mainstay.