Techsurvey 2027 To Examine AI, YouTube And Radio In New Cars.

Jacobs Media has opened registration for Techsurvey 2027, inviting commercial radio stations in the U.S. and Canada to participate in the annual study of radio listeners’ media habits, technology usage and evolving entertainment preferences. The research, conducted in partnership with Inside Radio, will field in January and February, with participating stations receiving format-specific data and comparisons with national audience trends.

The 2026 Techsurvey attracted more than 500 participating stations across North America, representing nine different formats and a diverse mix of broadcasting companies. The study generated nearly 31,000 responses, making it one of the radio industry’s largest research projects focused on media and technology.

For 2027, Jacobs Media expects to deliver updated findings for eight to 10 qualifying radio formats spanning music and spoken-word programming. The research will help stations and broadcast groups understand how their individual brands compare with national benchmarks and identify opportunities to better connect with their audiences.

The study will continue tracking media-device ownership and usage, including on-demand media, push notifications, online newsletters, YouTube and short-form video consumption. Results will be broken out by age and generation, gender and ethnicity to provide a closer look at differences in media habits across demographic groups.

New areas of exploration will include updated work-from-home and commuting habits, now that the pandemic is seven years in the rearview mirror, as well as the first and last devices or media platforms respondents use each day. Techsurvey 2027 also will examine the role of artificial intelligence in content and news discovery, whether the absence of AM/FM radio from new-car dashboards would be a deal-breaker for consumers, and interest in folding smartphones.

“For more than two decades, Techsurvey has been the largest and most important survey in commercial radio,” Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs said. “In this year's survey, we will have updated trending information to track broadcast radio's digital progress, and we'll map out the most effective ways stations and their companies can optimize 'meeting the audience where they are.'”

The 2027 study also comes as Jacobs prepares for a leadership transition at the consulting and research firm. He announced this week that he will step down as President at the end of 2026, with his brother, Paul Jacobs, succeeding him on Jan. 1. Fred Jacobs will become Chairman and remain involved in selected company initiatives, including the design and implementation of its Techsurveys.

Stations have until Friday, Dec. 18, to register. Information about participation, fees, timetables and logistics is available HERE.