Nielsen: Radio reaches 90% of Americans each week
Amid a rapidly evolving media landscape, radio remains a constant in Americans’ daily lives, according to a new report from Nielsen.
Ninety percent of Americans listen to AM or FM radio each week, with the average listener tuning in for more than two hours a day for news, sports, music, talk and traffic updates.
Roughly two-thirds of listening occurs out of the home, Nielsen found, with tune-in rising to a plateau during the morning commute, peaking at noon and tapering off in the evening.
The most avid listeners also seek out online radio -- especially a young generation dubbed the millennials. The biggest bulge of AM/FM radio aficionados are ages 45 to 55, who account for 19% of listeners.
As a group, African Americans spend the most time tuned to radio: nearly 63 hours a month.
Nielsen for the first time incorporated radio listening habits in its quarterly Cross-Platform Report, reflecting its purchase in September of the radio audience measurement firm Arbitron. The report tracks media consumption on TV, online and on mobile devices; and examines time spent with game consoles and playing DVDs.
TV remains the dominant media platform, with the average American spending 35.1 hours a week in front of their living room set. Americans spend about 14 hours a week tuned to AM or FM radio. The Internet trails as a distant third, accounting for a little more than five hours of time a week.
ALSO:
Mystery surrounds hiatus of top-rated morning radio show
Disney’s ‘Planes’ takes flight as bestselling DVD and Blu-ray title
Jimmy Kimmel draws biggest weekly audience since moving time slots
MORE
ON LOCATION: People and places behind what’s onscreen
PHOTOS: On the set: movies and TV
PHOTOS: Celebrity production companies
More to Read
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
Get the Envelope newsletter for exclusive awards season coverage, behind-the-scenes stories from the Envelope podcast and columnist Glenn Whipp’s must-read analysis.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.