AM/FM Radio Ratings Overtake TV Among Persons 18-49 For The First Time In Media History
Four years ago, Duncan Stewart, Director of Research, Technology, Media & Telecommunications at Deloitte, made a surprising forecast. By 2025, he predicted, AM/FM radio audiences would overtake TV among 18-34s. Stewart’s prediction occurred four years early.
Last year, Nielsen’s Total Audience Report revealed AM/FM radio won versus TV in 18-34 average audiences. Now, AM/FM radio ratings have accomplished something few could have foreseen.
Among persons 18-49, AM/FM radio now beats TV in average audience and weekly reach, a historic first
In 2018, AM/FM radio’s 18-49 average audience was 63% the size of live and time-shifted TV. Things have changed quickly. According to Nielsen’s Q3 2022 Total Audience Report, AM/FM radio’s persons 18-49 average audience is now +3% greater than television, as reported by Ad Age.
AM/FM radio’s weekly persons 18-49 reach of 83% is significantly larger than television’s 59%. Each week, 41% of U.S. persons 18-49 are not reached by live and time-shifted TV.
U.S. AM/FM radio reaches way more persons 18-49 than live and time-shifted television.
TV reach among persons 18-49 has dropped -28% and time spent viewing eroded -56%
Since 2018, Nielsen’s Total Audience Report reveals the 18-49 weekly reach of live and time-shifted TV has dropped -28%. Over the same period, TV’s daily time spent is down -56%, an hour and a half loss.
Cord cutting is a major driver of TV’s audience collapse
The MRI Simmons January 2023 “How Americans Watch TV” report reveals 51% have cut the cord. Another 10% are “cord tepid,” meaning they have cut back on their cable TV package or are contemplating “cord shaving.” Only 38% of Americans are “cord content.”
Streaming is now TV: Americans say streaming has replaced traditional TV
A Hub Entertainment study finds a major shift has occurred in the American mindset about streaming. Once thought of as an “add on” to regular TV, streaming is increasingly seen as America’s primary television platform.
From 2016 to 2022, those who said streaming was “the first thing you turn on when you watch” doubled from 20% to 39%. The proportion who said the first thing they turned on is “live from pay TV” dropped from 48% to 28%.
While a huge number of Americans have abandoned traditional TV for streaming, AM/FM radio remains the dominant audio platform
According to Edison Research’s Q4 2022 “Share of Ear,” AM/FM radio has a massive 73% share of U.S. ad-supported audio. AM/FM radio audience shares are over 15 times larger than ad-supported Pandora and 18 times larger than ad-supported Spotify.
Key findings:
- AM/FM radio’s persons 18-49 average audience beats live and time-shifted TV by +3%, a historic first
- TV reach among persons 18-49 has dropped -28% and time spent viewing eroded -56%
- Linear TV audience erosion is fueled by cord cutting and streaming
- AM/FM radio has a dominant 73% share of ad-supported audio
- AM/FM radio audience shares are 15 times larger than ad-supported Pandora and 18 times larger than ad-supported Spotify