Radio Industry Revenues Flat In 2011, While Online Revenues Jump 15.1%

In the first edition of its quarterly “Investing In Radio Market Report,” BIA/Kelsey reports over-the-air local radio station revenues in 2011 reached $14.1 billion, a 0.4 percent increase from the year before. Radio’s online revenues increased 15.1 percent in 2011, reaching $439 million.

In 2012, BIA/Kelsey anticipates online revenues will continue to grow at a fast pace, becoming an important portion of station income. The firm expects overall radio industry revenues to reach $14.6 billion in 2012, a 3.5 percent rise over last year, bolstered by the national election. Online radio ad revenues will grow from $505 in 2012 to $767 million in 2016.

“Although radio’s revenue ascent has been slow since its bottoming in 2009, the industry always picks up steam in an election year and is continuing to prove itself as a valuable local advertising medium, particularly as the integration between over-the-air and online improves,” said Mark Fratrik, vice president and chief economist, BIA/Kelsey. “News stations, in particular, continue to be leaders in many markets by creating comprehensive over-the-air and digital portfolios of ad products and formats to drive deeper advertiser engagement and prove their value in the ad buying mix.”

Source: BIA/Kelsey