Radio has much to feel good about. Time Spent Listening is showing slight growth. A third of all audio consumption is owned by Radio (OTA and Streaming). That’s greater than all other audio sources. However, that 33% was 53% in 2014. Where and how the audience listens is also changing. Listening to radio via streaming was only 5% in 2014. That’s grown to 14% in Q1 2026.

Radio is present on demand via podcasts or on digital devices that store content. SiriusXM Satellite has been around for several decades now. There are many music channels on television and via cable distribution. Despite the acknowledged erosion of time spent listening, radio’s reach remains dominant among modern media.

The first: I spoke to state broadcast groups from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky at the Tri-State Radio Show in Covington, KY, on “The Advantages of Locally Owned Radio Stations.” The second: a response to a Radio Ink column I authored about format changes and unrealistic expectations of broadcasters. Together, they fed the creation of this week’s column.