OC Talk Radio-Demographics

Demographics

Despite all the economic uncertainty, Internet Radio continues to grow exponentially.

When you factor in the amount of people who are now listening to internet radio on their cell phones, IPads and other devices, there really couldn’t be a better time to stake a place in this burgeoning market.

------ According to updated projections from SNL Kagan, radio online revenues are expected to grow by double digits in 2011

to $441 million by year-end, up 12% from $394 million annually in 2010.

------ An incredible 60 million Americans per month listen to Internet radio: Bridge Ratings & Research LLC.

------ 20.61 million of them will use their mobile phone to listen to audio streaming in 2011: Bridge Ratings & Research LLC.

Streaming Radio Will Overtake Regular Service

New York, NY ---February, 2010

The handwriting is on the wall. According to growth charts for Internet Radio recently released by Bridge Ratings and Research, Internet Radio is quickly closing the gap between the size of it's online audience and that of traditional, "terrestrial" radio.

In any typical week, 60 million Americans listen to some form of Internet radio according to a new study from Bridge Ratings. They surveyed listeners throughout this past December and January, finding that of those who listen to Internet radio, 84% regularly listen to AM/FM simulcasts while 62% regularly listen to Internet-only streams.

The study predicts more listeners overall for Internet radio in coming years, with Internet-only streams picking up a greater share of those listeners. Specifically, 77 million Americans will listen to Internet radio weekly by 2015. Of that group, 72% will regularly listen to Internet-only audio, Bridge Ratings predicts, while 81% will regularly listen to AM/FM simulcasts. That last number represents a decrease from Bridge’s current findings. The study predicts AM/FM simulcasts’ listenership may peak in 2012, then start declining.

Bridge Ratings’ has much more on their findings here.

Online Radio Audience Doubles

New York, NY --- April 8, 20009

The economy be damned. Online radio is still going strong, according to "Infinite Dial 2009," Arbitron's latest overview of the medium, due out later this week. The news follows a series of deals confirming that whatever happens in the economy at large, online radio is rapidly carving out a niche for itself in the digital landscape.

And it's a sizeable niche. 42 million Americans over the age of 12 listen to Internet Radio during an average week, more than double the 2005 figure of 20 million, and up 27% from 33 million in 2008.

That means online radio currently reaches about 17% of Americans over the age of 12, up from about 8% in 2005 and 13% in 2008. These figures are based on data collected and analyzed by Arbitron and Edison Research.

Recent months have also seen more deals in the online radio arena, as ad networks strive to build reach and improve measurement and accountability for advertisers.

This week, Katz Online Network and Ando Media renewed and expanded their deal for measurement of radio audience. Under the terms of the new deal, data from Ando's measurement platform will be made available, in real time, to all national sales agents who work in digital radio. Overall, the Katz Online Network delivers more than 4 million listeners per week, or 10% of the total online radio audience according to the figures from Arbitron and Edison Research.

In October, Targetspot, another big online radio ad network, acquired Ronning Lipset Radio, creating a combined network of over 1,000 online radio stations, including the Web portals of traditional radio stations. At the time, the network reached more than 6 million listeners a week. Among the merged network's partners are CBS Radio, Yahoo, AOL and Live 365.

These are welcome signs of life amid a steep economic downturn; still, online advertising contributes only a small portion of radio's total revenues. In 2008, off-air revenues including online totaled $1.79 billion, or just 9% of radio's total $19.48 billion. Even worse, the rate of growth in off-air revenues slowed dramatically over the course of the year, with 15% growth in the first quarter dropping to 10% in the second, 5% in the third and 1% in the fourth.

This tally is especially troubling because many traditional radio broadcasters are counting on growing Internet ad revenues to offset declines on the broadcast side. Through March, total radio revenues have declined for 22 months straight.

Courtesy of MEDIA POST.COM.

Digital Radio Sector Continues to Grow

New York, NY --- February 19, 2010

"Key Radio categories such as Automotive, Grocery, and Financial Services all posted increases in Q4 spending," states Jeff Haley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Radio Advertising Bureau.

"At the same time, advertisers' increasing interest in Radio's Digital capabilities generated the biggest gain of any quarter since we began breaking this segment out separately – up 15%."

Digital

Radio's digital platform continues to provide listeners more choice – delivering additional sources of messaging opportunities for advertisers. Reflective of Radio’s online capabilities and offerings, the digital sector has maintained its upward trajectory throughout 2009.

Marketers increasingly recognize Radio's loyal audiences who tune in via multiple audio devices such iPods, HD, mobile apps, etc. Radio's opt-in communities, ability to drive website traffic and branded online opportunities provide additional revenue builders for the industry.

Internet RadioGrows, Terrestrial Holds Steady

CHARLESTON, SC - April 9, 2009

A new survey from American Media Services finds that the popularity of Internet-only radio is growing, with 27 percent of Americans saying they've listened to 'Net-only radio from a website. The figure is higher for 18-24s -- 47 percent -- and for those under 50, at 34 percent.

But, says AMS, regular radio is maintaining its audience. 73% of those surveyed said they are listening to radio about the same amount or more than than they did five years ago.

"Our latest survey shows the continued vibrancy of radio," says AMS Chairman Edward Seeger. "Online radio is an increasingly important medium. Regular radio is holding its own. The two media offer choices that are compatiblend complementary of each other."

The survey also found that more than half of American homes have WiFi, up from 37 percent in the September 2008 survey to 48 percent in the latest study. And Americans want to take the 'Net on the road, with 46 percent saying they'd like to have Internet service in their cars, up from 37 percent in September '08.

Among those who have listened to Internet radio, 46 percent expect to be able to listen to it in their cars in the future, and 74 percent say they would listen to 'Net-only radio more if their vehicles had an Internet hookup. And even those who have never listened to Internet-only radio like the idea of hearing it in the car: Forty-eight percent said they would be prompted to listen if they had an Internet connection in their vehicles.

Most of those surveyed, unsurprisingly, like their Internet-only radio free. But 23 percent said they would be willing to pay $8 or less a month for commercial-free listening.

The poll of 1,005 adults was conducted for AMS by Omnitel over the weekend of March 27-29, and is accurate to within plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Courtesy of RADIO INK.