Who Listens To Radio? Canadian & United States Stats

Radio continues to reach a strong majority of Canadian listeners, according to the latest report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM), diving into time spent with the medium.

Among English speakers, MTM found that traditional radio still dominates, with 70% of anglophones tuning in on at least one platform. More than half listen exclusively via traditional radio, while roughly one in five use both terrestrial and online radio. Just one per cent of respondents said they solely listen to online radio. Among French speakers, 79% tuned in on at least one platform. More than half of Francophones said they listen exclusively to traditional radio, while about a quarter listen to both terrestrial and online, and three per cent exclusively to online radio. Read more @ BROADCASTDIALOGUE.COM

Radio remains a dominant medium in the United States, with over 225 million weekly listeners, representing 9 in 10 adults. Despite the growth of streaming, 87% of listening is via traditional over-the-air signals, particularly in cars, while 13% of listening occurs through digital streams. Weekly reach is highest for adults 50+ but still strong for 18-34 year olds at 79%.

Key Trends in U.S. Radio Listening
Top Reach Medium: Radio holds the #1 spot for reach among adults 50–64 and 65+, and second for adults 18–34.
Dominant in Vehicles: Over 60% of time spent with audio in vehicles goes to AM/FM radio.
Away-from-Home Listening: Approximately 65% of weekly listening occurs away from home, rising to 69% during the workday.
Peak Hours: Listening peaks during the afternoon, specifically between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., in addition to morning drives.
Streaming Usage: 13% of all AM/FM radio listening is done via digital streams (smartphones, computers, smart speakers).

Commonly Accessed Platforms
Radio USA (Google Play): Offers over 10,000 live U.S. radio stations.
TuneIn (TuneIn): Provides access to live sports, news, and music.
radio.net (radio.net): Features a top-100 list of U.S. stations.
Audials (Audials): A popular app for streaming, including Wi-Fi-only options to save data.
Top, frequently accessed, stations and genres in the U.S. include news/talk, sports and various music formats.

SOURCES: Nielsen, Edison Research, Pew Research Center, Cumulus Media / Westwood One (Audio Active Group), iHeartMedia & Audacy.

And, who can forget these radio spots?

Video content compiled by Cord Schnakenberg