Radio Broadcasting & Programming Industry Profile

Companies in this industry operate radio broadcast studios and transmit music, talk shows, news, and other audio entertainment formats to the public. Major US-based companies include iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media, and SiriusXM; leading companies based outside the US include the BBC (the UK), NRJ Group (France), and PRISA (Spain).

The global radio broadcasting market is expected to grow about $115 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%, according to Industry Arc. The US has the highest number of radio stations (around 15,000 firms), according to Statista.

The US radio broadcasting and programming industry includes about 5,500 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $20 billion.

The industry includes radio networks and stations, but not companies that broadcast only on the internet or that primarily produce taped radio programs.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Business advertising and consumer demographics drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on advertisement volume, programming mix, and efficient operations. Large companies have economies of scale in sales operations and in contracting for programming. Small companies can compete effectively with special programming or broadcasters who attract large audiences. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for more than 80% of revenue.

Radio broadcast companies compete with other media, including broadcast and cable TV, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising, and the internet, for advertiser dollars. They also compete ...