• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, September 27, 2013

According to the Arbitron highlights from its National Radio Listening Report, radio’s audience increased year over year, adding more than 500,000 weekly listeners. Radio now reaches 242.2 million listeners, or 92% of persons, age 12 and older, on an average weekly basis.

And, daily time spent listening to radio among persons age 12 and older held steady at approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes a day with the medium.

Over the last year, radio continues grow its audience, adding a half million more listeners on a weekly basis, according to a 5 year trend based on the latest September 2013 RADAR report.

Overall Radio Audience Weekly (U.S. age 12+)
Measured	Sep 9	Sep 10	Sep 11	Sep 12	Sep 13
Weekly CUME (000)	235,172	239,711	241,362	241,611	242,150
Source: Arbitron, September 2013 (All Radio Listening, Mon-Sun 6A-12M)

Radio continues to reach a diverse audience base. According to the report, radio saw gains in the Hispanic audience across all major demographic groups versus the September 2012 report, while the Black (non-Hispanic) audience remained steady year over year.

• Radio’s Hispanic audience aged 12 and older added 468,000 weekly listeners versus the September 2012 report. Radio reaches 94% of Hispanic listeners aged 12 and older in an average week
• Young Hispanic teens aged 12 to 17 showed impressive gains versus last year, adding 265,000 weekly listeners. Radio now reaches 5.2 million Hispanic teens in an average week
• Radio now reaches nearly 31 million Black (non-Hispanic) listeners, age 12 and older, in an average week, or 92% of this demographic
• Radio’s Black (non-Hispanic) weekly teen audience aged 12 to 17 remained steady at 90%, versus the 2012 report

The sample size for the RADAR September 2013 is 395,897 persons aged 12 and older, designed to provide stability for key demographic estimates, dayparts, and market-by-market analysis reports.

For more information about Arbitron, please visit here.