• by April 22, 2002

National Radio revenue figures rose another 1% in February, while local dollars fell 6%, due primarily to the lack of TV sweeps advertising in this Olympic year, according to the latest release from the Radio Advertising Bureau. The combined total for the month was off 5% when compared to February of last year.

On a year-to-date basis, the national sales figures also grew 1%, while local dropped 3% during the first two months of 2002. The combined total was off 2%.

“Radio has a broad range of advertising categories which has sustained the medium through the recent turbulent economy,” said Gary Fries, President and CEO of the RAB. “Radio revenues are strengthening each month, and as we look forward, the industry is poised for a steady growth recovery.”

To put the intermediate and long-term growth of the Radio industry into proper perspective, RAB introduced a Sales Index that equates base year 1998 to 100. The Index works similar to the Consumer Price Index so that information can be monitored on a monthly basis.

The Local Sales Index for February was 130.2, while the National Index was 132.7 and the Combined Total was 130.6. On a year-to-date basis, the Local Sales Index was 131.8; National was 129.8 and the Combined Total was 131.5.

These monthly totals are based on the RAB Radio Revenue Index of more than 100 markets. The accounting firm of Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., and other certified public accounting firms, provide the local and national revenue data on the more than 100 markets RAB uses to calculate its Revenue Index.