Country Named Top Radio Format In Nielsen Study

In a new Nielsen report, titled State Of The Media: Audio Today 2014 How America Listens February 2014, the study shows that 242 million people listen to radio each week across the U.S. That is nearly 92 percent of everyone age 12 and older.

The study ranked America’s top formats in 2013 by share of total listening, and Country radio came out on top. 14.8 percent of listeners tune in to Country radio. Country is followed with News/Talk (11.3 percent), Top 40 (8.0 percent), AC (7.3 percent), and Classic Hits (5.5 percent). A full listing of America’s top formats in 2013 is provided below.

Among the findings are generational and racial statistics. The study found that 74 percent of Generation X listeners work full-time. Meanwhile, Boomers (P 50-64) are the most engaged in radio listening; this demographic listens to the radio more than 14 hours per week. The study also found that more than 94 percent of Hispanics use radio each week, while nearly 92 percent of African Americans use radio every week.

America’s Top Formats In 2013 — Ranked By Share Of Total Listening (%)

1. Country — 14.8
2. News/Talk — 11.3
3. Top 40 — 8.0
4. AC — 7.3
5. Classic Hits — 5.5
6. Classic Rock — 5.2
7. Hot AC — 4.8
8. Urban AC — 4.0
9. Top 40/R — 3.3
10. Sports — 3.1
11. Urban Contemporary — 3.1
12. Contemporary Christian — 3.1
13. Mexican Regional — 2.8
14. Adults Hits/+80S Hits — 2.1
15. Active Rock — 1.9
16. Alternative — 1.9
17. All News — 1.5
18. Classical — 1.4
19. Oldies — 1.4
20. Spanish Contemporary — 1.4