Tops of 2013: Audio

As the year draws to a close it’s time to reflect on the format preferences of radio listeners in the U.S., where more than 90 percent of Americans use the medium on a weekly basis.

In 2013 we have seen Country grow among younger listeners and set all-time highs for audience shares across the 48 Nielsen portable people meter (PPM) markets; Pop Contemporary Hit Radio (Pop CHR) matured by increasing its listening share in the 25-54 demographic; spoken word (News/Talk and Sports) made a big rebound during the fall; and both Urban Contemporary and Hot Adult Contemporary had banner years—among their best ever.

Below is a look at the listening landscape of the top 10 radio formats of 2013, based on Nielsen’s PPM markets.

Top 10 Audio Formats of 2013

Rank	Format	P6+ SHARE
1.	News Talk Information	9.3%
2.	Pop Contemporary Hit Radio	8.2%
3.	Country	7.8%
4.	Adult Contemporary	7.7%
5.	Hot Adult Contemporary	5.5%
6.	Classic Hits	5.3%
7.	Urban Adult Contemporary	5.0%
8.	All Sports	4.3%
9.	Classic Rock	4.3%
10.	Mexican Regional	3.9%
Source: Nielsen. Data from Jan-Nov 2013. Persons 6+ AQH across all 48 PPM markets, Mon-Sun 6 a.m.-12 midnight. Read as: Year-to-date (through Nov 2013), 9.3 percent of U.S. radio listeners aged 6+ were tuned to a news/talk/information station during any 15-minute period during the day.

Top 10 Audio Formats of 2013 (Persons 18-34)

Rank	Format	P18-34 SHARE
1.	Pop Contemporary Hit Radio	12.4%
2.	Country	9.1%
3.	Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio	7.3%
4.	Adult Contemporary	6.3%
5.	Hot Adult Contemporary	6.1%
6.	Mexican Regional	5.6%
7.	Urban Contemporary	5.3%
8.	Alternative	5.0%
9.	News Talk Information	3.7%
10.	Classic Rock	3.6%
Source: Nielsen. Data from Jan-Nov 2013. Persons 18-34+ AQH across all 48 PPM markets, Mon-Sun 6 a.m.-12 midnight. Read as: Year-to-date (through Nov 2013), 12.4 percent of U.S. radio listeners aged 18-34 were tuned to a pop contemporary station during any 15-minute period during the day.

Top 10 Audio Formats of 2013 (Persons 25-54)

Rank	Format	P25-54 SHARE
1.	Pop Contemporary Hit Radio	8.7%
2.	Adult Contemporary	7.5%
3.	Country	7.5%
4.	News Talk Information	6.8%
5.	Hot Adult Contemporary	6.1%
6.	Urban Adult Contemporary	4.9%
7.	All Sports	4.9%
8.	Mexican Regional	4.7%
9.	Classic Rock	4.7%
10.	Classic Hits	4.6%
Source: Nielsen. Data from Jan-Nov 2013. Persons 25-54 AQH across all 48 PPM markets, Mon-Sun 6 a.m.-12 midnight. Read as: Year-to-date (through Nov 2013), 8.7 percent of U.S. radio listeners aged 25-54 were tuned to a pop contemporary station during any 15-minute period during the day.