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. |
https://www.qa.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2013/tops-of-2013-audio/
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