Key Statistics at a Glance
82%
Weekly AM/FM Reach (12+)
Pew / Edison, 2022
73%
In-Car AM/FM Monthly Reach
Edison Infinite Dial, 2026
81%
Online Audio Monthly Reach
Edison Infinite Dial, 2026
4,310
Licensed AM Stations (and falling)
FCC, Q1 2026
AM/FM Radio vs. Online Audio — Monthly Reach (% of Americans 12+)
Sources: Edison Research Infinite Dial (2016-2026), Pew Research Center
The crossover: In 2026, online audio monthly reach (81%) surpassed traditional AM/FM weekly reach for the first time. However, AM/FM radio still dominates in-car listening at 73%, and remains the single largest ad-supported audio platform.
In-Car Audio Listening
The car remains radio's stronghold. Among Americans who drove or rode in a car in the past month:
In-Car Audio Sources — Monthly Reach (2026)
Source: Edison Research Infinite Dial 2026
In-car share of all AM/FM tuning has grown from 42% in 2015 to 53% in 2025. As home and office listening declines, the car has become radio's most important venue. AM/FM holds an 83% share of ad-supported in-car audio. (Edison Share of Ear, Q4 2025)
Listenership by Age Group
In-Car AM/FM Radio Listening by Age (Monthly, 2026)
Source: Edison Research Infinite Dial 2026
The age gap is radio's biggest challenge. 81% of AM/FM in-car listeners are 55+, while only 65% of 18-34 year-olds listen to AM/FM in the car. Among younger listeners, online audio (73%) and podcasts (55%) are rapidly closing the gap.
Share of Ear — Where Americans Spend Listening Time
Edison Research's quarterly "Share of Ear" study measures how Americans divide their total audio listening time across platforms.
Ad-Supported Audio — Share of Listening Time (Q3 2025)
Source: Edison Research Share of Ear, Q3 2025
| Platform | Q4 2024 | Q3 2025 | Trend |
|---|
| AM/FM Radio | 67% | 64% | -3% |
| Podcasts | 18% | 20% | +2% |
| Streaming Audio (ad-supported) | 12% | 13% | +1% |
| Other | 3% | 3% | — |
Scale matters: AM/FM radio is 11x larger than ad-supported Spotify and 13x larger than ad-supported Pandora in total listening time. Despite share declines, radio's absolute audience remains massive. (Edison Research, 2025)
U.S. Radio Station Counts
The FCC publishes quarterly station totals. AM is in accelerating decline while educational FM and translators grow.
AM Radio: A Decade of Decline
Sources: FCC Broadcast Station Totals (2015-2026), Radio Ink, Radio World
| Period | AM Stations | Lost | Annualized Rate |
|---|
| Dec 2015 | 4,684 | — | — |
| Dec 2024 | 4,383 | -301 (9 yrs) | ~33/yr |
| Dec 2025 | 4,342 | -41 | 41/yr |
| Mar 2026 (Q1) | 4,310 | -32 (3 months) | 128/yr pace |
AM decline is accelerating. Q1 2026 lost 32 AM stations in just 3 months — an annualized pace of 128/year, nearly double the 2024 rate of 61/year. And these are just licensed stations. An unknown number are technically licensed but silent (off-air), meaning the true count of AM stations actually broadcasting is likely under 4,000. Rising electricity costs in 2026 are accelerating the squeeze: a 50kW AM transmitter draws 100–150kW from the wall, costing $10K–$20K/month. (FCC Q1 2026; Radio Ink)
Licensed U.S. Radio Stations by Type
Sources: FCC Broadcast Station Totals, dxtra.com FCC database (April 2026)
| Station Type | Dec 2015 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2025 | Trend |
|---|
| AM | 4,684 | 4,383 | 4,342 | -7% |
| FM Commercial | 6,701 | 6,625 | 6,589 | -2% |
| FM Educational (NCE) | 4,095 | 4,477 | 4,755 | +16% |
| FM Translators / Boosters | ~6,567 | 8,873 | 8,867 | +35% |
| LPFM (Low-Power FM) | 1,433 | 1,968 | 1,994 | +39% |
Note: dxtra.com maintains a live database of 4,338 AM and 22,142 FM stations (including translators and LPFM) sourced from FCC bulk data. Commercial vs. educational FM split estimated using the FCC reserved band (88.1–91.9 MHz).
FM translators now outnumber commercial FM stations. At 8,867, FM translators and boosters are the largest single category of radio stations in the U.S., surpassing full-power commercial FM (6,589). Many are fill-in translators for AM stations using the AM Revitalization Act — ironically keeping AM licenses alive while the audience listens on FM. Educational FM grew 16% in a decade, driven by religious and community broadcasters. (FCC, Radio World)
What Is an FM Translator?
An FM translator is a low-power relay station that rebroadcasts the signal of an existing AM or FM station on a different frequency. Think of it as a repeater — it picks up a station's signal and retransmits it to fill gaps where the original signal can't reach due to terrain, distance, or interference.
250W
Maximum translator power (ERP)
FCC Part 74, Subpart L
8,867
Active FM translators in the U.S.
FCC, Dec 2025
Two Types of Translators
| Type | Purpose | Who Can Own It? |
|---|
| Fill-In |
Covers gaps within the primary station's existing service area — a valley blocked by a hill, a downtown canyon, a dead spot. The translator's coverage must stay inside the primary station's protected contour. |
The primary station itself, or an independent third party |
| Non-Fill-In |
Extends coverage beyond the primary station's service area into new territory. Brings a station to a community that otherwise couldn't receive it. |
Generally must be independently owned (not the commercial station itself). Requires written permission from the primary station to rebroadcast its programming. |
The AM Revitalization Connection
The FCC's AM Revitalization Act (2015) allowed AM stations to acquire FM translators and simulcast their AM programming on the FM band. This was a lifeline for struggling AM stations — listeners could tune in on a clear FM signal instead of the noisy, static-prone AM band. The FCC opened special filing windows where AM licensees could acquire existing translators from up to 250 miles away and relocate them within 25 miles of their AM transmitter.
The unintended consequence: Thousands of AM stations now survive primarily because their audience listens on the FM translator, not the AM signal. The AM license stays active on paper, but the AM transmitter is increasingly a formality. In many cases, if the translator were taken away, the AM station would go dark. As of December 2025, AM broadcasters are
petitioning the FCC to reopen the translator acquisition window, citing the need for even more FM lifelines.
Can You Buy or Rent a Translator?
Yes, with rules. FM translators are licensed by the FCC and can be bought, sold, and transferred like any broadcast license. An independent party can own a translator and lease airtime or rebroadcast rights to a primary station. However:
- Commercial stations generally cannot own non-fill-in translators (to prevent spectrum hoarding), though waivers are often granted for unserved areas
- Non-commercial and religious organizations are the biggest owners of translator networks — some operate hundreds of translators spanning entire states
- Any translator rebroadcasting a station's programming must have written permission from that station
- Translator licenses are auctioned by the FCC when new frequencies become available, or bought on the secondary market from existing licensees
What Does a Translator Cost?
FM translators are bought and sold on the open market like real estate. What you're buying is the FCC license — the right to transmit on a specific frequency at a specific location. The physical equipment (transmitter, antenna, feedline) is typically worth $5K–$15K; the license is where the real value lies.
| Market Size | Typical Price Range | Notes |
|---|
| Small / Rural | $25K – $100K | Smaller coverage area, fewer potential listeners |
| Mid-Market | $100K – $200K | Regional cities, established coverage |
| Major Market | $200K – $430K+ | Top-50 metros (Orlando, LA, NYC suburbs) |
| Construction Permit (new) | $10K – $50K+ | FCC auction price; you build the site yourself |
To transfer a translator license, both buyer and seller must file FCC Form 345 and receive Commission approval. The process typically takes 30–90 days.
Where to Find Translators for Sale
The biggest players: Religious broadcasting networks dominate the translator market. Educational Media Foundation (EMF), which operates K-LOVE and Air1, owns over 800 FM translators nationwide — more than any other single entity. These networks snap up translators at auction and on the secondary market to extend their reach across rural America. For an individual buyer, the sweet spot is small-market translators in the $25K–$75K range, often bundled with a struggling AM station.
Sources: FCC — FM Translators and Boosters · Radio World — Overview of FM Translator Rules · Inside Radio — Deal Digest
Industry Revenue
Radio advertising revenue peaked before the pandemic and has not fully recovered.
U.S. Radio Advertising Revenue (Estimated, Billions $)
Sources: S&P Global Market Intelligence, Radio Ink, industry estimates
The revenue picture: Radio ad revenue dropped 24% in 2020 (from ~$14B to ~$10B) and recovered to ~$11.9B by 2024 — still roughly $2 billion below pre-pandemic levels. Analysts project continued decline to ~$10B by 2029 as dollars shift to streaming and podcasts. (S&P Global, 2024)
The Podcast Challenge
Podcast Monthly Reach — Americans 12+ (%)
Source: Edison Research Infinite Dial (2015-2026)
| Metric | AM/FM Radio | Podcasts |
|---|
| Monthly reach (12+), 2026 | ~82% | 58% |
| Monthly listeners, 2026 | ~236M | 167M |
| 18-34 in-car monthly, 2026 | 65% | 55% |
| Ad-supported share of ear, Q3 2025 | 64% | 20% |
| 5-year trend | Declining | Growing |
Sources & Methodology
This report is a composite analysis compiled by dxtra.com from publicly available data. We do not conduct primary research. All data is attributed to its original source.
- Edison Research — The Infinite Dial 2026 (March 2026): Annual survey of 2,000 Americans 12+. Measures media usage, audio listening, and technology adoption. edisonresearch.com
- Edison Research — Share of Ear (Quarterly): Audio listening diary survey of 4,000 Americans annually. Measures daily reach and time spent across all audio formats. edisonresearch.com
- Pew Research Center — Audio & Podcasting Fact Sheet (Sept 2025): Analysis of radio and podcast audience trends using Edison, Nielsen, and FCC data. pewresearch.org
- FCC — Broadcast Station Totals (Quarterly): Official count of licensed AM, FM, and TV stations. fcc.gov
- S&P Global Market Intelligence: Radio/TV industry revenue estimates and forecasts. Cited via Radio Ink and Radio World reporting.
This page is updated when new data becomes available from the above sources. Charts are generated from published data points; where exact figures were unavailable for intermediate years, values are interpolated and noted.