Lyla Lindsey
Despite the global shift towards online media, radio remains popular in Australia. In 2022, radio was the leading choice of audio in the country, with 16 million listeners, or around half of the population. The same year, Australia overtook the US as one of the most advanced podcast markets in the world. In 2024, commercial radio posted record numbers, with a record share of 75.9% of radio listening—the highest in over 20 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of radio listeners in Australia | 13 million (commercial radio listeners), 5 million (community radio listeners) |
| Percentage of Australians listening to the radio in the past seven days | 69% |
| Percentage of Australians listening to FM radio in the past seven days | 56% |
| Percentage of Australians listening to radio via AM, FM, DAB+, live streaming or catch-up podcasts over the last week | 80% |
| Percentage of Australians listening to online audio each week | 71% |
| Average time spent listening to online audio per week | 13 hours and 31 minutes |
| Percentage of Australians listening to the radio in the car in the last month | 80% |
| Percentage of Australians listening to podcasts in the car | 33% |
| Percentage of Australians listening to podcasts in the last month | 40% |
| Percentage of Australians listening to podcasts weekly | 26-28% |
| Average time spent listening to podcasts per week | 7 hours and 6 minutes |
| Most common reasons for listening to the radio | Local news and information, music that isn't available on other stations, support for local artists |
| Age group of most Australian radio listeners | 25-39 years |
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What You'll Learn
Radio is the most popular form of audio in Australia
Radio is a popular form of media in Australia, with around half of the country's population, or 16 million people, listening to the radio. Radio has been a part of Australian culture for over a century, with the government setting up the first radio system to bypass opposition-controlled newspapers.
Despite the rise of online media, radio remains a resilient industry in Australia. It is still the top audio source in cars, with 80% of Australians tuning in during the last month. The popularity of podcasts in Australia has also grown, with 40% of the population listening to podcasts in the last month and an average weekly listening time of seven hours and six minutes. However, radio continues to be the leading choice of audio both at home and in the car.
The Australian radio industry has seen an increase in digital audio growth, with radio station smartphone apps becoming the top source for listening to radio online. Additionally, the number of smart speaker owners is increasing, with 28% of the population owning a smart speaker.
Commercial radio in Australia has posted record numbers, with a record share of 75.9% of radio listening, the highest in over two decades. This suggests that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has its lowest share in over two decades.
The history of Australian radio broadcasting has been influenced by the introduction of television and the replacement of radio valves with transistors. Talkback radio became a major genre in the 1960s, and FM broadcasting was introduced in 1974, leading to a significant increase in new broadcasting licenses.
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Radio is the top audio source in cars
Radio continues to be the most popular form of audio in Australia, with around half of the country's population, or 16 million people, listening to the radio. Radio is also the top audio source in cars, with 80% of Australians tuning in over the last month. This is compared to the growing popularity of podcasts, with nearly one in three people listening to a podcast in their car.
The popularity of radio in Australia is perhaps due to the unique history of broadcasting in the country. Australia developed its own broadcasting system, shaped by the challenge of communication across long distances, and a preference for aural communication. The Australian government set up the first radio system, and the Labor Party was especially interested in its potential to bypass opposition-controlled newspapers.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the introduction of television and the transistor threatened radio's dominance. However, radio has proven resilient in the face of competition, and in 2022, commercial radio posted record numbers, with a 75.9% share of radio listening, the highest in over 20 years.
The rise of digital audio in Australia has also contributed to the continued popularity of radio. Radio station smartphone apps have overtaken station websites as the top source for listening to radio online, and the number of Australians owning smart speakers is increasing. Additionally, the roll-out of digital broadcast radio services since 2009 has provided Australians with more ways to access radio content.
While radio remains the top audio source in cars, the rise of podcasting is significant. Australia has overtaken the US as one of the most advanced podcast markets globally, with 40% of Australians listening to a podcast in the last month. The average time spent listening to podcasts has also increased, with listeners engaging deeply with podcast content.
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Australians are increasingly listening to podcasts
Radio continues to be the most popular form of audio in Australia, with around half of the country's population, or 16 million people, tuning in. However, Australians are increasingly listening to podcasts, with the country overtaking the US as one of the most advanced podcast markets globally. In 2022, the number of people who listened to a podcast in Australia in the last month grew to 40%, up from 37% the previous year. Weekly podcast listening also increased from 26% to 33%, with one in ten Australians aged 12 and over listening to a podcast every day. This trend has continued into 2023, with Australian podcast listenership climbing to 43%, the highest ever recorded. This puts Australia ahead of the US in terms of podcast consumption, with Australians now being the world's most avid podcast listeners.
The growth in podcast listening in Australia is driven by several factors, including the increasing ownership of smart speakers, connected cars, and the use of radio station apps. The popularity of podcasts from broadcast radio, as well as the strength and breadth of Australian content, has also contributed to this trend. Generation Z and Millennials comprise about 70% of the podcast market in Australia, with Generation Z being the largest group of podcast downloaders. However, the fastest growth is within Generation Alpha, with listeners from this generation more than doubling in the last year.
When it comes to podcast platforms, Spotify is the most popular choice among Australians, followed by YouTube and Apple Podcasts. News podcasts are particularly popular in Australia, with Australians being the third most likely in the world to access news podcasts. Podcasts such as "Please Explain" from The Sydney Morning Herald and ABC Australia's "AM" and "PM" podcasts are becoming an integral part of the country's news landscape.
While radio remains the top audio source in cars, with 80% of Australians listening in the last month, nearly one in three people have also listened to a podcast in their car. The average time spent listening to podcasts has surged, with Australians listening to an average of seven hours and six minutes of podcasts per week in 2022, up from five hours in 2021. This level of engagement presents opportunities for news outlets, content creators, and advertisers to reach a captive audience.
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Radio news is not the first source for Australians
Radio continues to be the most popular form of audio in Australia, with around half of the country's population, or 16 million people, listening to the radio. It is also the top audio source in cars, with 80% listening in the last month. However, radio news is not the first source of news for Australians. Only about a quarter of Australians use radio as a news source, with older generations preferring to get their news from TV and online sources.
The rise of digital audio in Australia is booming, with podcast listeners surging to an average of seven hours and six minutes per week, up from five hours in 2021. Australia has overtaken the US as one of the most advanced podcast markets in the world, with 40% of Australians listening to a podcast in the last month compared to 38% in the US. The number of weekly podcast listeners in Australia remains steady at 26%.
The popularity of podcasts in Australia can be attributed to factors such as the increasing ownership of smart speakers, connected cars, and the use of radio station apps. Radio station smartphone apps have overtaken station websites as the top source for listening to radio online, with half of online listeners using an app. Additionally, 24% of Australians use smart speakers to listen to the radio, and this number is expected to grow to reach US levels of 35% penetration.
While radio remains popular in Australia, the competition from podcasts and other digital audio sources is significant. The Australian radio industry has shown resilience in the face of this competition, but it is essential to adapt to the changing preferences of listeners and the increasing adoption of digital technologies.
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Australia's history of broadcasting
The history of radio broadcasting in Australia can be traced back to the early 1900s, with the first officially recognised experimental broadcast taking place in 1905. However, there are reports of earlier demonstrations of wireless communication in Australia as early as 1897, conducted by Professor William Henry Bragg of the University of Adelaide, in conjunction with G. W. Selby of Melbourne. The 1905 Wireless Telegraphy Act brought all broadcasting matters in Australia under the control of the Federal Government.
In the 1920s, radio usage in Australia experienced explosive growth. The number of licensed listeners increased from 1,200 to over 300,000 within five years, and by the end of the decade, 20% of Australian households were tuned in. The first radio "broadcast" in Australia was organised by Ernest Thomas Fisk of AWA on 19 August 1919, when he arranged for the National Anthem to be broadcast from one building to another. The first radio licence in Australia was granted to Charles Maclurcan for station 2CM in Sydney, which broadcast classical music concerts on Sunday nights.
The 1930s saw a flourishing of radio broadcasting in Australia, with the number of licensed radio listeners surging to over 1,102,315, accounting for approximately 16% of the country's population. Almost all Australians were within reach of a radio station by the 1930s, and the number of stations remained stable through the post-war era. The Australian Broadcasting Commission, a government agency separate from political interference, was established in 1932. The first commercial broadcasters, known as "B" class stations, were on the air as early as 1925.
In the 1970s, the Labor government under Prime Minister Gough Whitlam initiated a broadcasting renaissance, leading to 50 different radio services available by the 1990s catering to diverse groups based on tastes, languages, religion, or geography. The broadcasting system was largely deregulated in 1992, with restrictions only on foreign ownership and monopolistic control.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, radio is still popular in Australia. In 2022, radio was the leading choice of audio both at home and in the car. A survey estimated that around half of Australia's population (16 million people) listen to the radio.
Radio is popular in Australia due to several reasons. One of the main reasons is the ability to access it through mobile devices, with 50% of listeners using a radio station smartphone app. Additionally, radio caters to the needs of local audiences by offering local news and information, playing Australian music, and supporting local artists.
The future outlook for radio in Australia seems positive. Australia is one of the world's leading podcast markets, and the growth of digital audio is expected to continue with increasing smart speaker ownership, connected cars, and radio station apps. Additionally, commercial radio posted record numbers in 2024, indicating a strong performance in the industry.
