Columbia, MD - Sep 15, 2009 - According to the Radar 102 National Radio Listening Report that will be released on Sept. 21, radio reaches more than 235 million persons age 12 and older over the course of a typical week. Since the December 2007 Radar 95 report, the Radar national radio listening estimates and network radio audience reports have been based on PPM respondents from within commercialized PPM markets and on diary respondents from the balance of the United States. The combination of PPM and diary respondents have shown more listeners to radio over the course of a week versus the 2007 Radar listening reports, which were based on diary respondents alone.

Listening to Radar Network Affiliate stations has also risen year over year. In a typical week, more than 214 million persons age 12 and older tune to the more than 7,700 Radar Network Affiliated stations, up from 210 million listeners one year ago in Radar 98.

The report also says that radio reaches 92 percent of persons 12+ each week, despite the adoption of MP3 players and the growth of Internet-only stations. Even 90 percent of the youngest radio audience, teens ages 12-17, most accustomed to using new technologies and forms of media, continue to tune in each week. Network radio also reaches nearly 85 percent of the ad-elusive and media multitasker adults 18-34.

The diversity of formats in radio attracts advertiser-coveted demographics in Black Non-Hispanic and Hispanic persons.