Nielsen: News/Talk 2016's Top Radio Format

With 2016 being a presidential election year, Nielsen reports News/Talk format topped the list as the number one ranked format among persons aged 6 and older. The format continues to grow every year, and this year was no different. The growth in audience shares rose from 8.9% in 2015 to 9.6% in 2016, the largest increase in shares among the top 10 radio formats.

Pop Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) followed not so far behind. With an 8.1% share, it ranked second as the top radio format for listeners 6-plus. But, for listeners 18-34 and 25-54, CHR tops the list, ranking number one for the third year in a row.

One other format deserves a call out for its performance this year—Classic Rock. Although the format ranked number seven overall this year, it was named the “radio format of the summer,” overthrowing Classic Hits, which had won that title in the two previous years.