All News Radio is surging in popularity amid AI disinformation, cable punditry, and audience fragmentation, with Audacy’s stations up 11% year-over-year—even in a presidential election year—and trusted by listeners as the #1 most credible, unbiased source for local news, according to an Insight piece from Audacy.
Key Growth Highlights
- New York’s 1010 WINS leads with a 22% reach increase, hitting over 2 million weekly listeners—its largest September audience since pre-Covid—as residents seek straight-shooting coverage of the mayoral race.
- San Francisco’s KCBS-AM climbs 17%, drawing listeners to local stories on housing, climate, and transit.
- Audacy dominates with #1 All News stations in major markets: WINS (NYC, since 1965), KYW (Philadelphia, 1965), WBBM (Chicago, 1967), KNX (Los Angeles, 1968), KCBS (San Francisco, 1968), WWJ (Detroit, 1971), and KRLD (Dallas, 2010).
Shifting Consumer Behavior
- Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households are cord-cutters or cord-nevers, making trusted local news harder to access.
- Distrust in social media drives a 16% drop in Americans getting news “often” from platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X.
- Instead, consumers turn to radio for facts over filters.
Listener Trust Metrics (Audacy Research)
- Radio ranks as the #1 most trusted news source.
- 9 in 10 listeners rely on local radio for breaking news—more than any other platform.
- 77% find ads on news radio trustworthy.
Advertiser Opportunity
- All News Radio delivers a brand-safe, unbiased environment reaching an affluent, educated audience,,,
- Over half earn $250,000+ annually; one-quarter have $1M+ net worth.
- 26% more likely to be college graduates.
- +15% in management; +12% in business/financial operations.
- Ads drive results: +20% lift in website traffic, with credibility extending to brands.
The Bottom Line: In a noisy, uncertain media landscape, All News Radio offers growing, high-value listeners who hear, believe, and act on messages.