Here are the latest media news highlights affecting U.S. radio broadcasting as of January 9, 2026. The industry is navigating a mix of evolving listener habits, digital growth, advertising opportunities, and ongoing technological integration amid a competitive audio landscape.
Shifting Listener Habits: Radio's "New Normal"...A key trend emerging in early 2026 is the continued evolution of where Americans consume audio. Recent data shows that 55% of U.S. audio listening now occurs in the home, even as commuting patterns recover post-pandemic. This shift highlights radio's resilience in non-car environments, with AM/FM maintaining strong presence through home devices, smart speakers, and streaming integrations. This "new normal" underscores opportunities for stations to adapt content for at-home audiences while leveraging traditional strengths in live, local programming.
Advertising and Growth Opportunities: The health club/fitness industry is projected to grow 8% in 2026, with AM/FM radio overindexing in this vertical compared to digital alternatives. This creates year-round ad potential as gyms see seasonal budget spikes in January.
Industry forecasts emphasize multiplatform advertising leading the way, driven by live events (sports) and the 2026 midterm elections. Katz Digital President Scott Porretti highlights how advertisers are prioritizing communal, real-time engagement across broadcast, streaming, and digital.Radio's "season of giving" campaigns also neared a record $30 million in donations recently, demonstrating strong local community impact that bolsters advertiser trust.
Industry Leadership and Personnel Changes: David Donovan, president of the New York State Broadcasters Association for 15 years, will step down at the end of 2026. He'll continue government relations work during the transition.
Fates
- Pioneer Steve Hicks, architect of modern radio duopolies through local management agreements, has passed away.
- Radio Hall of Famer Jerry Cesak (Jerry St. James of the "Jeff & Jer Showgram" in San Diego) died at 74 after a long career.
- Analytics leader Radha Subramanyam (former iHeartMedia and CBS exec) passed away at 55 from cancer.
Programming and Syndication Updates
- Conservative commentator Dan Bongino is returning to syndicated radio with a new two-hour show on Westwood One, starting early February (10am–12pm ET).
- Stations like KNCI Sacramento ("New Country 105.1") revamped lineups effective January 12, adding local talent to mornings and afternoons.
- Emerging format experiments, including "Yacht Rock" revivals on select stations, signal efforts to attract younger or niche audiences.
Technology and Innovation Focus
The CES 2026 event is spotlighting tech that could enhance radio operations, such as AI for content creation, cost efficiencies (e.g., automation for facilities), better metadata/graphics for listening experiences, and real-time advertiser metrics. Industry voices stress using AI to complement — not replace — the "human" element in broadcasting.
Regulatory notes include upcoming deadlines for quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, children's programming reports, and webcasting royalties, plus the FCC's ongoing quadrennial review of local ownership rules.
Overall, U.S. radio in 2026 appears focused on digital extension, local trust, and multiplatform resilience to compete in an audio market dominated by streaming and podcasts. While challenges like cord-cutting persist, radio's live/local strengths and ad overperformance in key verticals position it for steady adaptation.
- Streaming Releases: New content drops this week on platforms like Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix, including rom-com adaptations like People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix, Jan. 9) and various movies/TV series rolling out throughout January 2026.
- Advertising and Industry Trends: Forecasts suggest global advertising will boom in 2026 (around 6-7% growth excluding political ads), but traditional TV faces declining market share as budgets shift to digital and performance-driven channels. Hollywood risks being left behind in this transition.
- Broader Media Insights: Ongoing discussions around AI integration in creative workflows, the rise of content creators as major players, and challenges in regional sports highlight a year of transition for entertainment and media.
Headlines:
- Portland’s mayor condemned the shooting of two people by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a traffic stop and called for ICE to leave the city.
- Renee Nicole Good, the woman killed in Minneapolis, was a 37-year-old mother who had moved there to start a new chapter. Here’s what we know about her.
- Minnesota law-enforcement officials said that the FBI blocked them from participating in an investigation into Good’s shooting.
- Trump said he was canceling a “second wave of attacks” on Venezuela, after the country released five political prisoners and was expected to free many more.
- Elon Musk’s Grok switched off image creation for all except paying subscribers, after researchers said an update allowed sexualized editing of photos of children.
- Protesters swept through Iran’s capital, chanting antigovernment slogans and setting fires in a display of public discontent not seen in at least three years.