Public Radio Fans Increasing Their Support

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Public radio’s core listeners are increasing their financial support despite household economic strain, according to early findings from Jacobs Media’s 18th Public Radio Techsurvey. 

About 72% of respondents said the current political climate is leading them to give more, up from 64% in 2025 and far above the roughly 42% average recorded from 2019 through 2024.⁠

Even among the 10% of respondents who reported the most severe negative financial impact on their households, 69% said they still plan to increase their contributions this year. Overall, 53% described a “major” or “significant” negative effect from the economy.

Fred Jacobs presented the results Thursday to representatives from about 50 public radio stations. More than 17,000 listeners took part, most of them identifying public radio as their primary, or “P1,” choice. The jump after the 2025 federal rescission of public media funds was so large that Jacobs said his research director rechecked the raw data; the 2026 figures rose again and held across formats and demographics.⁠

Jacobs called the pattern evidence of listener loyalty and resilience, but he also cautioned that stations must keep delivering the programming audiences value if that support is to last. Full results are scheduled to be presented in a webinar on Oct. 7.⁠