What’s Driving Radio Listeners in 2025? New Techsurvey Results Reveal Surprises.

From time-shifting habits to the rise of social video and newsletters, Jacobs Media’s latest Techsurvey dives into the evolving behaviors of radio audiences. The free April 15 webinar, presented with Inside Radio and sponsored by Quu, will unpack new findings—and a few unexpected trends.

This year’s annual study yielded nearly 25,000 surveys among core radio listeners from 500 participating U.S. and Canadian stations. Techsurvey 2025 explores broadcast radio’s role in the expanding, and increasingly crowded, digital, audio, and video landscape.

Key takeaways include:

• AM/FM radio’s continued strength is its ability to connect to the audience and communities.

• “Being local” is a perceived asset and not just a slogan. It has grown since the pandemic.

• For the seventh consecutive year, personalities overshadow music as a main driver of broadcast radio listening.

• Podcasting has reached an all-new high in weekly listenership, a sign it is becoming a mainstream medium.

As previously reported by Inside Radio, Techsurvey 2025 reveals that drivers want access to emergency info on dashboard displays, the use of video podcasts grows, the role of influencers, and the power of radio personalities.

The 21st annual study covers a variety of new topics, along with all the familiar trending data on radio listener technology usage and behaviors, including:

• How much time-shifting of radio programming is happening, and by whom?

• How can radio take advantage of the surge in usage of online newsletters? 

• Social media’s short videos proliferate — how can radio stations best utilize them? 

• What can we learn about how and why listeners tune in to their favorite radio stations? 

Registration information for the 2025 Techsurvey webinar can be viewed HERE.