During July, 1.4 million adult radio-listeners spent two hours per day listening to their favorite Las Vegas radio stations, according to Nielsen. Although local consumers had spent fewer minutes listening at the onset of the pandemic, the current time tuned-in remains little changed compared to a year ago.
Some advertising experts had predicted that as consumers spent more time at home because of COVID-19 concerns, the hours devoted to radio listening would decrease. That, however, was not the case.
In July of 2019, according to Nielsen, 66.7% of listening to Las Vegas radio occurred away from home. During July of this year, out-of-home listening remains virtually unchanged.
Overall, the pandemic has inflicted little change on the audio advertising landscape. A study by Edison Research indicates that among all options, local radio's 'share of ear' remains consistent.
During the second quarter of 2019, adult consumers spent 78% of their time with ad-supported audio listening to AM/FM radio. No other medium came close.
During the same quarter this year, consumers devoted 76% of their time with local radio. Podcasts were a distant second at 9%.
Since November 1, 1940, when KENO signed-on as the first radio station serving Las Vegas, small business owners have depended on local radio to market their goods and services through recessions, depressions, and natural disasters. All the research indicates that AM/FM radio is as dependable now as it was then.