RADIO REVIVAL?: Stats reveal Gen Z still tuning in

Don’t change that dial. Radio ain’t dead yet.

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Believe it or not, radio is making a comeback. According to a new report, over 50 million people tune in to the radio each week, marking the highest listening numbers in two decades.

The Standard recently shared statistics from Nielsen that revealed a surprising 78% of Gen Z still listens to traditional radio. In fact, British company Roberts found that radio is even more popular among Gen Z than television, as reported by the New York Post.

It seems that Gen Z has a penchant for reviving old-fashioned trends. From ditching smartphones for flip phones to rediscovering the charm of digital cameras and corded landline phones, this generation is all about bringing back the classics.

The report also highlighted how stations like BBC Radio 1 are catering to the Gen Z audience by featuring young presenters and curating playlists that align with the tastes of younger listeners. With a focus on playing music from up-and-coming artists that resonate with Gen Z, radio stations are successfully capturing the attention of this demographic.

Interestingly, the Roberts report revealed that Gen Z individuals only watch an average of 20 minutes of TV per day. This shift away from television is not unique to Gen Z alone, as overall viewership numbers for TV are on the decline.

In fact, in 2024, only 48% of 16-24-year-olds watched TV in an average week, marking a significant drop below the 50% threshold for the first time. This trend towards radio resurgence coincides with Gen Z’s move away from streaming services, opting instead to purchase vinyl records and cassette tapes.

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