Commercial Radio & Audio, the trade body representing commercial radio broadcasters in Australia, reported total commercial radio revenue of AU$309.2 million for the second quarter of 2025. The figure represents a flat year-on-year result, with continued growth in digital audio offsetting softness in some regional markets.
Revenue from metro broadcast radio remained stable at AU$177.1 million, while regional radio declined 5.3% year-on-year to AU$103.4 million. CRA attributed the dip to changes in election-related advertising and weakness across a few brand categories.
Digital audio revenue rose 27.4% year-on-year, reaching AU$28.7 million for the quarter.
It’s clear to us where the market is shifting, and we’re acting to capture more of that demand
CRA CEO Lizzie Young
CRA said it has several initiatives underway aimed at supporting long-term growth. These include CRA Audio ID, a solution designed to enable smarter targeting for advertisers; an upgraded version of its listener-facing RadioApp; and a new national promotional campaign called “The Power of Audio.”
CRA CEO Lizzie Young said the results show clear momentum in digital and consistency in metro broadcasting. “While there are challenges in the broader advertising sector which we have felt in some regional markets, it’s clear to us where the market is shifting, and we’re acting to capture more of that demand.”
She added that advertisers are demanding greater certainty and returns: “They need more insight, more efficiency, more return; audio is perfectly positioned to deliver on all fronts. With CRA Audio ID launching, our upgraded RadioApp rolling out, and our Power of Audio campaign hitting the market, we’re giving advertisers the tools and proof points they need to unlock audio’s full potential.”
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