Commercial radio in Australia turns 100 this year and kicked off celebrations with the launch of a new report commissioned by industry body Commercial Radio & Audio. The report, “Connecting Communities: The Economic and Social Contribution of Commercial Radio and Audio in Australia,” shows the industry contributes AU$1 billion to the nation’s annual GDP.
The study found that commercial radio stations broadcast 1.1 million hours of Australian content, 2.7 million Australian songs, 42,000 hours of news, and 2,200 hours of emergency service content in 2022.
CRA CEO Ford Ennals says, “The Connecting Communities report is the first time in 100 years of broadcasting that we have evaluated the economic contribution of radio and its role in delivering trusted, local content to listeners all over the country. These figures show how important it is to have a sustainable Australian radio industry that delivers great audio content free of charge to everyone, everywhere.”
The industry supports 6,600 full-time equivalent jobs, with 38% of jobs located in regional Australia.
Shaping modern Australia
CRA Chair and CEO of ARN Media, Ciaran Davis, says, “Radio has had an enormous influence in shaping modern Australia, providing a platform for debate and launching the careers of many successful Australian entertainers, music artists and journalists.”
“The industry creates an enormous quantity of local audio content with 1.1 million hours of programs across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. It also remains the lifeblood of regional media, producing 251,000 hours of locally significant regional content in areas where other local media have disappeared.”
The study found radio has positive impacts across other industries and sectors. It plays a key role in music discovery, broadcasting 160,000 hours of Australian music or 2.7 million songs yearly, equivalent to 7,400 spins per day. Commercial radio networks also made $82 million in charitable contributions through donations and airtime in 2022.
When it all started
The first commercial radio broadcast went to air in Australia on the evening of 23 November 1923 when people across Sydney gathered in their homes to hear the wondrous new technology. The first radio broadcast was of the St Andrews Choir performing “The Swan” on 2SB.
By the 1930s, most Australians were within reach of a station with early programming focusing on music, news, weather, radio dramas and quiz shows. Talkback radio was introduced in 1967. Commercial FM radio started in 1980, followed by DAB digital radio in 2009.
Today there are more than 260 commercial radio stations across Australia, with 220 located in regional areas, with radio finding new audiences through mobile apps, streaming and podcasts.
Deloitte Access Economics produced the Connecting Communities report; you can download it here.
