Canadian radio captures five times the listening time of ad-supported Spotify
Commercial Radio & Audio — the industry body representing Australia’s commercial radio broadcasters and audio businesses — reported total radio revenue of AU$257 million for Q1 2026, down 1.9% year over year. At the same time, its members recorded stronger growth in digital audio than the broader market.
According to the latest Internet Advertising Revenue Report from IAB Australia, CRA members delivered digital audio revenue growth of 9.9% to AU$25.2 million in Q1 2026. The wider Australian digital audio market grew 8.3% year over year to AU$83.6 million during the same period. Based on those figures, CRA members accounted for 30% of the total digital audio market.
Broadcast performance was weaker across Australia’s traditional radio markets. Metro broadcast revenue totaled AU$141.8 million, down 3.5% year over year, while regional revenue reached AU$90 million, down 2.4%. CRA attributed the softer results to broader market conditions and a subdued advertising environment, which it said reflected geopolitical instability and weaker consumer confidence during the quarter.
When times are uncertain, people turn to what they trust
Lizzie Young, CEO at CRA
Lizzie Young, CEO at CRA, said the Australian commercial audio sector remains focused on making audio easier for advertisers to plan and buy. “Our entire industry is focused on making audio easy to plan and buy, ensuring we invest in the tools that deliver the precision, transparency and scale advertisers expect of digital media,” Young said. “CRA Audio ID is live and trading — enabling brands to optimize reach and frequency through access to premium inventory across ARN, Nova Entertainment, Southern Cross Austereo and Tapt Media.”
Young argued that audio continues to deliver strong returns for advertisers despite economic uncertainty and that, when budgets are under pressure, it consistently does so. “For every dollar invested in radio, brands see two dollars back. Allocating just 11% of media spend to audio can double campaign effectiveness. Outside of the capital cities, campaigns with regional audio can unlock 33% more effectiveness than those without it.”
“When times are uncertain, people turn to what they trust,” Young emphasized. “For millions of Australians, that’s audio, and it’s a medium advertisers can count on too.”
These stories might interest you
Australian Podcast Ranker points to sustained demand for news and sport
Australia extends commercial radio tax suspension
Commercial radio reaches 12.8 million weekly listeners, CRA reports
