CRA releases promising Dec. quarter revenue figures

Commercial Radio Australia has released the advertising revenue for metropolitan commercial radio stations for the December 2021 quarter, and the results are promising. Revenue totaled AU$185.397 million, up 10.0% from the AU$168.525 million recorded in the same period a year ago.

“December quarter radio ad revenue results marked a positive finish to 2021,” said CRA, chief executive officer, Joan Warner. “We’ve also seen 16.3% growth in total revenue this calendar year which is very good news.”

“Factors in this period such as more positive consumer sentiment, demand driven by the lifting of lockdown restrictions, opening of borders and the pre-Christmas advertiser rush attributed to the fourth-quarter results,” she said.

Melbourne’s revenue was up 14.0% year on year to AU$58.928 million in the December quarter, Perth revenues grew by 12.3% to AU$25.084 million, Brisbane was up 8.8% to AU$29.899 million, Sydney was up 8.3% AU$55.144 million, and Adelaide was 1.4% higher AU$16.342 million.

In the month of December, the five major Australian capital city markets recorded a 9.2% rise compared to the same month the previous year. Ad revenue totaled just over AU$56 million compared to AU$51.3 million in December 2020.

Melbourne stations performed strongly, generating AU$18.410 million in ad revenue for the month, up 15.3% compared to a year ago, Perth climbed 10.9% to AU$7.653 million, Brisbane was up 9.5% to AU$8.945 million, and Sydney’s revenue was up 5.8% generating AU$16.152 million in revenue. Adelaide recorded a 3.1% decrease compared to last year, with advertising revenue totaling AU$4.849 million.

The metropolitan figures, compiled by media data analytics company Milton Data, include agency and direct ad revenue.