For the fourth consecutive year, Hubbard Radio’s all-news trimulcast WTOP-FM DC remained the country’s top revenue producer in 2013, according to BIA/Kelsey’s Investing in Radio Market Report. WTOP took in $63.5 million in ad revenues. Overall industry revenues remained near 2012 levels at $14.8 billion. More good news: Radio evenues are expected to continue to increase yearly through 2018, where they are projected to be $15.8 billion.
“WTOP is morphing into a digital media company by providing access to its audience in many different ways beyond over-the-air,” said Mark Fratrik, SVP/chief economist, BIAKelsey. “Their approach is serving them well and their model demonstrates that as the industry continues to adopt a multi-platform approach, it will engage audiences and sustain growth.”
The top four highest-revenue radio stations appeared in the same list in 2012. New York’s WLTW moved up from seventh to the fifth spot, with $45 million in billings. Los Angeles station KBIG leapt from 13 in 2012 to seven, with $44.5 million in revenues. Four of the top 10 stations have an all-news format. WFAN in New York, with $43 million in ad sales, is the only sports/talk station in the top 10.
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Top Ten Highest-Revenue Radio Stations in 2013
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| In 2013, overall radio revenues from over-the-air were $14.3 billion, with online generating $570 million. BIA/Kelsey forecasts both sources of income to continue growing at a slight pace over the next few years, reaching $16.7 billion in 2018, on par with what over-the-air produced on its own 10 years ago. |
Here are some bullets on HD Radio’s technology on the top billing stations in the US:
- 23 of the Top 25 billing stations in America are HD
- 48 of the Top 50 billing stations in America are HD
- 70 of the Top 75 billing stations in America are HD
- 94 of the Top 100 billing stations in America are HD
