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# Radio Industry Takes Big Hit in 2020 Due to Cuts in Ad Spending
- URL: https://capitolcommunicator.com/radio-industry-takes-big-hit-in-2020-due-to-pandemic-and-cuts-in-ad-spending/
- Published: 2021-05-14T23:09:43.000Z
- Updated: 2021-05-16T18:56:36.000Z
- Author: Capitol Communicator
- Tags: Advertising, Insights, #wp-top-center-sponsored, #Import 2026-10-08 18:51

**The radio industry took a big hit in 2020** due to the pandemic and subsequent cutbacks in overall ad spending. According to the first quarter edition of BIA Advisory Services’ 2021 [Investing In Radio® Market Report](https://shop.biakelsey.com/product/investing-in-radio-market-reports-2021?ref=capitolcommunicator.com) over-the-air advertising revenues dropped to $9.7 billion, a 23.6 percent decline from $12.8 billion in 2019\. Digital ad revenues at stations demonstrated their continued strength, though, posting only a slight decline to $939 million in revenues in 2020 versus $1 billion in 2019.

“Local radio stations have been feeling the impact of new competition for the past few years; unfortunately, the pandemic just exacerbated the problem and it will take some time to recover,” said **Mark Fratrik**, SVP and Chief Economist, BIA Advisory Services.

Fratrik forecasts 2021 total local radio revenues to reach $11.7 billion, with $1 billion coming directly from online revenues; a 9.7 percent increase over 2020.