How do the number of U.S. radio stations compare to a decade ago?
The FCC is out with its latest quarterly totals of licensed stations. Dec. 31, 2010, also happens to coincide with the end of a decade (at least, by some people’s reckoning; it depends on when you start “counting” a decade).
Regardless, Radio World has helpfully listed the FCC stats from a year ago and from 10 years ago, to better spot trends.
The increase in noncom FMs, LPFMs and FM translators is apparent.
Type
2010
2009
2000
AM
4,782
4,790
4,685
FM commercial
6,526
6,479
5,892
FM educational
3,311
3,151
2,140
Subtotal
14,619
14,420
12,717
LPFMs
859
864
N/A
FM translators/boosters
6,131
6,155
3,243
Total
21,609
21,439
15,960
The next time someone asks you how many radio stations there are in the United States, you can say, “As of the end of 2010? There were 14,619; or there were 15,478 including low-power FMs; or there were 21,609 if you also include translators and boosters stations.”
Including the various kinds of TV licenses too, the commission in 2010 counted a total for all broadcast licenses of 30,630.
