A new study commissioned by the National Association of Broadcasters touts the economic benefits U.S. radio and TV stations provide for their states big and small.
The research, conducted by Woods & Poole Economics and supported by BIA Advisory Services, found that local broadcasting supports approximately 2.46 million jobs nationwide, including about 909,000 in radio.
“No other industry gives more to Americans for free,” said Curtis LeGeyt, president and CEO of NAB, in a release.
The study identified some $1.19 trillion in Gross Domestic Product from local broadcasting, including approximately $437 billion from radio.
In total, it found that radio and TV stations directly employ approximately 310,000 Americans and generate $54 billion in GDP through journalism, programming, engineering and advertising.
Advertising on local TV and radio stations, the study found, generates approximately $997 billion in GDP and helps sustain around 1.37 million jobs.
State-by-state
| Rank | State | Radio GDP (Billions) | Commercial Radio Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $51.12 | 656 |
| 2 | Texas | $39.11 | 776 |
| 3 | Florida | $27.51 | 445 |
| 4 | New York | $26.44 | 374 |
| 5 | Illinois | $18.39 | 322 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $16.36 | 351 |
| 7 | Ohio | $15.13 | 289 |
| 8 | Georgia | $14.03 | 349 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $13.32 | 332 |
| 10 | Virginia | $13.03 | 264 |
| Source: 2025 Woods & Poole Economics, Inc. | |||
Texas leads the nation in the sheer number of commercial radio stations, according to the study, with 776. The Lone Star State supports approximately 81,120 jobs and generates $39 billion in GDP.
While Texas has more stations, California sees the highest economic return from radio, generating $51 billion in radio-related GDP and supporting 100,000 jobs.
Even a rural state like Wyoming, with a population of just 587,000, is served by 126 commercial stations— about one station per 4,600 people — and supports approximately 2,170 jobs.
Projections through 2028
The study also uses BIA Advisory Services data to project revenue through the year 2028.
Radio over-the-air revenue, according to the study, is projected to dip slightly, from $10.68 billion in 2024 to $10.17 billion in 2028.
Digital revenue for radio in that same period is projected to grow from $2.28 billion to $2.55 billion.
All of the estimates provided in the report are for 2024. The estimates of local television and radio employment were obtained from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census, according to the study. Employment estimates by detailed industry for broadcasting and advertising were used to create U.S. and state employment estimates for TV and radio.
Woods & Poole Economics is a firm that specializes in long-term county economic data and demographic data projections, while BIA Advisory Services provides forecasting and valuation services for the media industry.
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