Commercial radio ad revenue declines 1.7% year-on-year in Q2

Commercial radio advertising revenue in Australia declined in Q2 of 2019, when compared with the same period one year ago.

Figures compiled by Deloitte and released by Commercial Radio Australia saw a 1.7% decline year on year, with revenue totalling $209.223 million in the 2019 June quarter.

Breaking down market-by-market, results were mixed:

• Sydney fell -5.60% to $63.161 million
• Melbourne grew +2.03% to $68.187 million
• Brisbane grew +0.60% to $32.786 million
• Adelaide grew +1.35% to $18.717 million
• Perth fell -5.96% to $26.371 million

Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner admitted that “the market needs a kick start.

“We’re hopeful that income tax cuts and lower interest rates will flow through the economy and encourage advertisers to start spending again in the months ahead,” she said.

“Radio has been relatively resilient, but advertising market conditions remain challenging for all media businesses.”

Two small stations were included in the Q2 figures that hadn’t previously been included in the reporting.

For the 2018/19 financial year, Deloitte found metro radio ad revenue totalled $800.779 million.