San Diego Radio Revenue

The San Diego Radio market has experienced several years of unprecedented revenue growth, with total market revenue breaking $200,000,000 in 2004 for the first time. Ranking as the seventeenth largest radio market by population, San Diego ranked sixteenth for radio revenue.

In 2004, San Diego had the fourth highest growth rate in the country among large markets with an increase of 6.1%. Last year the radio industry as a whole grew at a rate of 2.0%, according to revenue information released by the Radio Advertising Bureau and based on the RAB’s Radio Revenue Index of more than 100 markets. San Diego traditionally performs better than the radio industry averages.

Local billing consistently comprises around 67% of total radio revenue for the market, with national business contributing 25% and network and non-traditional revenue the remaining 8%.

Historically, automotive advertising has been the leading category for spending in radio, and includes local dealer advertising, factory spending and dealer association dollars. Other top categories consistently include financial services, communications/cellular/public utilities, restaurants and the television industry.