Radio Sees Election-Year Ad Gain, But Sales Will Decline In 2027

Local radio will benefit from an election-year surge in political advertising, capturing $271.1 million of the total $9.7 billion spend, according to BIA Advisory Services, Inside Radio reports. In total, local radio will hit $12.2 billion, a 1.5% gain over 2025. This includes $9.7 billion in over-the-air revenue and $2.4 from digital. However, radio revenue will decline to $11.4 billion in 2027 because there is no election. The local advertising market is expected to reach $186 billion in 2026, BIA reports.

Last updated Oct 9, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment