The National Association of Broadcasters has spent years making its case on Capitol Hill — from defending AM radio’s place in vehicles to pushing back against a proposed performance royalty. Now, the organization is adding economic data to its policy arguments with a new study measuring the financial impact of local radio and television.
The report, conducted by Woods & Poole Economics, Inc. with support from BIA Advisory Services, finds that local broadcasting generates $1.19 trillion in U.S. Gross Domestic Product and supports 2.46 million jobs nationwide. According to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt, the findings underscore broadcasting’s unique value.
“No other industry gives more to Americans for free,” LeGeyt says. “This report reinforces that broadcasters are not only essential to our democracy and daily lives, but to the strength of our economy, as well.”
Local commercial radio accounts for a sizable share of that impact. The study estimates radio contributes $437 billion in annual economic output and supports more than 909,000 jobs across the country. Those jobs include both direct employment inside radio stations and indirect positions created through radio’s broader economic ripple effect — reaching industries such as construction, manufacturing, retail, and transportation.
Breaking down the numbers further, Woods & Poole attributes $19.8 billion to direct radio activity, including station operations, programming, and advertising-related jobs. Supplier industries add another $47.8 billion. The largest portion — nearly $370 billion — comes from radio’s stimulative effect on the wider economy, driven primarily by advertising that delivers price and product information to consumers at no cost.
That advertising function is identified as radio’s most powerful economic contribution. By efficiently distributing marketplace information, radio advertising improves consumer spending efficiency and encourages competition among businesses. The report estimates that dynamic alone supports more than 506,000 additional jobs nationwide.
State-level data highlights radio’s broad geographic reach. California leads with more than $51.4 billion in radio-driven economic activity and over 100,000 related jobs. Texas follows at $38.9 billion and more than 78,000 jobs. New York ($31.5 billion), Florida ($26.2 billion), and Illinois ($19.7 billion) also post significant totals, while Ohio accounts for nearly $20.9 billion in output and roughly 44,000 jobs.
Mid-sized and smaller states show strong per-capita influence, reflecting radio’s deep local roots. Woods & Poole projects stable radio revenue through at least 2028, concluding that radio’s economic contributions are likely to grow alongside the broader economy.
“Broadcasting is more than a business model; it is a civic model,” LeGeyt says. “This industry stands alone in its mission to inform, protect and uplift every community in America, regardless of ZIP code or income level.”
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