Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) members delivered digital audio revenue growth of 9.9 per cent whilst total radio revenue dropped 1.9 per cent for Q1 2026.
Digital audio revenue grew to $25.2 million for Q1 2026, versus the broader digital audio market which grew 8.3 per cent to $83.6 million for the quarter. CRA members hold 30 per cent of the digital audio market, according to the IAB Australia Internet Advertising Revenue Report (IARR) for Q1 2026.
Total radio revenue for Q1 2026 was $257.0 million, down nearly 2 per cent YOY. Metro broadcast revenue totalled $141.8 million (-3.5 per cent YOY) and regional revenue recorded $90.0 million (- 2.4 per cent YOY).
This reflects soft market conditions and a subdued advertising environment driven by escalating geopolitical instability and weakened consumer confidence throughout the quarter.
CRA chief executive officer Lizzie Young said: “Our entire industry is focused on making audio easy to plan and buy, ensuring we invest in the tools that deliver the precision, transparency and scale advertisers expect of digital media. CRA Audio ID is live and trading – enabling brands to optimise reach and frequency through access to premium inventory across ARN, Nova Entertainment, Southern Cross Austereo and Tapt Media.
“We know when budgets are under pressure audio consistently delivers. For every dollar invested in radio, brands see two dollars back. Allocating just 11% of media spend to audio can double campaign effectiveness. Outside of the capital cities, campaigns with regional audio can unlock 33 per cent more effectiveness than those without it. When times are uncertain, people turn to what they trust. For millions of Australians, that’s audio – and it’s a medium advertisers can count on too.”
