"Last year, broadcast was five points higher, and digital was five points lower. So there's been meaningful movement this year."

The divide between traditional AM/FM Radio listening and digital consumption of radio station content is shrinking — and new data from the Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026 makes that trend impossible to ignore.

For the first time in the survey’s history, broadcast listening has fallen to 54% of total time spent with a listener’s favorite station, while digital platforms now account for 44%. That’s a 10-point gap — down from 15 points just one year ago.

“Broadcast is still ahead, but not by much,” Jacobs said. “Last year, broadcast was five points higher, and digital was five points lower. So there’s been meaningful movement this year.”

The longer view is even more striking. Back in 2013, whenJacobs Mediafirst asked this question in its current form, 85% of P1 listening happened on traditional radio. Digital sat at just 14%. That’s a 71-point gap. Today, it’s 10.

“This chart tells a powerful story,” the Jacobs Media President said. “In 2013, the gap between broadcast and digital was 71 points. Today, it’s just 10 points.”

It’s worth noting what “digital” actually captures. The 44% figure includes computer streaming (12%), mobile apps (9%), smart speakers (4%), podcasts (2%), and smart TVs (2%). Meanwhile, broadcast’s 54% combines car listening — still the largest single platform at 37% — with radio at home, work, or school at 17%.

The demographic breakdown reveals where the real pressure is building. Gen Z has already crossed over — digital now edges broadcast 49% to 48% among that group. Millennials are close behind, with broadcast holding a slim 52–46 advantage. Gen X listeners show a similar split at 51–47.

“When we break this out by demographics, some clear patterns emerge,” said Jacobs. “Gen Z is now slightly ahead on digital, by one percentage point.”

Older listeners, by contrast, still skew heavily toward over-the-air. Boomers favor broadcast 57% to 41%, and the Greatest Generation leans even more traditional at 69% broadcast versus 28% digital.

Source: Drudge Report