Radio Rebound in 2010

Better-than-expected first-quarter ad revenues have prompted BIA/Kelsey to revise its forecast for radio, giving a cheerier outlook for 2010. For the full year, BIA/Kelsey now expects radio revenues to increase 3.7% from $13.7 billion in 2009 to $14.2 billion in 2010. The new projection partly reflects significant growth in revenues from digital and mobile initiatives launched by radio broadcasters. The new forecast comes not long after the Radio Advertising Bureau released separate first-quarter revenue figures showing that total radio revenues increased 6% from $3.5 billion in the first quarter of 2009 to $3.7 billion in the first quarter of 2010. In the first quarter of 2010, digital revenues jumped 18% to $123 million, according to the RAB, and national revenues soared 19% to $568 million.

Read more at Media Post.