It’s Still Kicking Spotify’s Free Tier’s Ass
Every few years someone proudly declares that radio is dead.
Usually it’s someone who hasn’t listened to a local morning show in twenty years, thinks algorithms have personalities, and somehow believes a playlist generated by artificial intelligence can replace an actual human who knows the local community.
Spoiler alert… Radio isn’t dead. It isn’t even on life support.
According to a new Edison Research “Share of Ear” report, traditional AM/FM radio still accounts for roughly 62% of America’s ad-supported audio listening, while Spotify’s free, ad-supported tier sits around 6%. That’s not a narrow victory. That’s radio beating Spotify’s free service by more than ten to one. After two decades of predictions that streaming would bury terrestrial radio, the old kid on the block is still throwing punches.
Now, before the Spotify faithful start sharpening their playlists, let’s be fair. This doesn’t mean streaming is losing. Paid subscriptions continue to grow, and millions of people happily pay every month for unlimited, on-demand music without commercials. But when people choose free audio, they’re still overwhelmingly turning on the radio.
Honestly… That shouldn’t surprise anyone who works in local media.
Here at Static Live Magazine, we’ve spent years working alongside some incredible radio stations that continue to prove why local broadcasting still matters. Our current partners include Kix Country 98.7, KOOL FM 100.9, and Beach Radio 92.7, stations that continue supporting local businesses, local events, and local musicians every single day.
We’ve also had the privilege of working with many of the legendary voices that Central Florida listeners know by heart. Stations like 95.7 The Hog, Coast Country 93.1, 103.3 The Vibe, Hot Daytona 94.1, WNDB News AM 1150 / FM 98.5, and 99.5 Love FM have all played an important role in keeping local communities informed and entertained over the years. Whether you’re commuting to work, stuck in beach traffic, or trying to survive another I-95 construction zone, chances are one of those stations has been keeping you company.
That’s something algorithms simply can’t replicate. Radio has always been about more than music.
It’s the DJ announcing school closures during hurricanes. It’s the local charity fundraiser. The weather updates when Florida decides to throw a surprise tropical storm into your weekend plans. It’s hearing your friend’s band get played for the first time at midnight. It’s contests, concerts, personalities, community events, and the feeling that someone behind the microphone actually knows where you live.
Spotify knows what songs you skipped. Radio knows why traffic is backed up on International Speedway Boulevard. There’s a difference.
The numbers from Edison also tell another interesting story. Radio’s audience remains remarkably consistent across nearly every income level measured. Whether households earn under $50,000 or well over $100,000 annually, AM/FM continues to dominate free audio listening. That’s a level of reach advertisers have chased for decades, and despite all the technological disruption we’ve witnessed, traditional broadcasting still delivers it.
Does that mean streaming is the future? Absolutely. Does it mean radio is the past? Not even close.
The reality is that these platforms aren’t enemies anymore. They’re teammates. Most music fans bounce between Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, podcasts, vinyl records, satellite radio, FM stations, and live concerts without giving it a second thought. We don’t wake up every morning pledging allegiance to one format like it’s some kind of audio civil war.
We just want good music. Sometimes that comes from a carefully curated playlist. Sometimes it comes from a local DJ introducing you to a band you’ve never heard before. And sometimes it comes from accidentally leaving your car radio on after shutting off the engine because the morning crew started telling a story that’s simply too funny to walk away from.
Technology changes. Music changes. The way we discover artists changes. But one thing has remained remarkably stubborn through every prediction of its demise. Radio refuses to die. Frankly, we’re okay with that.
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