In the first edition of its quarterly "Investing In Radio® Market Report," BIA/Kelsey reports that local over-the-air radio station revenue in 2011 reached $14.1 billion, a 0.4 percent increase from the year before. Radio's online revenues increased 15.1 percent in 2011, reaching $439 million.

In 2012, BIA/Kelsey anticipates online revenues will continue to grow at a fast pace, becoming an important portion of station income. The firm expects overall radio industry revenues to reach $14.6 billion in 2012, a 3.5 percent rise over last year, bolstered by the national election. Online radio ad revenues will grow from $505 million in 2012 to $767 million in 2016.

"Although radio's revenue ascent has been slow since its bottoming in 2009, the industry always picks up steam in an election year and is continuing to prove itself as a valuable local advertising medium, particularly as the integration between over-the-air and online improves," said Mark Fratrik, VP/Chief Economist at BIA/Kelsey. "News stations, in particular, continue to be leaders in many markets by creating comprehensive over-the-air and digital portfolios of ad products and formats to drive deeper advertiser engagement and prove their value in the ad buying mix."  

BIA/Kelsey's "Investing In Radio" shows the wide variations between some markets and identifies several small and mid-size areas that were able to distinguish themselves in 2011. For example, the Portland, ME market had the largest increase in revenues over 2010, with $25.4 million, or 22.8 percent. Continuing in order, Worcester, MA posted a 15.8 percent increase, with $12.9 million in revenue, followed by Ann Arbor, MI, a 10.5 percent increase with $6.1 million in revenue, and Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI, where revenue grew to $45.3 million, a 9.9 percent increase over 2010.

Fratrik notes that this year began optimistically with a significant rise in transactions, starting with Cumulus Media's acquisition of Citadel Broadcasting and then Hubbard Radio's purchase of some of the Bonneville stations. Overall station transaction volume reached $4.3 billion in 2011 from a total of 1,080 transactions, of which, 682 were in metropolitan markets and 398 were in non-metro markets.

"The major transactions of the year turned out being unique unto themselves due to strategic decisions made by each company," Fratrik said. "In 2012 we think the improving economy will increase the number of station sales, particularly as they prove themselves to be more than an over-the-air profit center."