Number of radio stations in Canada 2007-2021

In 2021, there were 961 radio stations in Canada, approximately employing 10,115 people. While the number has been steadily increasing since 2015, from 2019 to 2020, the number of radio stations decreased by four within the year.

Radio industry in Canada: facts and financial figures

Despite the steady increase in radio stations, Canada’s radio industry has experienced ongoing revenue declines for the past few years. In 2019, operating revenue generated by the radio industry in Canada fell to 1.86 billion Canadian dollars, the lowest figure reported in over a decade. Revenue generated by Canada’s commercial radio stations has also dropped by over one million Canadian dollars since 2016, with similar downward trends reported for employee numbers, advertising revenues, and many other industry metrics alike. Looking at the most profitable commercial radio stations in Canada, Bell Canada (BCE) stands out as the country’s leading broadcasting company at a 24 percent market share.

Radio audiences and listener trends

Radio remains one of the leading offline news sources in Canada. While radio has not been able to reach as many Canadians as other digital and traditional media formats in recent years, thousands of listeners still tune in to listen to radio programs, news broadcasts, and music on a daily basis. In 2020, Toronto was Canada’s leading market based on radio audience, with over 5.86 million average daily listeners. As internet radio continues to grow in scope and popularity, an increasing share of Canadians are streaming AM and FM radio online.