Radio consumption is evenly spread among male and female Italians. However, a breakdown of radio listeners by age clearly shows that individuals between 45 and 54 years old tend to listen to the radio more than other age groups. In Italy, the most popular radio channel was reported to be RTL 102.5, with over seven million daily listeners. RDS followed in the ranking with roughly five million. Looking at radio preferences in terms of content, Italian listeners seemed to enjoy music of different genres and news programs, together with weather and traffic information. This latest doesn’t come as a surprise, as almost two thirds of live radio listeners happen to be car drivers and passengers, especially male individuals.
The Italian radio industry benefits from increasing digitalization in many aspects. Like in other European countries, most national radio channels are broadcast through DAB (digital audio broadcasting) technology, while analog FM (frequency modulation) radio is gradually leaving the national network stage. In terms of devices used, listening to the radio on smartphones is on the rise. Lastly, several radio networks reach and engage online audiences through social networks and other social media, including video platforms like YouTube.
