Italian radio advertising falls 3.7% in H1 2026 as RadioMediaset hits 20% share

The Italian radio advertising market recorded a 3.7% decline in investment during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to the FCP‑Assoradio observatory. June was the weakest month, with an 11.5% drop. Despite the overall downturn, sectors such as distribution, leisure, tourism, home management and toiletries continued to allocate spending to radio, underlining the medium’s role across FM, DAB+, streaming and smart‑speaker platforms.

In the same period, RadioMediaset celebrated its tenth anniversary and confirmed its position as Italy’s leading radio group. Audiradio data for Q2 2026 show the Mediaset‑owned stations – Radio 105, Virgin Radio, R101, Radio Monte Carlo, Radio Subasio and Radio Norba – commanding over 20% share in the average quarter‑hour audience and approaching a 50% reach over a typical day. Pier Silvio Berlusconi, president and CEO of Mfe‑MediaForEurope, highlighted radio as a cornerstone of the group’s cross‑media strategy that integrates television, digital platforms and out‑of‑home advertising.