US public radio funding and listener trends

Following the 2025 “Rescission Act” which significantly reduced funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, public radio has seen a notable shift in listener behavior. Data from the Jacobs Media Public Radio Techsurvey indicates that listener support surged as a response to both the political climate and the fiscal challenges facing stations.

By 2025, 64% of listeners reported increasing support due to the political climate, a rise from a 42% average recorded between 2019 and 2024. Further findings showed that over 72% of core respondents increased support due to station fiscal challenges, even as 53% of respondents reported significant negative financial impacts on their own households.

Recent 2026 data shows that public radio listeners remain highly loyal despite these economic pressures. However, the broader radio industry is seeing shifts in station counts. While FM educational stations grew from 4,207 in 2022 to 4,815 in 2026, this growth has not offset declines in AM stations and commercial FM stations. Additionally, research suggests the public radio audience is aging, prompting stations to explore video content to maintain engagement.