Streaming of AM/FM radio stations has increased as Americans continue to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, InsideRadio reports. During the week ending March 21, streaming of U.S. radio stations increased by 6% on mobile devices and by 4% on smart speakers when compared to the prior four weeks’ average. The analysis was conducted by Triton Digital with data from more than 3,200 commercial radio broadcasters.
With the growth of smart speakers in the home, listeners can access a wider range of AM/FM radio stations with greater ease than ever before. Amazon’s Alexa, for instance, can stream tens of thousands of radio stations. As Americans stream broadcast radio on smart speakers and mobile devices at a higher rate, they may not only find new ways to access their favorite local radio stations, but also discover a treasure trove of AM/FM stations that would have remained inaccessible via conventional radio.