World Radio Day, celebrated on 13 February, marks the creation of United Nations Radio in 1946 and is a day Commercial Radio Australia was keen to honour this year.

The theme for 2024, 'Looking Forward to Radio's Next Century', highlights the past, present, and future of radio. CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA), Ford Ennals, claimed radio is "the most innovative and immediate media in Australia", continually evolving to meet audience needs.

The Australian commercial radio industry provides 7,000 full-time equivalent jobs, with over 2,000 in regional areas. There are 260 commercial stations across Australia, including 220 in regional areas. The industry contributes $1 billion to GDP, provides 1.1 million hours of Australian content, and broadcasts 2,200 hours of emergency service content annually.

"Radio is the most innovative and immediate media in Australia, and it has continually grown and evolved to suit the needs of its audience," says Ennals. "On World Radio Day we'd like to thank the thousands of people working in the industry, dedicated to ensure that radio delivers entertainment, trusted news, emergency broadcasts, music and connection to millions of Australians listening across the nation.

"Innovation, and the continued trust of our listeners, is at the heart of radio's vibrant future. We will see increased radio streaming and podcasts continuing their exponential listener growth in Australia."

CRA, the peak industry body representing the interests of commercial radio broadcasters in Australia, is optimistic about the future of radio. In 2023, the group introduced Radio 360, a hybrid audience measuring system providing total broadcast and streaming audience figures for each station across the five major metro markets.

"For 100 years, commercial radio has made an invaluable contribution to Australia's culture, sense of community and economy, and, as today's World Radio Day acknowledges, the best is yet to come," Ennals concluded.