Radio publicité[1] refers to the use of airtime on radio stations to promote products or services. This practice, rooted in the early 1900s, employs different formats such as live readings or pre-produced spots. Over the years, radio advertising has adapted and evolved, testing various formats and styles. Regulated by bodies like the FCC and FTC, it plays an integral role in the economic sustainability of radio stations, through the sale of advertising slots. Despite changes in the media landscape, radio advertising remains effective, reaching a broad audience and eliciting emotional responses. The success of radio advertising relies heavily on quality content and strategic placement, with factors such as time of day and demand[2] impacting rates. As a common trade-off for free radio, most listeners find commercials acceptable.
The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (October 2011) |
In the United States, commercial radio stations make most of their revenue by selling airtime to be used for running radio advertisements. These advertisements are the result of a business or a service providing a valuable consideration, usually money, in exchange for the station airing their commercial or mentioning them on air. The most common advertisements are "spot commercials", which normally last for no more than one minute, and longer programs, commonly running up to one hour, known as "informercials".
The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), established under the Communications Act of 1934, regulates commercial broadcasting, and the laws regarding remain relatively unchanged from the Radio Act of 1927. In 2015, radio accounted for 7.8% of total U.S. media expenditures.