Christian radio getting over 20 million listeners a week

A RECENT article in America's CCM magazine spelt out the situation concerning Christian radio in the USA. Religious radio is the fourth most popular format following country, news/talk and adult contemporary. Religious radio has seen a 44 per cent increase in the last 10 years (1986-1996) and according to Arbitron (a ratings organisation) more than 20 million people tune into Christian radio each week. Of these stations the most common type of station is teaching and preaching comprising 35 per cent of all religious stations. Adult Christian contemporary garners 30 per cent of the religious airwaves, followed by Southern gospel, news/talk, sacred, praise and worship, black gospel music, inspirational, Christian country and Hispanic. Astoundingly there are only six stations programming Christian rock though another 175 stations play rock in "dayparts", blocks of 1-10 hours per week. CR

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