Contents
- AM radio station counts statistics: U.S. AM station totals, 1921–1932
- AM radio station counts statistics: wartime era totals, 1933–1945
- AM radio station counts statistics: postwar AM station totals, 1946–1957
- AM radio station counts statistics: standard broadcast totals, 1958–1970
- AM radio station counts statistics: FCC licensed AM snapshots, 2004–2018
- Sources
AM radio station counts statistics: U.S. AM station totals, 1921–1932
The earliest observations in this timeline come from the Census Bureau’s historical series, which labels its measure “Operating standard broadcast stations (AM).” The figures are annual snapshots as of June 30. The series begins with 5 stations in 1921, followed by 30 in 1922 and 556 in 1923. The rapid movement among these opening observations is clear in the counts themselves; the table does not explain what caused each change. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
| Date (June 30) | Operating standard broadcast (AM) stations |
|---|---|
| 1921 | 5 |
| 1922 | 30 |
| 1923 | 556 |
| 1924 | 530 |
| 1925 | 571 |
| 1926 | 528 |
| 1927 | 681 |
| 1928 | 677 |
| 1929 | 606 |
| 1930 | 618 |
| 1931 | 612 |
| 1932 | 604 |
The sequence after 1923 does not rise every year. The count is 530 in 1924, 571 in 1925, and 528 in 1926. It then stands at 681 in 1927 and 677 in 1928, before the listed figures move to 606 in 1929, 618 in 1930, 612 in 1931, and 604 in 1932. These are individual dated counts, not a measure of audience, broadcasting hours, or market share. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
For all years, the historical series includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. The date convention matters: June 30 is the reference date for this annual series, with a separate exception for italicized census figures dated April 1. The table also contains other radio-related measures, but the figures here refer only to the AM station-count column. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
AM radio station counts statistics: wartime era totals, 1933–1945
From 1933 through 1939, the historical series records 598, 593, 623, 656, 704, 743, and 778 AM stations, respectively. The classification changes in the source’s notes: for 1933–1948, the figures represent authorized stations and may include stations that were not actually on air. The table therefore should not be read as a complete count of stations confirmed to be broadcasting on each date. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
| Date (June 30) | AM station count | Source qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 598 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1934 | 593 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1935 | 623 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1936 | 656 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1937 | 704 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1938 | 743 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1939 | 778 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1940 | 847 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1941 | 897 | Authorized; may include stations not on air |
| 1942 | 925 | New authorizations halted from April 1942 until October 1945 |
| 1943 | 912 | New authorizations halted from April 1942 until October 1945 |
| 1944 | 924 | New authorizations halted from April 1942 until October 1945 |
| 1945 | 955 | New authorizations halted from April 1942 until October 1945 |
The main historical table continues with 847 stations in 1940 and 897 in 1941. It lists 925 in 1942, 912 in 1943, 924 in 1944, and 955 in 1945. The accompanying note says authorization of new radio stations halted from April 1942 until October 1945. That policy note supplies context for interpreting the series, but these counts alone do not show how the halt affected individual stations or the number actually on air. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
The 1945 entry is dated June 30, so it falls within the stated authorization-halt period. The series does not turn it into a year-end total or specify a separate operating-status adjustment. As with the earlier authorized counts, readers should retain the source’s qualification when comparing these entries with later observations. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
AM radio station counts statistics: postwar AM station totals, 1946–1957
The historical table reports 1,215 AM stations on June 30, 1946, and 1,795 on June 30, 1947. Both fall within the source’s 1933–1948 interval for authorized counts that may include stations not actually on air. Later selected observations are 2,144 in 1950, 2,281 in 1951, 2,355 in 1952, 2,458 in 1953, 2,583 in 1954, 2,732 in 1955, 2,896 in 1956, and 3,079 in 1957. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
| Date (June 30) | Standard broadcast (AM) stations |
|---|---|
| 1946 | 1,215 |
| 1947 | 1,795 |
| 1950 | 2,144 |
| 1951 | 2,281 |
| 1952 | 2,355 |
| 1953 | 2,458 |
| 1954 | 2,583 |
| 1955 | 2,732 |
| 1956 | 2,896 |
| 1957 | 3,079 |
These entries show the reported station count across selected dates, while leaving gaps for years without figures included here. They preserve the distinction between the earlier authorization-based records and the later values. The series’ footnote on geographic coverage continues to apply: it includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands for all years. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
AM radio station counts statistics: standard broadcast totals, 1958–1970
The annual June 30 series lists 3,253 standard broadcast (AM) stations in 1958, 3,377 in 1959, 3,488 in 1960, 3,602 in 1961, 3,745 in 1962, and 3,860 in 1963. It then records 3,976 in 1964 and 4,025 in 1965. The 1966 cell is blank, so no station count is stated for that year here. The series resumes with 4,075 in 1967, 4,185 in 1968, 4,203 in 1969, and 4,288 in 1970. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
| Date (June 30) | Standard broadcast (AM) stations |
|---|---|
| 1958 | 3,253 |
| 1959 | 3,377 |
| 1960 | 3,488 |
| 1961 | 3,602 |
| 1962 | 3,745 |
| 1963 | 3,860 |
| 1964 | 3,976 |
| 1965 | 4,025 |
| 1967 | 4,075 |
| 1968 | 4,185 |
| 1969 | 4,203 |
| 1970 | 4,288 |
The 1970 figure shown here is the June 30 annual observation. The historical table also marks a separate 1970 census-date row for April 1; that is a different observation and is not substituted for or combined with the June 30 figure. Keeping the dates distinct is necessary when citing the series. Source: Census Bureau, Historical Statistics, Series R 93–105
AM radio station counts statistics: FCC licensed AM snapshots, 2004–2018
The later observations come from FCC broadcast-station-total reports. They state the number of AM stations licensed on specific dates: 4,774 on December 31, 2004; 4,776 on December 31, 2007; 4,790 on March 31, 2010; and 4,782 on December 31, 2010. The March snapshot is dated March 31, so it should not be described as a year-end 2010 count. Source: FCC, Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2004; FCC, December 31, 2007; FCC, March 31, 2010; FCC, December 31, 2010
| FCC snapshot date | AM stations licensed |
|---|---|
| December 31, 2004 | 4,774 |
| December 31, 2007 | 4,776 |
| March 31, 2010 | 4,790 |
| December 31, 2010 | 4,782 |
| December 31, 2015 | 4,684 |
| December 31, 2018 | 4,619 |
The FCC’s later reports list 4,684 AM stations licensed as of December 31, 2015, and 4,619 as of December 31, 2018. These are licensed-station snapshots, with dates and wording taken from the reports. They are presented separately from the Census historical series, which uses its own “operating broadcast stations” table heading and earlier notes about authorized counts. The labels and reporting dates should remain attached to the figures when comparing periods. Source: FCC, Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2015; FCC, December 31, 2018
The checked figures end in 2018. They provide a historical record across two source series and do not establish a present-day AM station total. The Census figures in this article are June 30 annual observations, with the stated geographic coverage and authorization caveat; the FCC figures are explicitly dated licensed-station snapshots. Preserving these definitions and dates makes the counts interpretable without treating different reporting conventions as identical.
Sources
- Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970: Series R 93–105, Radio and Television Stations, Sets Produced, and Households With Sets
- Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2004
- Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2007
- Broadcast Station Totals as of March 31, 2010
- Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2010
- Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2015
- Broadcast Station Totals as of December 31, 2018