Commuting Marketers Rise to 91% in Survey

A Cumulus Media Advertiser Perceptions survey of 304 marketers and agencies tracked commuting habits and in-car audio trends in October.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Car Types

Bold vector editorial illustration of a round analog radio dial in a dark car dashboard, with an open highway stretching ahead. — Cumulus Media's Westwood One survey of 304 marketers found 91% now commute in some fashion, up from 63% in April 2022. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you commute to a workplace most days of the week?

Cumulus Media's Westwood One Audio Active Group released findings from an Advertiser Perceptions survey of 304 marketers and agencies conducted October 1 to 13. The survey found 91% commute in some fashion, up from 63% in April 2022.

Why it matters

The commuting figures indicate how many marketers remain exposed to in-car audio, a channel where AM/FM radio holds 81% of ad-supported time among persons 18 and older. Tracking commute patterns helps advertisers gauge reach for drive-time campaigns.

The survey sample was 304 marketers and agencies, with 59% commuting all or most days and 8% working from home only. Among persons 18 and older, podcasts account for 9% of ad-supported in-car audio time, while SiriusXM and Spotify hold 4% and 3%.

The players

Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media is a major American radio broadcasting company that owns the Westwood One network and operates a large portfolio of radio stations across the United States.

Edison Research

Edison Research is an audience research firm known for its Share of Ear measurements of audio consumption across radio, podcasts, and streaming platforms.

The details

Respondents were asked about their commuting patterns, with 32% commuting some days. The findings were released alongside Edison Research's Share of Ear data covering the fourth quarter of 2025 through the third quarter of 2026, which measures audio consumption in the car.

April 2022: Commuting marketer tracking began with a 63% baseline.
October 1 to 13, 2026: The Advertiser Perceptions survey was fielded among marketers and agencies.
April 2026: Marketer commuting reached 64%, the highest since tracking began.

Roadmap

Edison Research's Share of Ear program has tracked in-car audio for years, and the 81% AM/FM share reported here continues that long-running measurement of radio's hold on the car. The commuting data adds context for how many marketers are physically in those vehicles during drive time.

For advertisers, the survey suggests that a large share of marketers commute by car and are reachable through drive-time radio. Those planning campaigns for drive-time audiences can weigh AM/FM radio's 81% share of in-car ad-supported time against podcasts and streaming options.

The takeaway

In-car audio remains dominated by AM/FM radio, and commuting levels among marketers have risen sharply since 2022. Advertisers targeting drive-time audiences should account for both trends when allocating budgets.