Once again, it was digital and off-air that helped pull the numbers up. What the Radio Advertising Bureau now calls "spot" revenue was down 1%, at $3,722,000,000. But Digital jumped 18% to $185 million and off-air rose 5% to $392 million. Network perked up 3% to $282 million. What the RAB calls the Grand Total is $4,581,000,000 – up a combined 1%. The first quarter of this year, before the Japanese carmakers ran into major problems, was better, and now the year-to-date improvement is +2%.

RAB CEO Jeff Haley says “You can see the diversified mix is really supporting radio”, referring to digital and off-air (such as concerts, cruises, etc.) supplementing the traditional revenue stream from spot sales. Haley also reports that “The ad categories that are growing are growing ‘deep'...There is depth of commitment in terms of spending, in the beverage space with Coke and Pepsi, and in the restaurant category.” The RAB reports the outbreak of a "pizza war", which boosts spending. Haley says the Radio Advertising Bureau is “stepping up its business development” and “being aggressive against a core target of about 35 advertisers, working with Katz and others.” The RAB bases its revenue estimates on research from Miller Kaplan.