Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) is the national industry body for commercial radio in Australia with more than 261 FM, AM and DAB+ station members nationwide representing 99% of the commercial radio licensees on air. Commercial radio in Australia has nearly 80% of the audience.
The core responsibility of CRA is to provide outstanding service for its members. The industry body is responsible for lobbying Federal and State Governments on issues such as media legislation, industry regulation and advertising codes which affect the radio industry, negotiating copyright agreements with rights holders, managing the radio audience measurement survey contract, developing marketing strategies for the industry as well as managing the major annual radio conference and awards.
CRA has also delivered the successful rollout of DAB+ digital radio to 60 percent of the population in the five metropolitan state capitals, plus two low power trials in regional areas and continues to drive and plan the rollout of permanent DAB+ services for regional Australia.
CRA was established in 1930 as the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters (FARB). FARB, founded with 33 members, became an incorporated company in 1993 and was renamed Commercial Radio Australia Ltd in 2002.
Commercial radio attracts strong audiences in Australia. DAB+ digital radio is tracking ahead of forecast in 2013, with over 1.3 million people listening on a DAB+ device in an average week and nearly 1.2 million DAB+ digital radios sold. Throughout 2013, nearly 80% of all Australians have listened to commercial radio in an average week. On average, Australians spent over 19 hours per week listening to radio and 16 hours of that time is spent with commercial radio. More information about Commercial Radio Australia can be found at www.commercialradio.com.au and about digital radio at www.digitalradioplus.com.au