Meanings of radio to teenagers in a niche‐programming era

Meanings of radio to teenagers have changed from a decade ago. These shifts appear to be related to differences in radio and availability of alternative forms of recorded music. As teens approach adulthood, their tolerance for radio programming declines and they listen less to radio and more to tapes and CDs. Younger teens are much more accepting and more involved as listeners, especially during the period when they begin the transition from family to peer‐oriented groups. Among ethnic groups, Whites were found to be less accepting of radio content and less active as listeners than Black or Hispanic teens.