New York Radio Market Guide: Stations, Formats, and Jobs
New York City is the number one radio market in the United States by every measure — audience size, advertising revenue, and sheer concentration of talent. With 39 FCC-licensed stations across the metropolitan area (22 FM, 17 AM), the New York DMA is the proving ground for radio careers and the destination market for the industry's most ambitious professionals. Whether you are a morning show host looking to make the jump to the biggest stage, a sales manager targeting a major-market move, or an engineer drawn to the technical complexity of a dense urban RF environment, understanding the New York market is essential.
The Market at a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Nielsen DMA Rank | #1 |
| Total FCC-Licensed Stations | 39 |
| FM Stations | 22 |
| AM Stations | 17 |
| Primary Coverage Area | New York, New Jersey, Connecticut |
| Major Ownership Groups | Audacy, iHeartMedia, MediaCo, Emmis Communications, Spanish Broadcasting System |
The New York market is one of the most fragmented in the country from an ownership standpoint. Audacy holds the largest cluster, but the market also features significant independent ownership, public broadcasting, and Spanish-language operators that collectively make it unlike any other market in the US.
Key Stations and Formats
The New York FM dial is one of the most competitive in the country. WQHT (Hot 97, 97.1 FM), owned by MediaCo Holding, has defined Hip-Hop radio nationally for decades and remains a cultural institution. WSKQ-FM (Mega 97.9), owned by Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS), serves the market's enormous Spanish-language audience with a Tropical and Salsa format. WINS-FM (92.3), branded as 1010 WINS All News, operates as an all-news station under Audacy and is one of the most listened-to news radio stations in the country. WNYC-FM (93.9) is the flagship of New York Public Radio, consistently ranked among the most-listened-to public radio stations in the United States.
On the AM side, the New York market carries some of the most storied call letters in American broadcasting. WABC (770 AM), owned by Red Apple Media, transitioned from Top 40 to talk decades ago and remains a major voice in conservative talk radio. WOR (710 AM), operated by iHeartMedia, carries news and talk programming. WFAN (660 AM / 101.9 FM), owned by Audacy and simulcast on both frequencies, is the nation's first all-sports radio station and a flagship of Audacy's sports portfolio.
Ownership Landscape
Audacy's New York cluster is the largest in the market, encompassing stations across multiple formats including news (1010 WINS), sports (WFAN), and adult contemporary. The company's New York operations represent some of its highest-revenue properties nationally. iHeartMedia operates WOR (710 AM) and other properties in the market, with a significant presence in talk and news-talk formats.
MediaCo Holding, a publicly traded company, owns Hot 97 (WQHT) and WBLS (107.5 FM), two of the market's most prominent urban stations. Spanish Broadcasting System owns WSKQ-FM (Mega 97.9), the dominant Spanish Tropical station in the market. Emmis Communications, which sold Hot 97 and WBLS to MediaCo in 2019, returned to the New York market in January 2025 with the launch of La Exitosa 98.7 (WEPN-FM), a bilingual AC station targeting the market's bicultural audience.
Non-commercial broadcasting is unusually prominent in New York. WNYC-FM and its AM counterpart WNYC (820 AM) reach a combined audience that rivals many commercial stations. WBAI (99.5 FM), operated by the Pacifica Foundation, has been a voice of alternative and community radio in the city for over 60 years. WFUV (90.7 FM), licensed to Fordham University, is a well-regarded adult alternative station with a loyal following.
Working in the New York Radio Market
Breaking into New York radio is genuinely difficult — the market demands experience, and most positions are filled by professionals moving up from other major markets rather than entry-level hires. That said, the market is large enough that opportunities exist across all job categories.
On-Air: Morning show positions in New York are among the most competitive in the country. Most talent arriving in New York has already established themselves in markets ranked 5 through 25. The path typically runs through mid-size markets, building a track record and a demo reel, before a New York station takes notice. Afternoon drive and evening positions are somewhat more accessible, particularly at non-commercial and Spanish-language stations.
Sales: New York radio sales is high-stakes and high-reward. Major-market account executives work with national advertisers, agencies, and direct clients at a scale that simply does not exist elsewhere. The learning curve is steep, but the earning potential for successful sellers is exceptional.
Programming and Management: Program directors and operations managers in New York typically have 10 or more years of experience in progressively larger markets. The competitive nature of the market means that format missteps are visible and consequential, and ownership groups hold their programming leadership to a high standard.
Engineering: The RF environment in New York is among the most complex in the world. Broadcast engineers working in the market deal with antenna farms, tower sharing arrangements, and interference challenges that are unique to dense urban environments. The technical demands are high, and experienced engineers are consistently in demand.
Finding Radio Jobs in New York
RadioJobs.org tracks active job listings from radio stations and ownership groups across the New York DMA. You can browse current openings on the New York market page, which aggregates listings from iHeartMedia, Audacy, Emmis, and other employers in the market. Setting up a job alert for New York ensures you are notified as soon as new positions are posted — given the competitive nature of the market, early awareness is a genuine advantage.
The New York market also offers a concentration of industry networking opportunities that is unmatched outside of Los Angeles. The New York Market Radio Association and various industry events provide access to decision-makers and hiring managers that can be difficult to reach through applications alone.
RadioJobs.org is the radio industry's dedicated job board, aggregating listings from major ownership groups and independent stations across all 210 Nielsen DMAs. Browse the full station directory or explore jobs by market.
Ownership and format information verified March 2026. Radio ownership changes frequently; if you spot an error, contact us.
Last verified: March 2026. Radio station ownership and formats change frequently. If you spot an error, contact us.