Metropolitan commercial radio stations have experienced a stronger advertising market in February, with ad revenue up by 7% compared with the same month in 2006.

The just released PriceWaterhouseCoopers Radio Revenue Performance figures show radio stations in the five capital city markets earned $44.2 million in advertising revenue in February 2007, compared with $41.3 million a year ago.

Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner says: “Radio stations in all five markets experienced growth in the month of February, with Adelaide and Perth leading the growth.”

The Sydney market, recently in the doldrums, grew by a much needed 4.8% in February, for its second consecutive month of increase. However, ad revenue for Sydney is still down 3.1% for the eight months of the financial year to date, compared with the same period previously.

Ad revenue for all markets across the eight months year to date was $404.7 million, up by 1.8% compared with the same period a year ago.

“Some cautious optimism is returning to the market after a tough few months, and news that the Australian economy is still healthy and the New South Wales economy has avoided a recession should provide a boost to consumer confidence,” says Warner.

Commenting on the growth of the internet (see radioinfo’s other story), Warner says online is “grabbing a lot of attention at the moment, but advertisers are realising just how cluttered the Internet is.” She says Radio is a valuable mass media, especially for “directing audiences through the billions of pages on the world wide web.”