In 2018, Mexico had 392 radio stations in the AM and 1,352 radio stations in the FM frequencies with almost a universal coverage of 98 percent of the whole population. Most of these radio stations pertain to groups and holdings such as Capital Media, Grupo Audiorama, Grupo ABC Radio, Grupo ACIR, Grupo Fórmula, Grupo Imagen, Grupo Radio Centro, Grupo Radio México, Grupo Radiorama, Grupo Radiofónico Zer, MVS Radio, Multimedios Radio, PromoSat de México and Televisa Radio. This means that a group of around twenty companies has been dominating the industry for the past decade and, on the contrary, that there are few radio stations of local entrepreneurs or non-commercial stations such as those owned by universities, non-profit organisations, and indigenous communities.
According to a 2016 survey of the Federal Telecommunications Institute, 41 percent of the whole Mexican population reported being regular radio listeners. The percentage of people that listen to radio in urban and rural areas is basically the same: 42 percent and 41 percent respectively. Up to 79 percent of the people expressed that they like to listen to music, 32 percent newscasts, 15 percent entertainment, 12 percent sports shows and 9 percent cultural topics. As much as 27 percent of Mexican children from 7 to 12 years reported to listen to be regular radio listeners. Thus, although it is not the most popular media system, the radio industry is still relevant as a vehicle for disseminating news among Mexicans.
Every month, the ratings of the Mexican newscasts are released by INRA, a private consultant firm. These ratings explain that Ciro Gómez Leyva, Óscar Mario Beteta, Joaquín López Dóriga, Denise Maerker, Adriana Pérez Cañedo, Mario González, Eduardo Ruiz-Healy, Carlos Loret de Mola, Azucena Uresti and Sergio Sarmiento are the top ten journalists and anchors who have the biggest audiences in the country. Six of these radio shows pertain to Radio Fórmula, one of the most powerful radio groups in Mexico. The rest pertains to Stereo Cien, Universal and Radio Red. Ratings might change in November of 2018 because Carmen Aristegui, a senior journalist, returned to commercial radio after two years of being ostracized by the Federal government and private media companies. When her newscast ended, she was in the first places of the national radio ratings. Thus, it is quite possible that her new national show will return to the top ten radio shows in Mexico.
Last, but not least, it is relevant to mention the Sistema de Radiodifusoras Culturales Indigenistas (Indigenous Cultural Broadcasters System). This radio system is composed of 21 stations that broadcast in regions inhabited by indigenous communities. Most of these radio stations broadcast in original languages such as Nahuatl, Tarahumara, Tzeltal, Mixteco, among many others.