The ACMA undertook quantitative research in 2016 to examine the role of AM radio in the contemporary communications environment. Radio in the bush—A study of radio listening in remote Western Australia explores the radio listening habits of people living in remote and very remote Western Australia.

The research shows that radio is important to people in the bush. Remote Western Australians spend significantly more time listening to the radio (AM, FM and online) than the nation as a whole. The number of hours spent listening to AM radio in the bush is double the regional and national levels, with the majority of time spent listening to radio in the car.

Radio also provides a key community service for people in the bush—it is identified as a key information source in emergency situations and an important source of local news for people in remote Western Australia.