News brief
AM Radio Act opponents spent $6.3M lobbying in Q3 as Senate stalls
Opponents of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act spent $6.3 million lobbying against it in the third quarter of 2026, Radio Ink reported on October 23, 2026, led by Toyota at about $1.7 million and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation at about $1.5 million. Supporters spent about $3.7 million, and the Senate bill sits on the calendar with no vote scheduled before the midterms.
By Source: Radio Ink · Published · Announcement date
Radio Ink reported on October 23, 2026 that opponents of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act spent $6.3 million on lobbying in the third quarter, hoping to stall the bill in the Senate.
The spending breakdown on the opposing side: Toyota spent roughly $1.7 million, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation about $1.5 million, the Consumer Technology Association $810,000, Tesla $650,000, Honda $520,000, Volkswagen $420,000, SoundExchange $290,000, BMW $230,000, Lucid $80,000 and Mazda $60,000. Supporters spent about $3.7 million, led by the National Association of Broadcasters at $2.7 million, iHeartMedia at $988,568, Salem Media at $30,000 and the International Association of Fire Fighters at $204,309.
The House passed its version, H.R. 979, by voice vote in September. The Senate companion, S. 315, has more than 60 cosponsors but sits on the Senate calendar with no vote expected before the midterm elections; Senator Chuck Grassley has said it needs unanimous consent or a year-end legislative vehicle to move. Some automakers, including Tesla, Volkswagen and Volvo, have already dropped AM radio from some models, and Tesla is removing FM as well.
WHY IT MATTERS: Whether every new car keeps an AM tuner decides how much longer broadcast radio, and the spoken-word audio ecosystem around it, stays one button away for drivers. The lobbying gap shows the auto and tech industries betting the dashboard belongs to apps and streaming, while broadcasters argue AM remains emergency infrastructure. Podcasters watch this fight because in-car listening is where radio and podcasting compete most directly.
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