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When was the last time you surprised your listeners. I’m not talking about contests, or promotions, or celebrity interviews. I’m talking about your music.
Work with me here.
For the longest time, radio dominated the music space. Even as formats fragmented, listeners discovered and heard the music they loved on the radio.
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Wrapping up the OCTOBER survey with style and some sort of substance, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—in a committed relationship with the numbers crunchers at XTRENDS—bring you our final foray into the most recent PPM numbers. We understand this may cause you to feel a sense of loss—or perhaps ennui. But that is radio life. You are now free to go back to scheduling music and working on next year’s budget.
The OCTOBER survey ran from SEPTEMBER 18TH through OCTOBER 15TH. Notable occurrences included ROSH HASHANAH, YOM KIPPUR, and the autumnal equinox, not necessarily in that order. Here’s how it unfolded:
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The siren song of OCTOBER—when radio programmers everywhere are faced with the daunting decision of how often to spin Thriller and Monster Mash. Do we treat this like CHRISTMAS music and play them beginning eight weeks out, or do we just bombard listeners with spooky tunes all day on HALLOWEEN? Fortunately, the OCTOBER survey does not reflect that. This one ran from SEPTEMBER 18TH through OCTOBER 15TH. It featured ROSH HASHANAH, YOM KIPPUR, the changing of the seasons and the beginning of a government shutdown.
As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.—with a significant tush push from the data diviners from XTRENDS—are here to make sense of it all. Or not.
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Welcome to OCTOBER. For all intents and purposes this is likely the final survey of the year that will not be tainted by the foul stench of BURL IVES and his evil minions. Even as I write this there are stations around the country that are hanging garland in their (virtual) studios as on-air performers tense up for the endless stream of MARIAH CAREY teases. I mean, what hasn’t been said about those songs already? So, enjoy the fresh air while you can.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – with a healthy assist from the point guards at XTRENDS – bring you another round of the OCTOBER book. It ran from SEPTEMBER 18TH through OCTOBER 15TH. It featured ROSH HASHANAH, YOM KIPPUR, and the changing of the season. Here is what the numbers told us (as they whispered in our ears) …
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Let’s be honest— “Rocktober” isn’t a thing, no matter how many rock stations insist on making it the centerpiece of their fall promotions. If we’re going to rename months, can we at least pick something that doesn’t sound like a dad joke from 1997? The only thing rocking in OCTOBER Is the amount of pumpkin spice AMERICA is consuming. That, and tons of HALLOWEEN candy we steal from our kids.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in close cooperation with the legendary logarithm leaders from XTRENDS – bring you another action splattered edition of how the numbers churn. The OCTOBER book ran from SEPTEMBER 18TH through OCTOBER 15TH. It featured ROSH HASHANAH, the Autumnal Equinox, and YOM KIPPUR. Here’s how it unfolded…
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You may have missed this, but Tesla recently announced a new version – The Model 3. It will be the lowest priced Tesla vehicle available. It lists for $38,630. I guess “cheap” is a matter of perception.
But get this. The “cheapest” model does not have an AM/FM radio. Yes, you can pay more to add that option, but Tesla is eliminating terrestrial radio from its audio package in this model.
We know that the automobile industry has been deemphasizing AM/FM radio for years. The amount of audio entertainment options available on dashboard screens seems to increase with each new model year.
Radio, we have a problem.
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We now have nine months of data on how Nielsen’s implementation of the three-minute qualifier has affected radio listening in the PPM markets. Results have varied by market, demo, and format. The top line number is – according to Nielsen – that listening is up by 17%.
While this does not appear to have had a dramatic impact on programming tactics, there are implications for the sales world. Wait, a programming guy is going to opine about sales? (I see collective eye rolls from all the sales professionals I worked with during my radio station career).
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Back from the shadows again The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with those masters of the dark NIELSEN arts from XTRENDS – bring you our final installment of the SEPTEMBER saga. This is a drama that writes itself (if only). It features the usual suspects, surprise encounters, and heartbreaking, if not tragic, defeats. It is the reality that shapes careers – which is probably the most frightening aspect of this story.
Come on this journey with us. One that began on AUGUST 21st and reached its final destination on SEPTEMBER 17th. There were school buses to catch, dorm rooms to decorate, a three-day weekend and, thankfully – lots and lots of football. Let us begin…
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What is it about SEPTEMBER that inspires so many songwriters? Does it have something to do with failed summer romances? Is it the crispness of the fall air? It can’t be the rhyming pattern because other months have three syllables. And we’re not talking one-offs here. There are some truly iconic SEPTEMBER songs. As a matter of fact, if I just type the line “Do you remember…” you automatically have that ear worm stuck in your head.
You’re welcome.
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in close cooperation with the data diviners from XTRENDS – are not here to discuss cultural trends. Our job is to present the facts as we see them. The SEPTEMBER survey ran from AUGUST 21st through SEPTEMBER 17th. It features the back-to-school daze, football and a three-day holiday weekend. Here’s how it played out:
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SEPTEMBER. A time of renewal. When our lives return to the routine. When the air is crisp with the aromas of autumn. There’s apple cider, football, and way too much pumpkin spice. (True story: A local storage facility is advertising pumpkin spice storage units. This is getting out of hand, people.)
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with algorithmic alchemists from XTRENDS – are back with another round of ratings hijinks. The SEPTEMBER book ran from AUGUST 21st through SEPTEMBER 17th. Along with the usual life stuff that listeners were dealing with, there was a three-day weekend wedged in there somewhere. Let’s proceed with the data dump…
