Posts in "Hot Topics"
January 30, 2025
Filed Under: Hot Topics
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the math mavens from XTRENDS – are back with another attempt at making sense out of the ratings. As you are well aware, the HOLIDAY book is sort of the forgotten survey. Any station with a bad book can chalk it up to those dastardly bells and drummers.
This book is notable for a few things. First, it was five weeks long. This allowed NIELSEN to readjust its circadian rhythms. As a result, the CHRISTMAS carnage only affected the first three weeks of the book, which ran from DECEMBER 5TH through JANUARY 8TH.
This is also the book where we bid a fond farewell to the five-minute rule. We wish it well in its future endeavors.
Let’s go inside the numbers…
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January 29, 2025
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Welcome back for another exciting round of ‘How the Ratings Turned.’ Once again, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the computational crafters from XTRENDS – are here to see how the holiday hostilities panned out. If our previous edition is any indication, then we are in for another wild sleigh ride.
The HOLIDAY book ran from DECEMBER 5TH through JANUARY 8TH. As a result, 40% of the survey was not tainted by the stench of BURL IVES and his ilk.
One other note – this also marks the end of the era: from now until the end of time, we will no longer have to abide by the five-minute rule. I’m thinking we should put up one of those roadside historical markers to commemorate the event.
Now, on with the countdown…
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January 28, 2025
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Welcome to the roundup. In this issue we will see how much carnage Santa wrought on the radio landscape. However, there are three things that are worth noting for this survey.
First, it was five weeks long. This was so Nielsen could realign its metaverse.
Second, of the five weeks surveyed, only three were covered by the holiday music scam.
Third, this is the last time we will be encumbered by the five-minute rule (which is not to be confused with the five-second rule, which is the law of the land).
The HOLIDAY book ran from DECEMBER 5TH through JANUARY 8TH and featured, oddly enough, a few holidays. Imagine that. Here is the reality of the situation:
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January 16, 2025
Filed Under: Hot Topics
As the tragic fires in Los Angeles have brought into sharp focus, significant and devastating natural disasters are a way of life in the U.S. And, whether it’s hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, blizzards, or wildfires, radio is ALWAYS there.
Radio – and more importantly radio people – are always at the forefront in providing critical, timely, and, often, life-saving information. Radio is also instrumental in the aftermath of any natural disaster. From clean up to fundraising, the power of radio makes a difference.
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January 9, 2025
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your radio life. As of January 9th everything in the ratings universe for PPM markets has changed – forever.
The new Nielsen three-minute rule is not the ratings law of the land. This grand change opens up a brave new world of possibilities for our industry.
What will it all mean?
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January 2, 2025
Filed Under: Hot Topics
As a dedicated reader of this here missive, you might spend time every month reading through our Radio Ratings Roundup (RRR). This is where we do a semi-deep dive into the ratings of the top-20 markets. Chances are greater that you likely skim the articles, looking for markets or stations you care about.
That’s fine. Really, it’s just fine.
That said, you may have missed something in December’s RRR.
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December 30, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Welcome back to the extended play version of the RRR. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – with a significant contribution from the data diviners from XTRENDS – are here to wrap up the DECEMBER survey. While the first three rounds revealed the usual avalanche of audience augmentation for those stations who changed their formats, this final take is just chock full of surprises. One could say that several markets were delivered lumps of coal.
This survey ran from NOVEMBER 7TH through DECEMBER 4TH. Besides the holiday hijinks, there was the hallowed three-day weekend devoted to our Veterans along with the uniquely American bacchanalian feast of THANKSGIVING. Let’s all go for one more sleigh ride …
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December 27, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Now that CHRISTMAS is officially in the rearview mirror, can we have a frank conversation about privacy? In an age where every company – and many governments – watch our every key stroke, why is it that we gleefully sing about some foreign agent who can “see you when you’re sleeping and know when you’re awake.” Isn’t that Fitbit’s job? And who is he to judge whether we’ve been naughty or nice? When you peel back the wrapping paper, it does seem a bit creepy, no?
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – along with the parsers of data from XTRENDS – are back with round three of the DECEMBER survey. This one really boils down to how much MARIAH CAREY affected the ratings. The book ran from NOVEMBER 7TH through DECEMBER 4TH. There was a weekend where we honored those who served and a long weekend where we were served heaping platefuls of grub. Here’s how it went:
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December 26, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
Welcome back. As you recover from the chaos and cacophony of the holiday rush, you can be comforted by the fact that the tintinnabulation of the bells will no longer compete with your tinnitus. (Anyone who has worn headphones for a living will understand that one.)
The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – being augmented and abetted by the numbers merchants from XTRENDS – are back with the delayed second edition of the DECEMBER roundup. Yes, as you would expect, this one has the foul taint of BURL IVES permeating the airwaves. The survey ran from NOVEMBER 7TH through DECEMBER 4TH. Besides the ring-dingling madness, the book featured a three-day weekend and the disruption known as THANKSGIVING.
Here we go…
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December 23, 2024
Filed Under: Hot Topics
And so it begins. The DECEMBER survey has been unleashed, and it’s marred by the annual release of the scourge of Scrooge upon a fully suspecting populace. Beginning early in this time frame – which ran from NOVEMBER 7TH through DECEMBER 4TH – almost every single stinkin’ market had that one station that decided to play DEAN MARTIN records. As we shall see, the results will speak for themselves … though it must be said that The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – with a healthy assist from the playmakers at XTRENDS – will provide our own snide remarks in a hope to liven up the festivities. Besides the inception of Santa’s reign, DECEMBER also featured a three-day weekend and the ritual stuffing of the turkey.
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