July 15, 2025
Six down, seven to go. The JUNE survey kind of marks the halfway point in our ratings year. If you want to be more precise, we are actually more than past the midpoint as the final two books of the year are contaminated by that foul holiday music.
This book ran from MAY 29TH through JUNE 25TH. Some radio stations were adding ALICE COOPER to their rotations, many were taking to the highways and byways in search of some relaxation, and there was a long holiday weekend nestled perfectly into week #4. How did all of this affect radio listening? That’s why The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – with a healthy assist from the number’s nerds at XTRENDS – are paid the big bucks.
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July 14, 2025
Once again, JUNE is busting out all over. And the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – with a healthy assist from the data gatherers from XTRENDS – are here to clean up the mess. This latest 28-day spree was marked by graduations, summer vacations, a salute to dear old Dad and some of the longest days of the year.
The question is – as more potential radio listeners take to the highways and byways, will we see an increase in tune-ins, occasions, durations, and PUMM? Let’s find out.
This survey ran from MAY 29TH through JUNE 25TH and sounded something like this:
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July 10, 2025
Welcome to the Buc-ee’s Cult
I have a confession: I am now a proud member of the Buc-ee’s cult. It happened fast. One day, I was blissfully unaware; the next, I was circling a parking lot in Virginia like a vulture over a brisket sandwich, desperately seeking a spot. Buc-ee’s had landed just ten miles from my house, and apparently, the entire state got the memo—except me. No local ads, no radio blitz, just a line that wrapped around the building like folks were waiting for Taylor Swift tickets.
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June 26, 2025
I finally got around to watching the movie A Complete Unknown. This is not a review, though Timothy Chalamet was brilliant. It’s more of an observation. Re-hearing so many groundbreaking songs that Bob Dylan created further re-affirmed not only his brilliance, but his immense contributions to the world of music.
I will now resurrect an old question – how will radio handle Bob Dylan’s eventual passing. The man is 84 years old and, not to be morbid, will eventually shuffle off this mortal coil.
How will radio react to this event? You can be sure that the New York Times, AP, Reuter’s, etc. already have obits in the can. CNN and other television networks will produce five-minute retrospectives. You can be sure Sirius/XM will devote an entire channel to the artist. What’s radio’s plan?
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June 20, 2025
Welcome back for our final tour of the MAY radio ratings landscape. So far we have seen the usual spate of the usual suspects scoring their usual numbers. We have also had some surprising plot twists to keep us entertained. Not to mention seeing how the three-minute rule has changed PUMM levels as compared to last year. The one consistent theme of that data is that there is no consistency from market to market.
As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., would be unable to bring you this vital information 13 times a year without the strong support from the crew at XTRENDS.
The MAY book ran from MAY 1ST through the 28TH and did feature the Memorial Day holiday. Buckle up, here we go…
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