How are FM ratings determined?

[Deadbent]

I was trying to do some research on this today to see whether or not a friends idea of setting his wall of alarm clocks to go off at 5am on WCKG here, would help impact the boys ratings here in Chicago.

To the best of my knowledge, ratings are done by arbitron alone, no?
Info is a bit fuzzy on their main page, but it sounds like they conduct surveys to determine the ratings...

Does anyone have the scoop on how the ratings are figured out?
and if so... would turning on an extra 30 radios tuned to a particular station help any?...


Someone's gotta know.

[WonkaVision]

I believe its done using phone surveys...I was a telemarketer for a bit in college, and we would ask all kinds of questions about what stations they listened to, when they listened...blah blah blah.

[Bill]

It's done via survey. I know that arbitron selects people and gives them books to fill out, listing what they listen to each day. I assume the other ratings service(s) do something similar.

[Suicidebree]

Please just tell your friend that setting a wall of alarm clocks would help.

[krispykreme]

Radios are receivers/not transmitters!

The only way it helps O&A's numbers is if you are picked by Arbitron to do their surveys. The best thing you can do is turn other people onto the show. Word of mouth is a powerful tool. Spread the virus!

[lucky]

EX will know who is watching at what time at anytime they want because each receiver has it's own signature and trust me if the boys were not bringing in bacon to XM they would not be on XM.

The ratings are secret so not to tip their hand to Sirius.

The boys can just say they are number one by far and no way anyone can say different.

[DonTheTrucker]

The thing I always wondered is how the urban and spanish stations do so well in the Arbitron ratings. Their demo isn't exactly known for being reliable in turning in written reports.

[Quinn]

I was trying to do some research on this today to see whether or not a friends idea of setting his wall of alarm clocks to go off at 5am on WCKG here, would help impact the boys ratings here in Chicago.

To the best of my knowledge, ratings are done by arbitron alone, no?
Info is a bit fuzzy on their main page, but it sounds like they conduct surveys to determine the ratings...

Does anyone have the scoop on how the ratings are figured out?
and if so... would turning on an extra 30 radios tuned to a particular station help any?...


Someone's gotta know.

Your friend might be one of the least intelligent people on this planet.

[d0uche_n0zzle]

The thing I always wondered is how the urban and spanish stations do so well in the Arbitron ratings. Their demo isn't exactly known for being reliable in turning in written reports.

The undesirables breed like cockroaches. Just when you think they're all gone, ten billion more of them show up.

And the savages wonder why whitey flees.

[Deadbent]

Your friend might be one of the least intelligent people on this planet.


I say that all the time.
You're right.
But it did get me wondering how exactly they go about figuring the ratings.
Surveys it is.

[moshymosh]

I always thought they got it from feedback from the the radio tranceiver to generate a number. That the ratings people can get some type of number based on how many radios are tuned into the same station. That the more radios tuned to a single station at once would generate a higher response. I remember ona explaining it one tupe in the wnew days when they got their latest book but it seems like I am wrong

[wes mantooth]

The thing I always wondered is how the urban and spanish stations do so well in the Arbitron ratings. Their demo isn't exactly known for being reliable in turning in written reports.

Most of them don't have jobs so they have more time to listen, breed, and fill out the reports.

[Hog's Big Ben]

The thing I always wondered is how the urban and spanish stations do so well in the Arbitron ratings. Their demo isn't exactly known for being reliable in turning in written reports.


They fill out the books thinking they're getting a free radio.

[Death Metal Moe]

I believe its done using phone surveys...I was a telemarketer for a bit in college, and we would ask all kinds of questions about what stations they listened to, when they listened...blah blah blah.

I was selected last year. You get a book and write down what you heard on that day. They even ask you write in if you heard a station on line in a store or at any place if you can ID it. You do this for a week starting and ending on specific days they list.

I was very honest, I even listed hearing a piece of one of Howard's last shows in the garage at my job.

Most of the days I filled in listening to O&A and Ron and Fez on XM. I think they said there is a listing for satellite in the booklets now but back then I asked them how to, and they said to just write it in.

I got books for my whole family and asked them to honestly fill them out too. You get about 5-10 dollars in the envelopes as they come and a last thank you letter. Crisp, new bank notes.

It was OK, I just wanted to be a part of it because of my interest in radio.