800.275.2840 MORE NEWS» insideradio.com THE MOST TRUSTED NEWS IN RADIO MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015 Exclusive: Nielsen tests combining radio and TV samples in small and medium markets. In a first of its kind trial, Nielsen this fall will test using a combined audience sample to measure radio and TV. Conducted in collaboration with the Council For Research Excellence, it’s the first in a two-part test to study the impact on audience estimates and other metrics of a potentially combined service of radio, TV and consumer behavior metrics. The study is the first to be commissioned by the CRE’s new audio committee, which is working with Nielsen to figure out how the measurement behemoth can do a better job of tracking audiences in small and medium markets. “Adhering to the core philosophy of the CRE, the first goal is to ask the research questions while collaborating with Nielsen in the process,” says audio committee chair Buzz Knight, VP of program development for Greater Media. “The overall larger goal is how we can find efficiency and flexibility in the data collection in a way that serves [Nielsen] clients in these markets.” The full CRE approved the test, which according to Knight, was born out of an evaluation of the challenges faced by small and medium market broadcasters. Reliability of audience estimates in these markets have been questioned by radio broadcasters who say Nielsen’s small sample sizes cause ratings to “bounce” or swing wildly from survey to survey. Larger sample sizes would make for more stable ratings. But operators in these sized markets also face business challenges in a sluggish economy, where competition continues to grow and increasing sample sizes is costly. How Nielsen’s combined sample could deliver one-two ratings punch. Think of this fall’s Nielsen-CRE multimedia test as double-dipping into a single sample. Nielsen audio survey respondents will be asked to complete a TV diary survey about one month after the initial week of their original radio diary – and vice versa for TV respondents. The tests will coincide with the fall ratings surveys. Nielsen and CRE will compare the radio and TV study results with the live currency results to help determine whether audience estimates collected in a second stage of a two-stage process are comparable to those collected from respondents at the initial stage. A portion of the sample will be asked to participate in a radio survey first while the rest will take the TV survey first. CRE audio committee chair Buzz Knight says the test will “put a microscope” on what happens to audience estimates, response levels and other crucial metrics when a multimedia sample is used. A potentially greater change is on the line for TV broadcasters in small and medium markets, which are currently measured with one diary for each TV set in the household. The trials will test the impact of using personal diaries for individual household members. The ultimate goal, CRE facilitator Richard Zackon says, is “how do we increase the size of the sample to give the greatest stability to the estimates without driving costs so high that broadcasters can’t afford them.” While not a primary purpose, the tests are expected to also provide a glimpse into single source measurement of radio and TV. That’s important to media planners, for whom integrating media buys has become a top priority. Ratings giant, CRE seek qualitative audience profiles. The second test to be conducted this fall by Nielsen in collaboration with the CRE is aimed at collecting more detailed consumer-behavior data than what is currently measured in the qualitative version of the Nielsen radio diary. Participating households will receive a shortened version of the Scarborough mid- [email protected] | 800.275.2840 PG 1 NEWS insideradio.com MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015 tier booklet, in an effort to gauge expected response rates to a consumer booklet issued in combination with the radio diary service. The CRE is currently working on what specific qualitative questions will be asked in the booklet. CRE audio committee chair Buzz Knight says he and other committee members “heard loud and clear from small and medium market broadcasters about their challenges as they work to improve their business in the competitive landscape.” A top research priority from these broadcasters, he says, is “more depth” of qualitative data to show clients to help them better match their audiences with their clients’ customers. More than a ratings watchdog, the CRE was formed in 2005 to help improve media measurement by conducting and publishing major studies into various aspects of audience measurement. Composed of senior-level research execs from media companies, agencies and advertisers, it’s funded by Nielsen but not beholden to it. Despite royalty settlement, pre-’72 litigation shuffle continues.The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) took a victory lap Friday after the three major label groups reached a royalty settlement with SiriusXM Radio over its broadcast of recordings made before 1972. “This is a great step forward for all music creators,” RIAA chairman & CEO Cary Sherman said in a statement. “We hope others take note of this important agreement and follow SiriusXM’s example.” But whether the major labels plan to come after other outlets that publicly perform pre-‘72 recordings remains to be seen. “It’s hard to tell where the pre-1972 recording owners will try to push this next,” said broadcast attorney David Oxenford. “Until a court makes a determination that there is this undefined performance right and what services it covers, we just don’t know.” There are numerous venues that publicly perform music recorded before 1972, from webcasters to restaurant chains that recreate 1950s era soda shops to classic hits and oldies stations on broadcast radio. But there is no national law that gives pre-’72 sound recording owners a performance right. And in California and New York, where ‘60s pop band the Turtles have so far prevailed in their suits against SiriusXM, it has come down to the court’s interpretation of what rights the ownership of a sound recording affords the rights holder.Oxenford notes that a Florida judge recently ruled there is no specific legislation in the Sunshine State covering sound recording property rights, giving SiriusXM its initial victory in the battle over older recordings. A ruling in favor of the Turtles would have created a new property right in Florida as opposed to interpreting the law, the judged concluded. SiriusXM settlement means pre-’72 songs play on. SiriusXM Radio will pay the major record labels $210 million to settle a dispute over the payment of royalties for songs recorded before 1972. The settlement with Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music and indie ABCKO resolves a suit brought by the labels and gives the satellite broadcaster permission to continue to broadcast the older recordings through the end of 2017. The settlement gives SiriusXM a right to negotiate new licensing terms before December 31, 2017, which would allow them to air the older records from 2018-22. The Big Three label groups and ABKCO say they have the rights to 80% of the pre-’72 recordings that SiriusXM has historically played. Townsquare expands syndication with ‘Ultimate Classic Rock.’ Townsquare Media will launch a new syndicated classic rock show on 28 of its radio stations starting tonight. “Ultimate Classic Rock,” hosted by veteran rock jock Zach Martin, is a broadcast extension of Townsquare’s website of the same name. Airing from 7p-midnight, it’s the fourth nationally syndicated night-time daypart show based on one of the company’s websites, following “Pop Crush Nights,” “Loudwire Nights” and “Taste of Country Nights.” Like its predecessors, the new show will be syndicated to non-Townsquare stations by Compass Media Networks, which handles affiliate clearances and ad sales. Townsquare says the show will feature classic rock music and artist interviews and performances, along with trending information on classic rock artists, albums and concerts. Martin has worked on-air in New York extensively, at the former “K-Rock” WXRK, along with classic rock “Q104.3 WAXQ” and classic hits WCBS-FM. Outside New York, Martin was heard on rockers WMMR, Philadelphia and “98 Rock” WIYY, Baltimore. Podcast helps Boston personality increase his brand meter. When The Boston Globe and Entercom talker WRKO (680) joined forces recently on “The Boston.com Morning Show,” few people were happier about it than Jon Meterparel. [email protected] | 800.275.2840 PG 2 NEWS insideradio.com MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015 The well-known Boston play-by-play and radio personality debuted as cohost of the show last Friday, making the name of his OneWorld Sports podcast, “The Meter is Running,” seem more appropriate than ever. For Meterparel, the podcast is a savvy way to expand his broadcast core. Meterparel in part of a small but growing list of radio talent using podcasts to increase their reach and keep the conversation going in a more freeform environment. A new edition of “The Meter Is Running” pops every two weeks, and at about 40 minutes, it lets Meterparel stretch a little with guests from all parts of the wide world of sports. “You’re not restricted by a clock,” he says. “It’s a [different] level of freedom….You can say more than two sentences at a time.” The podcast has only been around since April, so promotion from the new WRKO show could help bring in more listeners. So far, promos mostly have come from OneWorld’s live sportscasts and from Meterparel reaching out to his 16,000 Twitter followers.