OCTOBER 16, 2014 THE Sands REPORT UNIFYING THE ALT COMMUNITY “Call-out” is Out: The looks nothing like it did five years ago, let alone thirty years ago! Changing Face of Research Oh man. My space is limited! hen it comes to music research, OK. In the interest of brevity, it’s a maze out there. As we saw I’ll focus on three attributes— last week, radio has an abun- multi-methodological sampling, dance of sources to assess a online data collection, and record’s success. Tweets. Band new measurements. Warren Kurtzman likes on Facebook. Streaming stats. Sales. W Good. Tell me about sampling. But what about the more traditional forms... As consumer tastes and adoption of technology have like call-out? This time we check in with evolved, we’ve determined that there’s no single “right” Coleman Insights President/Chief Operating way to recruit consumers to participate in music Officer Warren Kurtzmanı to find out more research. Some segments of the population are best about the current state of record research. reached through calls to their mobile phones, some are best reached online, and some respond to the tradi- tional landline telephone recruitment techniques our Warren, is there anything new in traditional re- industry has used for years. At Coleman Insights, we use search like call-out or auditorium tests? Or are all three techniques in appropriate proportions based things done just as they have been the past 30 years? on the target audience we’re trying to recruit. It’s more You could probably write a whole article on what’s complicated and costly than simply recruit- changed! How we produce and deliver our FACT Stra- ing—for example—online, but 0 this multi- tegic Music Tests and our Integr8 new music research methodological approach is the only way to get Contact: Richard Sands (415) 383-5955 • [email protected] ©All Rights Reserved “REFLECTIONS” NEW THIS WEEK: KRXP & KCXX BELIEVERS: KKDO, KRBZ, 54,600 +21% THIS WEEK WWCD, WMRQ, KXNA 329K TD ALT ITUNES CHART PEAK AT #11 REALTIME #17 6,800 +47% THIS WEEK 44K TD TOP 10 AT MEDIABASE ON OVER 50+ STATIONS Over 500K Spotify streams this week #3 ALT ITUNES CHART +19% #1 Greatest Gainer THE SANDS REPORT ● page 2 of 5 a broad cross-section of a “Yellow Flicker Beat” What do you advise your clients station’s target audience to about reading a record’s success provide accurate music on things like YouTube views, research data. tweets, streams, and Shazam... While we’re obviously big believers What about online data? in the insights our music research That’s another big change. data provides to our clients, we We’ve moved to online data also believe that other sources of collection for the vast majority data can be very valuable. In fact, of our music research, which one of the services our Integr8 new MB 13* is why the term “call-out” has music research clients rely on us for been dropped from our lexicon. #1 GREATEST GAINER! is guidance on how to use the data Sales: 11K tw | 49k td Collecting data online is simply we supply in concert with other Close outs: WLKK & WHHZ a more efficient approach and data they look at. We like to remind with ubiquitous Internet access, our clients that quality new music we’re able to attract representative samples to research data can be an outstanding tool for determin- complete our studies. A big focal point of our efforts ing why songs are hits with our audience, but it can’t tell here has been building platforms that work for you which songs will become hits. Many of the tools you consumers in every environment—when they’re on mention are great for trying to find “buzz” about songs their PCs, when their on their tablets, and when that can potentially become hits with your audience. they’re on their smartphones... Any downside from looking at these tools? And last, what about these new measurements? Well, keep in mind that Twitter’s active user base We’re utilizing more measures that go beyond the remains relatively small and is not likely representative traditional popularity, familiarity, and burn scores that of your station’s target audience. YouTube is another music research has traditionally provided in an effort tool for tracking early buzz on new music, but the to give our clients more insights to drive their music challenge here is that many videos burst on the scene ıdecisions. I won’t get into too many specifics here, but because of their visual content and can lead to mislead- two areas we’ve been focused on are providing insights ing data on the staying power of the songs fea- about where a song is in its life cycle, and a song’s ap- tured in those videos...Shazam is getting a lot peal within the context of a specific station brand. of attention from programmers these days, but CAGE THE ELEPHANT “ROLLERCOASTER” #12 On MEDIABASE The Worldwide ALTERNATIVE 16* Spotify PUSHING TOP 15! Viral Top 50! TOP 3 GAINER TOP 10 GAINER! HEADLINE FOR OVER TOUR A MONTH! UNDERWAY! MEDIABASE ALTERNATIVE 21* “CIGARETTE DAYDREAMS” NEW THIS WEEK AT KXTE and KFRR NEW THIS WEEK AT KNOB, WHHZ, X107 NEW THIS WEEK AT KNRQ THE FOLLOW UP TO THE #1 ALT HIT “I WANNA GET BETTER” MEDIABASE ALTERNATIVE 24* RESEARCH MONSTER! INCREASES AT KRBZ, Digital Singles +14% With Another DIGITAL SINGLE SALES CONTINUE TO GROW! 7K Sold Again This Week! KBZT, WEQX, MUSIC CHOICE ALTERNATIVE HEADLINE TOUR THIS FALL! INSIDE THE SHAZAM TOP 200 AND CLIMBING! DIGITAL SINGLE SALES CONTINUE TO CLIMB! For more info contact RCA Alternative: Dennis Blair [email protected] (212)833-5534 or Jeff Gillis [email protected] (212)833-5537 THE SANDS REPORT ● page 3 of 5 The Changing Face of Research (Con’t) More on Reading A Record’s Success I’m a baseball fan, and I’m fascinated by they need to keep in mind that once a listener has used the statistical revolution that’s changed our understand- Shazam to identify a song or artist, he or she has little ing of that sport, You see data changing politics, and reason to use the app again as it relates to that song, so social policy, and helping us find the best burrito in America (shout out to LaTaqueria in SF!). So, while we we have little idea if the initial act of “Shazaming” the have more information now, and while I’m excited to see song relates to the listeners’ interest in hearing the song. that new information, at the end of day there’s still three to seven real hits at any one time, and they still seem to find a way to rise to the top. I’m not sure that ever Thanks so much, Warren. Any final thoughts? changes, no matter how much we think we know.” Here’s something I’ll throw out there. Think of new —Derek Madden music as having three phases. Roughly the first eight Cumulus Corporate Programmer/KLOS PD weeks are the “new and growing” phase, where you’re trying to determine whether a song has potential or not, and some of the digital media tools can be help- ful. Phase Two is the “big current hit” phase where your own new music research is vital, because it helps Selfie City you identify which songs have “made it” as hits among your station’s audience, tracking how long those songs stay hits, and if the appeal of a song is polarizing or driven by a specific segment of your audience. The trickiest part may be Phase Three, where you’re trying to determine which hits listeners still love enough to continue to get heavy exposure on your station. This is where some of the new measures we’re working on as part of our Integr8 service is helping clients and which ıwe would be happy to discuss in more detail as we roll them out more extensively. Lorde was in Santa Barbara for her show and KJEE’s Contacts: WarrenKurtzman@ColemanInsights. Eddie Gutierrez smartly snapped this selfie! Or their new music research manager: Rush your Alt selfies to [email protected] MattBailey@ColemanInsights Our Mailing Address: The Sands Report • 38 Miller Avenue, #469 • Mill Valley, CA 94941 ARRIVES 10/27 // IMPACTS 11/10 “ALL OF THE PEOPLE” APPROACHING TOP 30 AT ALT NEW AT WKQX, WZNE AND MORE 1,000+ SPINS AT ALT NATION 26,000 TRACKS SOLD SPOTIFY = 3+ MILLION STREAMS TO-DATE US TOUR: 10/24 Columbus 11/4 Philadelphia (SOLD OUT) 11/5 Brooklyn 11/12 Houston 11/13 Austin 11/14 Dallas 11/16 Phoenix 11/17 Anaheim 11/18 San Diego 11/19 LA 11/21 SF 11/23 Portland 11/24 Seattle 11/25 Vancouver THE SANDS REPORT ● page 4 of 5 Added/New in the Top 50 WRDA-Atlanta No adds Elephant, Chet Faker, Hozier, New Pornographers, Perfume Genius, X107.1-Atlanta No adds Phox, Stars, Trampled By Turtles KROX-Austin Jack White Music Choice Crosses, WBOS-Boston No adds Mike Doughty, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, Mikky Ekko WEND-Charlotte U2 WBUZ-Nashville Chevelle WKQX-Chicago No adds WROX-Norfolk Meg Myers CD102.5-Columbus Dotan, Chvrches, Jungle WJRR-Orlando Bush, Three Days Grace KDGE-Dallas No adds WRFF-Philadelphia Cold War Kids KTCL-Denver New Politics THURSDAY ALT AZ 93-3-Phoenix Royal Blood, 89X-Detroit No adds U2 KTBZ-Houston U2 WXDX-Pittsburgh No adds The End-Seattle Bear Hands Alt 103.3-Indianapolis New Politics KNRK-Portland No adds KPNT-St.