Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement

Unlocking the true power of radio with exemplary research practices

Nielsen offers a new level of insight into radio listening behavior with the most accurate and reliable ratings estimate available. Leading companies like Cumulus and Clear Channel Communications, Inc. trust Nielsen to measure the size and composition of their radio audiences in an accurate and consistent manner.

Nielsen has a proud 60+ year-record of experience providing global radio measurement to companies advertising in countries including Australia, South Africa, India and China. Now the US will experience the same passion for accuracy and research excellence in 51 small- to mid-size US markets. So look to Nielsen to solve pressing radio research challenges, such as:

Campaign Tracking and Measurement
Media Mix Optimization

As a US subscriber, you can look to Nielsen for a one-stop solution that’s consistent with our global approach in 12 countries. To help your organization improve radio measurement methods, we can survey a robust sample of the population, track radio listening and apply global best practices:

Provide address-based sampling that reaches 98% of the total US population, including the 34% not currently reached by standard telephone samples. This includes members of the more than 20 million households (18%) that rely solely on a mobile phone for home telecommunications.
Increase the sample size to reduce relative error and book-to-book bounce. In fact, the size will be more than doubled in many markets compared to what is currently available.
Feature over sampling and differentiated incentives to improve response rates and representativeness among hard-to-reach demographic subsets, including 18-34 year-olds and minorities.
Provide top-line, single-source qualitative measurement of lifestyle, consumer behavior and purchase intent.
Adhere to responsible limits on the granularity of analysis dependent on a minimum representative sample size through the web-based Nielsen Radio Advisor software platform.

Radio deserves nothing less. Contact Nielsen today to learn more about how to get started.

As a radio broadcaster, you can be sure that Nielsen understands the unique challenges you face. We are committed to bringing best practices to US radio audience measurement. We are mission-ready today:

Nielsen Radio Advisor - a web-based tool, provides access to radio-listening data collected as part of the Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement services available in 51 small- to mid-sized US markets.

Trust Nielsen to help you make your next radio programming and planning decisions better informed and highly accurate. Contact Nielsen today.

51 Nielsen Radio Metro Markets

Abilene, TX

Albany, GA

Amarillo, TX

Ann Arbor, MI

Bangor, ME

Battle Creek, MI

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

Bismarck, ND

Bridgeport, CT

Cedar Rapids, IA

Columbia, MO

Columbus-Starkville-West Point, MS

Danbury, CT

Dubuque, IA

Eugene-Springfield, OR

Fayetteville, AR

Fayetteville, NC

Flint, MI

Florence, SC

Fox Valley, WI (Appleton-Oshkosh)

Ft. Smith, AR

Ft. Walton Beach, FL

Grand Junction, CO

Green Bay, WI

Huntsville, AL

Kalamazoo, MI

Killeen-Temple, TX

Lake Charles, LA

Lexington-Fayette, KY

Macon, GA

Montgomery, AL

Myrtle Beach, SC

Newburgh-Middletown, NY

New River Valley, VA (Blacksburg Area)

Odessa-Midland, TX

Oxnard-Ventura, CA

Pensacola, FL

Poughkeepsie, NY

Quad Cities, IA-IL (Davenport, Moline-Rock Island-Bettendorf)

Rochester, MN

Rockford, IL

Santa Barbara, CA

Savannah, GA

Shreveport, LA

Tallahassee, FL

Topeka, KS

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Westchester, NY

Wichita Falls, TX

Wilmington, NC

Youngstown-Warren, OH

Message to Broadcasters: Important Radio Station Database Information

As an independent research company, Nielsen has assembled its own complete database of radio station information for each of our 51 Metros. While our Pilot survey in Lexington, KY showed that 99% of station listening was identified by call letters or frequency (based on the Sticker Diary approach), we will ensure that no diary is left behind should the diary keeper prefer to use station slogan etc for the Sweeps. If you would like to provide us a schedule of your information, please download the unpopulated Excel file, complete and return to leslie.enochs@nielsen.com. Changes for call letters and frequencies are due by July 3rd 2009 for the Fall Sweep. (Huntsville and Shreveport only) Other station data such as format, personalities and simulcasts information are due by Aug 27th. This also applies if you want to notify us of recent or imminent changes. After validation of need, the information will be appropriately forwarded and resultant feedback processed. The Fall Sweep runs eight weeks starting September 3rd 2009.

Nielsen Radio Measurement Distortion Guidelines