Arbitron: Terrific Summer For Country

This year was a big summer for Country music, and after four straight months of record-breaking growth, America’s #1 overall format was steady in August, going from July’s all-time record 8.4 share (for total persons 6+) to an 8.2 in August, the same number it posted in June, according to Tony Hereau, Media Insights Manager at Arbitron.

In his blog about the August PPMs, Hereau notes Hot AC continues its upward trend, Active Rock joins the party, Urban Contemporary finishes a great summer, and spoken word rebounds.

Top 5 formats for August 2013 PPMs by AQH Share:

 Country, Steady: To keep things in perspective for Country this month, August’s 8.2 share (6+) is still tied for the format’s second-highest monthly share since they began tracking this data in early 2011; its 18-34 share (9.7) is the second-highest month ever, and so is its 25-54 number (8.0). Furthermore, the format just finished a remarkable stretch where in four consecutive months, Country grew its PPM shares by an average of 3% a month, each month, in three different demos. Do the math on that, writes Hereau, and you’re talking double-digit increases across the board since the Spring.

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