Report: Airplay Charts, Music Consumption Don't Always Correlate

With so many options available to music fans today, what is traditional radio’s role in the scheme of things?

In his blog, President/CEO of Bridge Ratings LCC Dave Van Dyke addresses this question in light of a new analysis conducted at Bridge Ratings comparing published U.S. radio top 100 airplay lists with the top 100 most consumed songs on-demand.

The resulting correlation – or lack of - between the two lists is staggering.

Radio programmers who rely on published airplay charts to manage and consider music for their stations are making incorrect decisions if playing the hits is their reason to be.

According to a recent Bridge Ratings study of listeners to traditional radio, the reason 85% listen is to hear their favorite songs – whenever they tune in.

Programmers who do not consider the true music consumption metrics available through on-demand streaming are taking a poison pill which could alienate a large segment of listeners.

Read More Now