A&O Country Roadmap 2010: 21.3% Of Country Listener Homes Have Only Cell Phones

A&O's annual "Country Roadmap 2010" tech and perceptual survey, tracking usage and content preference trends among listeners to Albright & O'Malley client stations, went into the field on January 26 and will continue through February 14. Already, more than 7,000 respondents from almost 100 radio stations all over the U.S. and Canada have completed the survey.

“Based on this partial sample, it appears that the format has positive momentum with 42% of our respondents saying they are listening more to their local country stations and only 7.9% thus far, saying they are listening less,” according to Michael O’Malley, who will report on the research at A&O's Pre-CRS client seminar in Nashville on Tuesday, February 23.

Last year more than 14,000 listeners in the US and Canada took part in our online poll with each participating station receiving breakouts from their listeners as well as listeners nationwide.

It appears that this year’s final sample will be even larger.

Albright & O'Malley Pre-CRS Client Seminar
Tuesday, February 23, 1-5pm
Nashville Downtown Library Auditorium, 615 Church Street, Downtown Nashville (a walkway to the library goes through the Bridge Bar and parking garage)
Open to non-clients in non-competitive situations by invitation only.
Sponsored by Lyric Street Records

It's Time To RSVP

AGENDA COMPLETE FOR ALBRIGHT & O’MALLEY’S 2010 PRE-CRS CLIENT SEMINAR
The event is cosponsored with Lyric Street Records, debuting Tyler Dickerson Tuesday, February 23, 1-5pm Nashville Downtown Library Auditorium, 615 Church Street, Downtown Nashville (a walkway to the library goes through the Bridge Bar and parking garage)

Agenda:
1-1:20 - Tyler Dickerson Lyric Street Records artist
1:25 - 2:40 - Mentalist/former radio programmer Eric Samuels - Keynote on decision-making and perceptions
2:40-3;10 - Mike O'Malley - AO Country Roadmap national perceptual
3:15-3:55 - Daniel Anstandig - Interactive Media Action Plan
4:00-4:25 - Tripp Eldridge - Moments of Truth which grow or lose your listeners
4:30-5 pm - Jaye Albright/Phillip Beswick: Meet the Family 2010 Media Audit Country Qualitat

Country radio specialists Jaye Albright and Michael O’Malley (click on either name to RSVP) are presenting yet another reason to attend this year’s Country Radio Seminar and arrive a day early. The consultants have lined up a four-hour slate of presentations, speakers and special events for their clients who are attending CRS, and now they are opening their Tuesday, February 23 meeting to the public by invitation only at the downtown Nashville Library Auditorium.

Anyone who works for an A&O client station has received their invitations now, and if you don't compete with an Albright & O'Malley client, you're also invited (free). But, you do need an invitation.

Ask ARB's Gary Marince

Albright & O’Malley’s 2009 Pre-CRS Client Seminar and the Country DJ & Radio Hall of Fame Dinner, which has long been one of this industry’s most uplifting events kick off CRS week in Nashville on Tuesday March 3.

Our agenda begins at 12:15 pm at the Country Music Hall Of Fame's Ford Theater. During a 2:45 pm session, Marince. Arbitron’s VP/Programming Services answers your questions, and the ones you didn’t know to ask yet, about diaries, PPM, and much more.

Marince, vice president of ARB Programming Services and Development, leads the effort for development of diary and PPM-based software applications for use by group owners, managers and program directors.

Radio programmers benefit most from Gary's unique blend of major market radio experience: He served as chief engineer at WDVE Pittsburgh before moving across town to help launch the Oldies format at WWSW-FM (3-W-S Radio) and ultimately to become its program director. That station's success has been acknowledged by the industry through multiple Marconi awards. Using Arbitron data, Gary developed software that helped 3-W-S Radio identify and target key neighborhoods; Arbitron bought that software and now licenses it as MapMAKER DirectSM. Gary joined Arbitron to spearhead the development of other PD-oriented applications, such as PD Advantage and Corporate Roll-Up. He is currently researching and developing programming applications for Arbitron's PPM technology. Gary holds a B.A. in communications from Penn State University. He is also the proud father of a budding country music artist.

You do not need to be registered for CRS to attend, but (free) access is by invitation only. To get an invitation, RSVP by emailing Mike O'Malley or Jaye Albright.

"What’s Next?"

A&O is excited that media strategist Jeff Vidler has agreed to look at 'What's Next for Radio,' the new landscape for radio in an era defined by a hyper-tight economy, PPM and competing audio platforms. And how this will transform the way you research, program and market your radio station at the Albright & O'Malley Pre-CRS Seminar on March 3 in Nashville.

Jeff is one of Canada’s most respected media research specialists, with more than 20 years of senior-level experience as a research consultant and practitioner. Jeff’s client list includes many of the most recognized names in the Canadian media industries, including Astral Media Radio, Corus Entertainment, Toronto Star, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and The Canadian Press. From 1988 to 1994, Jeff was Program Director at MIX 96 in Montreal, where he was named 1991 Program Director of the Year by the Canadian trade publication, The Record. Prior to that, Jeff served as a Senior Consultant with Joint Communications Corporation working with their radio accounts across North America. He is the new Senior VP & Managing Director of Radio Research at Angus Reid Strategies.

Watch Country Aircheck for more info on this annual get-together of A&O clients and friends.

A&O Pre-CRS Seminar '09 - At The Country Music Hall Of Fame

It has become a twenty-year tradition for A&O clients and friends, some of whom have been attending the "Pre-CRS Seminar" just before the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville for learning, research presentations, dialog on growing Country Music Radio, while sharing new music by emerging artists we're excited about since 1988.

Again this year A&O has reserved The Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall Of Fame on March 3, 2009 from Noon to 5 pm. Be watching in early January for news of our agenda and your chance to RSVP. For now, all you need to do is put the date on your calendar and plan to arrive in Nashville for the 40th Annual Country Radio Seminar and DJ/Radio Hall Of Fame dinner before noon on Tuesday, March 3. It will be an afternoon well spent.