RAJAR Data Release Put Back To June Under New Methodology

Radio audience research body, RAJAR, today launches its new audience research system, RAJAR 99, as part of its brief to provide a more accurate measure of the UK’s radio listening habits.

The changes to the research system include an easier-to-use diary for recording listening times and stations; individual diary placement to increase the accuracy of the samples and results for all UK stations every quarter.

Currently, not all stations report every three months, resulting in more figures released in quarters two and four. Under the new system RAJAR will report all stations’ figures on a continuous basis every three months, with audience data being refreshed with the most recent data. This should provide a smoother reading of trend data.

As a result of the new measuring methods the first release of data will now be in June, rather than the first week in May as originally scheduled, and will include figures for 37 national and regional stations. All stations’ listening figures will be reported in August of this year and will report on a three monthly basis from then onwards.

RAJAR is jointly owned by the BBC and the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA). Jenny Abramsky, director of radio at the BBC, says: “RAJAR has spent some considerable time over the past two years and invested more than £500,000 in ensuring that RAJAR 99 is the best system available by which to measure radio listening habits in the UK.”

The RAJAR research contract for the period 1999-2002 was awarded to research contractor IPSOS-RSL in June last year (see RAJAR Announce New Contract Award And New Methodology).

RAJAR: 0171 584 3003 … http://www.rajar.co.uk/