What are the radio ratings?
The Arbitron radio ratings determine how many people listen to each station.
Radio stations use this information to learn more about what people like
to hear on the radio.
Do radio stations really care about what the people
in my home listen to?
Yes! Radio stations try hard to provide the kind of programming people
enjoy. But they need your help to find out what you like to hear. That's
why what you and the other people in your home write down in your diaries
is so important.
Why was my home chosen for this survey?
Since we can't ask everyone about their radio listening, we choose just
a few homes to represent the entire radio audience. We selected your
home at random to help represent all the homes in your area.
Why is it so important that I fill out and return
my diary?
Because you'll be making sure that your listening is included in the ratings.
Without your diary, there's no way for us to include your listening… and
the ratings will be less reliable. After all, why let someone else speak
for you?
What happens to my diary after I mail it back to
Arbitron?
We combine it with diaries from all the other people who took part in our
survey. We process this informaton to estimate the ratings and we publish
the results for the radio stations in your area.
Can the other people in my home keep a radio diary,
too?
Yes! We need to know what everyone in your home — age 12 and over — listens
to each day. We mail one diary for everyone age 12 and over.
Will you ever give or sell my name, address or
telephone number to anyone else?
We are committed to protecting the information you provide us. Arbitron,
and any third party we work with in our research, will not release or use
your personally identifiable information to market or sell you anything.
When's the next time I'll get picked to do this?
Chances are, your home will not be selected again for many years. In fact,
you may never have another chance like this to be part of the ratings.