Friday, April 1, 2011

Arbitron Still Has A Long Way To Go For Full Accreditation...

(Weekend Edition)
It's been a long, hard struggle for Arbitron. They've had a tough time getting accreditation for their portable people meter (PPM) radio audience measurement services. Over the last several months accreditations have been trickling in and yesterday's pickup of 11 additional markets should make them happy for about a minute. They still have a long way to go...

Arbitron announced yesterday that they've secured accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC) for its PPM measurement service in 11 markets. I'm happy for them but as Research Magazine notes, 34 markets remain for accreditation. To-date, MRC, the industry's measurement cop, has signed off on 14 out of a total of 48 PPM markets, along with an analysis tool for PPM data. While the reasons services fail to be accredited are not disclosed by auditor MRC, it's not hard to figure out that each market is submitted to an annual audit, according to an Arbitron spokesman. Gregg Lindner, the company's chief research officer says "We will continue to work with the MRC with the goal of achieving accreditation for PPM radio ratings across all PPM markets...

Arbitron will get its chance to turn things around in those 34 markets with the 14 they already have accreditation in. All 48 markets will be audited again in 2011 when Arbitron submits them at MRC's request. If you're keeping score - 14 markets down with 34 to go...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1876] Play Ball: Boston beats Philadelphia 6-5 in the first official National League game. The Boston Red Caps become the Braves and the Philadelphia A's will be expelled after the '76 season (4/1)...
2.1877] With 6 you get egg roll: President Rutherford B. Hayes rolls out the first Easter egg as the annual Easter Egg Roll begins on the White House lawn (4/2). 134 years later, it's still being done (4/2)...
3.1936] Death by electrocution: Bruno Hauptmann is electrocuted in Trenton (NJ) for the kidnap-murder of the Lindbergh baby (4/3)...
4.1966] The Mets win the lottery: The New York Mets win the rights to "The Franchise" aka Tom Seaver in a lottery drawing after the Atlanta Braves violated rules by signing the pitcher after the college season had started. Three years later Seaver helps the Mets win their first World Series (4/3)...
5.1972] Strike One: Major leaguers walk out at the end of spring training and begin the first general player's strike in sports history. They return April 13 (4/1)...
6.1972] 'Happy Trails': Mets manager Gil Hodges who managed the Mets to their first world championship in 1969, dies of a heart attack while playing golf in West Palm Beach (FL) two days before his 48th birthday. Yogi Berra replaces Hodges as Mets manager (4/2)...
7.1976] A ripe Apple: Apple Computer is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (4/1)...
8.1984] Marvin murdered: Marvin Gaye is shot to death by his father in Los Angeles one day before his 45th birthday (4/1)...
9.2003] Saving Private Lynch: American troops enter a hospital in Iraq and rescue Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, held prisoner since her unit was ambushed 9 days earlier (4/1)...
10.2010] iPad launch: Apple launches the iPad (4/3). To date, more than 15 million have been sold...

Music Memories:
Events:
Rock 'n Roll photographer Richard Aaron presents a selection of his favorite shots in a benefit to help the National Kidney Foundation serving Southern California and Southern Nevada. Admission is $20 per guest at the Ensele Gallery, 23480 Park Sorrento in Calabasas (CA), Saturday, April 16 from 7pm-10pm...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (4/1) Rachel Maddow (38), Susan Boyle (50), Gil Scott-Heron (62), Jimmy Cliff (63), Rusty Staub (67), Rudolph Isley (72), Ali MacGraw (73), Debbie Reynolds (79), Jane Powell (82) and Brendan Byrne (87)...(4/2)'Law and Order's' Christopher Meloni (50), Emmylou Harris (64), Linda Hunt (66), Reggie Smith (66), Leon Russell (69), Dr. Demento (Barrett Hansen) (70) and Carmen Basilio (84)...(4/3) Leona Lewis (26), Picabo Street (40), Eddie Murphy (50), David Hyde Pierce (52), Alec Baldwin (53), Tony Orlando (67), Wayne Newton (69), Marsha Mason (69), Jeff Barry (73) & Doris Day (89)...

Timeline Countdown: The Final Four tips off on Saturday Night, Monday night is the Championship Game, 18 days until Passover, 24 days until Easter, 36 days until the Kentucky Derby & 37 days until Mother's Day...
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