Free Studies

Coleman Insights became the first company to publish ground-breaking studies for the radio industry on the internet when it released its "Alternative Music Clusters: Defining the Boundaries of the Format" study in September of 1997. Since then, thousands of professionals in the media, music and technology industries have downloaded free, insightful reports from Coleman Insights.

To access the reports from our Free Studies, click on the names that accompany the study descriptions below.

The PPM DNA of Canada's High Performance Stations (March 2012)
Coleman Insights analyzed a full year of BBM data from Canada's five PPM-measured markets and identified 13 radio stations that performed significantly better than their counterparts. Learn how large Daily Cumes, multiple listening occasions and Out-Of-Home listening differentiates these high performers from the competition.

What Happens When The Spots Come On - 2011 Edition (December 2011)
This comprehensive study examines audience levels during more than 18 million commercial breaks that ran on over 800 US radio stations in 48 PPM markets over a year-long period. It demonstrates radio's far better-than-expected ability to deliver audience during commercials relative to the lead-in audiences to those commercial breaks.

CRS 2011 Country P1 Consumer & New Media Study (February 2011)
Download the full report from this study from Country Radio Broadcasting, the Country Music Association and Coleman Insights, which we debuted in a presentation at CRS 2011 in Nashville. It demonstrates the high level of satisfaction P1 listeners have for Country radio, how this satisfaction exceeds the expectations of Country radio and Country music industry professionals and how Country P1s are using new media extensively.

Successful Audio Streaming Strategies (September 2010)
Click the above link for the home page for this study, which we debuted at RAIN Summit East on September 28, 2010. View a 16-minute presentation of the results and download the full report from the study.

The PPM DNA of America's High Performance Radio Stations (September 2009)
Our latest PPM study debuted at the 2009 NAB Radio Show and demonstrated the PPM listenership metrics that differentiate highly successful radio stations.

Real PPM Panelists Tell All (September 2008)
On September 19, 2008, Coleman Insights unveiled this study at the 2008 NAB Radio Show. This study was based on exclusive, no-holds-barred, one-on-one interviews with real PPM panelists in New York, Philadelphia and Houston who discussed their perceptions of the meter, how, when and where they used it and how they responded to Arbitron's efforts to ensure their participation. We also gained significant insights about the differences between "perceived" and "metered" listening, including how large this gap is and when and why it exists.(Click here to view a self-directed, multimedia online presentation of the study's results.)

The PPM DNA of Rush Limbaugh (April 2008)
Coleman Insights released this study on April 3, 2008. It provides insights into what drives the performance of Rush Limbaugh's nationally syndicated talk show.

What Happens When the Features Come On? (January 2008)
This study assesses the impact of programming features on music radio stations. It was released on January 30, 2008 via free webinars that were attended by hundreds of radio professionals.

What Happens When New Music Gets Played: The Impact of New Songs on the Country Radio Audience (February 2007)
Jon Coleman presented this second landmark analysis of PPM audience data from Coleman Insights, Arbitron and Media Monitors at the Country Radio Seminar in February 2007. It revealed the impact that new songs played on KILT/Houston had on the station's audience levels, including how that impact varied depending on the type of new songs the station played.

An Early Peek at Rhythmic AC (October 2006)
Since Sandusky Radio launched the first "MOViN"-branded format on KQMV/Seattle on May 1st, 2006, the industry has been abuzz over the introduction of many other Rhythmic AC stations around the US. This report provides the first look at the music approaches these stations are taking, including a detailed comparison of stations utilizing the MOViN brand from Alan Burns & Associates and a number of Rhythmic ACs programmed by Clear Channel Communications.

What Happens When The Spots Come On: The Impact of Commercials on the Radio Audience (September 2006)
This landmark analysis of PPM audience data from Coleman Insights, Arbitron and Media Monitors was unveiled in a presentation by Jon Coleman at the NAB Radio Show in September 2006. It demonstrated radio's outstanding ability to maintain audience levels during commercial breaks

An Early Peek at Classic Alternative (January 2004)
What is Classic Alternative? Coleman insights takes a quick look at the music mixes employed by five large market stations that have adopted the format.

Oldies Insights – Winter 2003 (August 2003)
Coleman Insights' second look at the relationship between Oldies stations’ music mixes and their Arbitron performances suggests that some may have “gone too far.”

Oldies Insights – Winter 2002 (July 2002)
Coleman Insights examines the impact moves to a more contemporary sound is having on the Arbitron performances of Oldies stations.

'80s Insights – Summer 2001 (December 2001)
The second installment of Coleman Insights' '80s Insights series provides a complete look at the performance of the '80s format one year after many stations adopted it.

Broadband Revolution 2: The Media World of Speedies (June 2001)
Learn more about the online and offline media habits of "speedies," those with broadband Internet access at home, work or school. A landmark study presented by Coleman Insights and Arbitron at the Streaming Media West convention.

'80s Insights – Fall 2000 (February 2001)
Read Coleman Insights' early performance analysis of the '80s format adopted by dozens of stations in the U.S. Is this a "real" format or a short-term solution for many broadcasters?

Rhythmic Oldies Insights (December 2000)
In the Spring of 2000, 30 of America's 50 largest radio markets had a Rhythmic Oldies outlet. Today, only a handful survive. Take a look back of what Coleman Insights discovered about the format's performance during the height of the format's rise.

Broadband Revolution 1 (September 2000)
Coleman Insights and Arbitron answered the question "Can Radio Survive The Broadband Revolution?" when this ground breaking study was presented at the NAB Radio Show 2000.

CHR Segmentation (June 1998)
While this look at the state of Top 40 music is a bit dated, it provides a great example of the challenges of catering to different music appetites on one station. This study debuted at the Radio & Records Convention '98.

Alternative Music Clusters: Defining the Boundries of the Format (September 1997)
Another study that--while dating back to the early stages of "The Alternative Revolution"--reveals how sophisticated tools like music cluster analysis can shed light on emerging music tastes.