Billboard Buying R&R?

[BillboardBoy]

Reuters reports that Billboard magazine is expected to announce today the acquisition of Radio & Records, its longtime rival.

The 33-year-old R&R is based in Los Angeles, and has been owned by Perry Capital since 1994. Both Billboard and R&R maintain their own radio airplay charts, and both have a strong online presence.

Billboard is owned by VNU, which also owns the Hollywood Reporter.

A call to R&R for comment was not immediately returned.

[johnm1120]

:(

[reception]

I hope it's not the end of an outstanding website for the charts, etc.

[tico]

NOOOOOOOOO!!!

Not that I have anything against Billboard (I rely on them more than R&R), but we need competition.

[EvanJ]

www.radioandrecords.com/NewsRoom/2006_07_06/Topstory.asp

Thursday, July 6, 2006
VNU Purchases Radio & Records

The global information and media company will add "The Industry's Newspaper" to its media portfolio that already includes such well known print brands as Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek, Brandweek and Mediaweek.

R&R, which was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, offers a broad line of print, Internet and digital information services to the broadcast and music industry. R&R's operations will be integrated into the Billboard Music Group, and R&R Publisher/CEO Erica Farber will remain with the new entity upon close of the deal, which is expected to take place by Aug. 1.

"This acquisition is in line with VNU's strategy to further strengthen its services to the radio and record industries," says Michael Marchesano, President/CEO of VNU Business Media and Nielsen Entertainment. "With the added resources of VNU — especially our music services including the Billboard Information Group, Nielsen BDS and Nielsen SoundScan — R&R will continue to grow as a vibrant brand. I am especially delighted that Erica Farber will continue her leadership role with R&R and continue to focus on growing the business. Her longterm affiliation with the brand will help R&R continue to deepen its pivotal role in the industry."

— Al Peterson, R&R News/Talk/Sports Editor

[Arson]

Oh, no!  :( What horrible news.

Does this mean R&R Charts will be based on BDS instead of Mediabase in the future? 

I hope they won't limit the charts on their website like Billboard does theirs. 

[BillboardBoy]

Billboard Parent Acquires Radio & Records

Media powerhouse VNU announced yesterday the acquisition of Radio & Records, the 33-year-old radio industry trade magazine that has served as chief rival to Billboard magazine, which is also owned by VNU, since its inception. The deal is expected to close by August 1.

“This acquisition is in line with VNU's strategy to further strengthen its services to the radio and record industries,” said Michael Marchesano, president and CEO of VNU Business Media and Nielsen Entertainment. “With the added resources of VNU, especially our music services, including the Billboard Information Group, Nielsen BDS, and Nielsen SoundScan, R&R will continue to grow as a vibrant brand.”

R&R’s operations will be integrated into the Billboard Music Group, and it is expected that Billboard Radio Monitor, a separate publication from Billboard, will be folded into R&R. While it's unclear if any staff from either R&R or Billboard Radio Monitor will be affected, Marchesano says R&R publisher and CEO Erica Farber will remain in her post.

“I am especially delighted that Erica Farber, R&R’s publisher, will continue her leadership role with R&R and continue to focus on growing the business,” he says.

R&R is based in Los Angeles, but also has offices in Nashville and Washington DC. It was previously owned by Perry Capital, which acquired the publication in 1994.

Both Billboard and R&R maintain their own radio airplay charts, and both have a strong online presence.

[chartboy]

Note that VNU, the company that OWNS Billboard, is buying R+R, it's not that BIllboard is buying R+R. Reading the post from BillboardBoy seems to read that "Billboard radio monitor" will subsume the R+R charts, but the SOURCE of the data for the charts seems to be up in the air - will it be data from Nielsen? Mediabse? a mix of the 2? if the former, yes unfortunately R+R charts as we know it will be gone. If the latter, who knows. We'll probably find out August 1st. Either way, it's a shame!

[voxlvr]

No. Just No.

[John77]

evanj said:

www.radioandrecords.com/NewsRoom/2006_07_06/Topstory.asp

Thursday, July 6, 2006
VNU Purchases Radio & Records

  The global information and media company will add "The Industry's Newspaper" to its media portfolio that already includes such well known print brands as Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek, Brandweek and Mediaweek.

R&R, which was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, offers a broad line of print, Internet and digital information services to the broadcast and music industry. R&R's operations will be integrated into the Billboard Music Group, and R&R Publisher/CEO Erica Farber will remain with the new entity upon close of the deal, which is expected to take place by Aug. 1.

"This acquisition is in line with VNU's strategy to further strengthen its services to the radio and record industries," says Michael Marchesano, President/CEO of VNU Business Media and Nielsen Entertainment. "With the added resources of VNU — especially our music services including the Billboard Information Group, Nielsen BDS and Nielsen SoundScan — R&R will continue to grow as a vibrant brand. I am especially delighted that Erica Farber will continue her leadership role with R&R and continue to focus on growing the business. Her longterm affiliation with the brand will help R&R continue to deepen its pivotal role in the industry."

— Al Peterson, R&R News/Talk/Sports Editor

You have got to be kidding me...

I will refrain from the expletives, but this REALLY REALLY SUCKS!!!

[reception]

From: R&R Publisher/CEO Erica Farber
To: Our valued radio station reporters
Date: July 6, 2006

Today we announced that VNU has acquired Radio & Records with an official takeover date of July 31, 2006.

While VNU currently publishes competitive products to R&R, they have assured me that the R&R brands you have so generously supported will continue to survive. We are committed to continuing to provide you with the best customer service possible. In the coming weeks we will have more clarity as to what the future holds, but I guarantee that our policy of personal, hands on service will not change.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the incredible support you have shown our company over the years, and you have my personal commitment that R&R will continue to work hard on your behalf.

During this interim period, if you have any questions I hope you will reach out to me directly. As always I will do my best to respond.

Kindest regards,
Erica Farber
310-788-1616
[e-mail]

[johnnywest]

Well, that is some good news. I was worried that Casey would have to give up the R&R charts. From reading Rob Durkee's AT40 book, it said that Billboard was charging AT40 something like $100,000 a year just to use the charts in their magazine.

[BillboardBoy]

July 12, 2006, 6:00 PM ET

Monitor, R&R To Become One Publication

By Billboard Radio Monitor Staff Report





Billboard Radio Monitor turns the page on an exciting new chapter next month, when it joins with Radio & Records to become one title.

On July 6, Radio Monitor parent VNU announced an agreement to acquire R&R.

Combining the two leading brands in the industry, the new publication, branded R&R, will be infused with Nielsen BDS data-driven airplay charts in full color to deliver the ultimate source for radio decision-makers to better manage their businesses and careers.

Radio Monitor will cease publication in print with the issue dated July 14. During the three-week period prior to the relaunch of R&R, Radio Monitor charts, daily news and updates will continue online.

Debuting with the issue dated August 11, the new Radio & Records will take the best of that brand and integrate elements that have made Billboard Radio Monitor a must-read for thousands of industry professionals including in-depth coverage of the radio business, probing journalism, imaginative layouts, compelling visuals, digital services, and industry standard airplay charts from Nielsen BDS.

Radio and Records will continue to be led by publisher Erica Farber.

“The relaunch of Radio & Records signals our belief that radio, in all its forms, is a strong medium destined to grow,” said John Kilcullen, president and publisher of Billboard Information Group. “To support this growth, we plan to offer timely, innovative, and best-of-breed information, products, services, and analysis across multiple platforms.”

[Arson]

billboardboy said:

Combining the two leading brands in the industry, the new publication, branded R&R, will be infused with Nielsen BDS data-driven airplay charts in full color to deliver the ultimate source for radio decision-makers to better manage their businesses and careers.

Radio Monitor will cease publication in print with the issue dated July 14. During the three-week period prior to the relaunch of R&R, Radio Monitor charts, daily news and updates will continue online.

"Infused" with BDS charts? I guess that means Mediabase is dropped? That is too bad, since BDS is so guarded with their data. I assume the online access to Radio Monitor above refers to some site only available to subscribers.

[Cerebro]

gil said:

billboardboy said:

Combining the two leading brands in the industry, the new publication, branded R&R, will be infused with Nielsen BDS data-driven airplay charts in full color to deliver the ultimate source for radio decision-makers to better manage their businesses and careers.

Radio Monitor will cease publication in print with the issue dated July 14. During the three-week period prior to the relaunch of R&R, Radio Monitor charts, daily news and updates will continue online.

"Infused" with BDS charts?  I guess that means Mediabase is dropped?  That is too bad, since BDS is so guarded with their data.  I assume the online access to Radio Monitor above refers to some site only available to subscribers. 

You are correct. There is only a scant amount of chart info that the "average Joe" can get from billboardradiomonitor.com. The bulk of it is subscriber only. My biggest fear here is that the new R&R will no longer have full charts available on their site. I hope that won't be the case, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Hot AC Archiver]

I agree that oods are that the R&R site will become like the current Radio Monitor site with limited charts.

Something else to consider is that the current Mediabase charts for the R&R panel will most likely cease to exist, for example the "a2r" Hot AC chart will no longer be available. Hopefully the full panel, those with "m" in them (a2m) will still be available.

[JCMF3]

No more free charts... :'(

[patstop40]

F

[patstop40]

First off, Casey right now uses the R&R charts provided by Mediabase. I have heard the rumors that Both AT20 and AT10 will continue to use unpublished charts from Mediabase. But R&R will not have anything to do with their rankings. Casey's orrigional AT40 did use Billboard a long time ago.


Here is a question. When Billboard buys R&R, will R&R Charts continue to be based strictly on radio airplay? Billboard goes by how many times a artist sells a record, instead of how many times it's played on radio. I personally like R&R better than Billboard and Mediabase, but if Billboard changes the way R&R gets it's rankings, I will check out Mediabase instead.

I always go and see what songs are new each week from R&R or Mediabase. However I rely on R&R more than Mediabase. Honestly Both don't have an effect on my chart.

I base mine strictly on radio airplay and what songs are popular at the moment. You can check out our Pop chart at this link: patstop40online.tk/ I hope R&R will stay the same.

[Michael1973]

So, I guess this means bye-bye recurrent rules -- and hello, slower-than-ever AT20 and AT10 charts...

[Arson]

patstop40 said:

When Billboard buys R&R, will R&R Charts continue to be based strictly on radio airplay?

I believe Billboard's Radio Monitor charts only include airplay data as supplied by BDS, so the new R&R charts should only have airplay data as well, since that's what radio programmers want to see.

[johnnywest]

michael1973 said:

So, I guess this means bye-bye recurrent rules -- and hello, slower-than-ever AT20 and AT10 charts...   

So does this mean that Mediabase was doing the recurrent rules only for R&R's sake? It'll be interesting to see what happens with the country chart. That one has the most radical recurrent rule I've ever seen! Three consecutive weeks with a loss of points, and below #1, and you're gone! I'm sure there's been a case when a song was pulled off at #2, but I've never followed the country charts that closely. Boy, will that chart come to a halt as well!

[EvanJ]

pulsemusic.proboards48.com/index.cgi?board=country&action=display&thread=1078968045
The stickied topic "R&R's Country Chart Not Based Entirely On Spins" will not be needed anymore if the R&R chart no longer exists and the only remaining chart (Billboard/BDS) is determined solely by spins.

[Hot AC Archiver]

Billboard's Country chart is based on audience, not spins.

[Zazie]

evanj said:

pulsemusic.proboards48.com/index.cgi?board=country&action=display&thread=1078968045
The stickied topic "R&R's Country Chart Not Based Entirely On Spins" will not be needed anymore if the R&R chart no longer exists and the only remaining chart (Billboard/BDS) is determined solely by spins.

I don't quite understand this comment. Right now the Billboard country chart is determined by audience impressions, not by spins at all (except in one obscure area of decision-making about recurrency). Why would that change to spins?

But you're right that the stickied topic won't have any function any more, although I am hoping we might see the MB R&R panel kept up through the end of the year. After all, they have contracts with the countdown shows to provide them data, and presumably those contracts will be fulfilled.

Also, to johnnywest: sure, the Mediabase R&R country panel reports have followed the recurrent rules set down by R&R. R&R has been paying for the data, so they get it in the format they want it. There are other MB country reports besides the R&R panel. I don't know what recurrent rules are followed there.

[EvanJ]

Sorry. I just assumed Billboard used spins. Either way, it won't use an unknown formula like it does now.
In case the Radio and Records and Mediabase charts go away and the only charts available for free are what the Billboard website makes available on Thursdays (such as Top 20s for certain charts), the Billboard Artist Index and Song Index will be useful to look up how your favorite artists and songs are doing although it would take a while for one person to recreate a significant portion of a chart that way.
www.billboard.com/billboard/images/pdf/index_artist.pdf
www.billboard.com/billboard/images/pdf/index_song.pdf
Does anybody know how much Radio and Records was sold for?

[hotacfan69]

1.Will the R&R website still continue to do the currect charts like the Pop,AC,Hot AC or will they disappear? 2.When will the new charts debut?

[Cerebro]

hotacfan69 said:

1.Will the R&R website still continue to do the currect charts like the Pop,AC,Hot AC or will they disappear?

Not known. I'd presume that the site will continue to post some sort of chart data for each of it's formats. How detailed or expansive that data is, considering BDS' tendancy to be guarded with such info, remains in question.

2.When will the new charts debut?

The new R&R kicks off with the issue dated August 11.

[Perp]

I contacted Mediabase today asking them what will change after this buyout occurs.  I asked...

Since I didn't see this answered on the FAQ I was wondering what the impact the Billboard buyout of R&R will have on the Mediabase website.  Will free charts still be available to the public as we see them now?  I assume the R&R-only panel charts will be going away, but will the charts using the full Mediabase panel remain?

The reply...

Hi. Mediabase charts won't change post-R&R's transfer to VNU.  Depending on where you see them now, you'll still see them. What's visible on the R&R site is up to them and I'm not privy to that information.

Hope this helps. If not, email or call.

Jeff Gelb
Mediabase
818-461-xxxx 

I have the phone number and his email addy.  PM me if you want it. 

[Arson]

Thanks for the info, Perp.

I suppose Mediabase is technically inaccessible to the general public as well, and is supposed to be available to radio professionals through AllAccess. R&R was pretty amazing for being so generous with their chart info readily available on their website.