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Three Essential Questions for Better Music Testing

Three Essential Questions for Better Music Testing

Selecting a music testing company can feel overwhelming. With so many options
available, it’s crucial to ask the right questions to ensure you’re making a decision that
delivers accurate, actionable insights. Our goal at Advantage Music Research is to
make your music testing process simple for a fair price. Here are three key questions
every radio station should ask before partnering with a music testing company.

1. How Are Study Participants Recruited?

Recruitment methods can make or break the quality of your music test. Effective recruitment ensures that your study isn’t limited to just one type of participant – for
example, those reachable only through a specific method like email or social media.

At Advantage Music Research, we employ a multi-methodological recruitment approach allowing us to reach respondents from landlines, mobile phones and online sampling panels. By incorporating all different recruitment methods, Advantage Music Research
ensures a quick and comprehensive representation of your target listeners. A diverse recruitment strategy gives radio stations the confidence that their audience is accurately represented and the very best data to build a playlist from.

2. What Grade of Sample Is Being Used?

Not all samples are created equally. Understanding the different grades of samples can
help you identify quality in music research:

  • “A” Sample: These respondents are highly vetted. They’ve opted in or been recruited via telephone, with extensive profiles and reliable histories.
  • “B” Sample: Similar to “A” sample respondents, these participants have opted in but may have less historical data. Over time, as they engage more, they transition into “A” sample respondents.
  • “C” Sample: These participants are typically newer and recruited online. They have limited information on record and tend to provide lower response rates.
  • “D” Sample: The lowest quality, “D” sample respondents are often sourced from purchased email lists and offer very limited, unreliable data.

AMR prioritizes “A” and “B” samples to ensure data quality. “C” samples are only used
in difficult markets or hard-to-reach demographics, and even then, rigorous screening
ensures high standards. “D” samples are never used.

3. How Is Quality Maintained in Online Testing?

Online music testing offers convenience for respondents, allowing them to participate
from any location at their own pace. But ensuring data integrity in an online format requires robust quality controls through technology and human interaction.

Advantage Music Research’s processes include:

  • Prescreening Respondents: Before tests begin, participant profiles are reviewed to ensure their data matches recruitment information with verification for station listenership
  • Hook Randomization: Song hooks are presented in randomized order to eliminate bias from sequential ratings.
  • Speed Controls: To prevent rushed responses, embedded safeguards ensure participants engage thoughtfully with the test material and prevent speeders from completing the survey
  • Dummy Hooks: Any respondent that fails to follow our Dummy Hook instructions is immediately terminated from the study, ensuring that all respondents are paying close attention.

Referrals: We never accept referrals for music tests.

Asking the right questions is the first step toward smarter music testing and smarter
programming. At Advantage Music Research, we’re committed to transparency, quality, and giving you the tools to build a playlist that resonates.

Contact Deena Hollander at DeenaHollander@AdvantageMusicResearch.com to
learn more.

Unlocking Radio Success: The Power of Customized Music Research

Unlocking Radio Success: The Power of Customized Music Research

In today’s fast-paced, competitive radio landscape, establishing a deep connection with listeners is more crucial than ever. With the sheer volume of entertainment options available, regardless of market size, radio stations must navigate unique challenges to
create programming that not only attracts but also retains a loyal audience. A key to
achieving this success lies in leveraging customized music research – a game-changing
tool that provides invaluable insights into audience preferences and music trends, and listener engagement.

The Importance of Customized Music Research in Today’s Radio Market

The radio industry operates within a highly competitive environment. For stations to
thrive, they need to deeply understand the tastes and behaviors of their audiences. This is where customized music research steps in. Unlike generic or one-size-fits-all
research tools, customized music research offers tailored insights specifically designed
for a radio station’s market and demographics.

By conducting research that aligns with the specific preferences of your listeners, you gain access to data that reveals what truly resonates with your audience. Customized
research involves analyzing listener preferences, understanding the evolving music trends, and learning how to best program your music library. The result is actionable
data that empowers radio stations to make informed, strategic decisions about their
playlists and overall programming.

Benefits of Customized Music Research regardless of market size

For radio stations in all market sizes, figuring out your music library can feel daunting.
However, customized music research provides a powerful competitive advantage.
Here’s how:

1. Increased Listener Loyalty: By aligning your station’s programming with the music
your listeners love, you create a more engaging and personalized experience. When
listeners feel like the station understands their tastes, they are more likely to stay
tuned in, increasing overall listenership and loyalty.

2. Enhanced Audience Engagement: Custom music research helps radio stations gain a deeper understanding of how different segments of their audience engage with music.
With this knowledge, you can curate playlists and design programming that fosters
emotional connections with listeners, driving higher levels of engagement.

3. Stronger Advertising Potential: Advertisers are always looking for platforms that can reach a highly engaged and targeted audience. With customized music research, you
can demonstrate to potential advertisers that your station has a unique understanding of
your listeners & preferences. This not only increases your station’s appeal to advertisers
but also allows you to deliver more relevant advertising, ultimately leading to higher
revenue.

Customized music research isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a strategic advantage that
helps your station stand out, connect more deeply with listeners, and grow your brand in a crowded audio landscape. Whether you’re navigating a major market or a smaller
one, having the right insights can make all the difference.

Contact Deena Hollander at DeenaHollander@AdvantageMusicResearch.com to learn more.

How Scorecard Delivers Trustworthy Data with Ease

How Scorecard Delivers Trustworthy Data with Ease

High-quality music research isn’t just about recruiting respondents; it’s about ensuring
accuracy at every step. At Advantage Music Research, we have built Scorecard to set
the standard for reliable, transparent music data collection. A great music test at a fair
price.

How Scorecard Ensures Accuracy

1. Rigorous Online Testing Procedures

All respondents undergo a structured process to maintain quality. This includes:

  • Screening of all respondents with the requirement to indicate strong listenership
  • Randomization of hooks to eliminate order bias.
  • Speed controls to filter out careless participation.
  • Termination of those who fail dummy hook instructions.

These steps ensure that every response you receive is meaningful and reliable.

2. Guaranteed Sampling Quotas

We always deliver your agreed-upon sample within a 10% margin of error. If quotas
aren’t met, we continue interviewing until they are. This promise ensures you can count
on the data to meet your goals.

3. Flexible and Customizable Data Delivery

We deliver insights using Cornerstone Research’s Analyst software, a user-friendly
platform that allows you to create filters, categories, and breakouts with ease. You’ll
receive your data within 5–6 weeks after your screener and hooks list are finalized. It’s
really as simple as that.

Transparent Pricing with Premium Hooks

Budgeting for music tests shouldn’t involve surprises. That’s why Scorecard includes
high-quality hooks from Hooks Unlimited in every test. The production cost is baked into
the price, so there are no hidden fees. Whether you’re a small station or a major player,
you’ll receive data you can trust at a price you can afford.

Experience the Scorecard Difference

At Advantage Music Research, we know that reliable data is critical for making informed
programming decisions. With Scorecard, you get high-quality insights that fit your
budget – no compromises, no surprises.


Ready to start? Contact Deena Hollander at


DeenaHollander@AdvantageMusicResearch.com to learn more.