Surprises with new radio rating system

Earlier this year, we told you about how Houston was going to be one of two test markets for Arbitron’s new radio rating system, the Portable People Meter (PPM). The PPM was developed to eventually replace the archaic diary rating system (where Arbitron randomly sends people a diary – and $2 for their efforts – to record what stations they listen to). The PPM is a pager-like device that you carry with you and records what stations are being played where you are, whether at work, home, in the car, etc.

It’s no surprise that Sunny 99.1 has moved to the top, since so many offices and retail stores play its “non-offensive” light pop/rock. We were, however, surprised to see the tired 80’s station The Point jump into the Top 10. They’ve been playing the same 100 songs for the past four years!

The biggest losers were Urban Adult Contemporary station Majic 102 (ranked #2 in the old system), Spanish station KLTN 102.9 (previously ranked #4) and AM news station 740 KTRH (previously ranked #5).

If only the PPM could detect how much more Houstonist listens to our iPods, CD’s, and satellite radio, radio executives would be scared.