Radio Research Consortium

What Radio Research Consortium does

Radio Research Consortium (RRC) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit research organization founded in 1981 by Tom Church as a 14-member alliance to give non-commercial radio stations affordable access to audience measurement data. The Olney, Maryland-based organization, which operates as a virtual workplace, holds exclusive provider status from Nielsen and purchases audio audience ratings for every measured market and DMA in the United States in bulk, then sublicenses them to public and non-commercial radio stations at a fraction of commercial rates (approximately one-tenth), thereby addressing the structural disadvantage non-commercial broadcasters faced before RRC's founding. RRC serves several hundred subscriber stations across 45 PPM markets plus additional Diary markets.

RRC's product architecture is a platform-plus-modules model layered on top of Nielsen data. Core deliverables include the Market Ranker (13 releases per year for PPM markets, quarterly for Diary markets), Quarterly and Monthly Binders containing Vital Signs, Topline Graphs, Share% by Hour, Audience Composition, and Hour-by-Hour reports, and the eBook compendium of market definitions and methodology. Proprietary software includes LPCcloud (rebranded from ListenerPC in 2026) for Diary-market listener behavior analysis with custom dayparts, Tune-In/Tune-Out, Crossover, loyalty, and county/zip-code distribution; the desktop PPM Analysis Tool (PAT) for sub-survey level PPM analysis; PD Advantage for panel turnover, audience sharing, and zip-code analyses; PPM Weeklies for 52-per-year trending; and integration with Nielsen's Tapscan Web and Scarborough qualitative data.

RRC's go-to-market is a hybrid of sales-led subscription contracting and community-led training. Stations execute Nielsen Sublicense Agreements and Acknowledgement forms; pricing is split into a PPM Markets tier and a Diary Markets tier, both billed annually with optional software add-ons (PAT, Tapscan Web, PD Advantage, PPM Weeklies, Scarborough, LPCcloud). Education is delivered through RRC Webinar Shorts (20-minute role-specific sessions for Membership, Underwriting, Marketing, and Programming), training videos, live Zoom/Teams sessions, and complimentary Data Consultations. Revenue consists of recurring subscription fees for data sublicensing and software modules; financial figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization is led by President & CEO Molly Davis (in role since August 2024), Managing Director Lori Slingluff (promoted in 2026), and a Board of Directors chaired by Kevin Krueger, with an Emeritus Board established in 2025 to retain founder-era institutional knowledge.

Name

Radio Research Consortium

Legal name

Radio Research Consortium, Inc.

Website

https://rrconline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Radio Research Consortium is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that sublicenses Nielsen audio audience measurement data to U.S. public and non-commercial radio stations at discounted rates, supplemented by proprietary software tools and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Audience Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

akta.pro primary industry

Radio Audience Measurement & Analytics (Ratings, Attribution) (MPAIAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Radio Audience Measurement (PPM/Diary/Streaming Radio) (MPABAOAC)

Keywords

• Non-commercial radio data
• Audience measurement
• Nielsen data sublicensing
• Public radio analytics
• PPM diary markets

Headquarters

HQ city

Olney

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Nielsen Data Sublicensing: RRC purchases Nielsen ratings and audience data in bulk for every measured market and DMA in the United States, then sublicenses to individual non-commercial stations at a fraction of commercial rates. Subscription-based access to Market Rankers, Binders, eBooks, and software tools.
2. Software Subscriptions: Additional fees for premium software tools including PPM Analysis Tool, Tapscan Web, PD Advantage, and Scarborough qualitative data

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Radio Research Consortium contracts with Nielsen to bulk-purchase audience measurement data for every measured market and DMA in the United States, then sublicenses that data to individual non-commercial (public) radio stations at a fraction of commercial rates. The organization supplements this data feed with proprietary software tools (LPCcloud, PPM Analysis Tool, PD Advantage), formatted reports (Market Ranker, Binders, Vital Signs, eBook), and training services that help station personnel interpret and apply the data.

Product overview

Radio Research Consortium provides a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on Nielsen audio audience measurement data for non-commercial radio stations. The core offering consists of Market Ranker reports (local market rankings) and eBook (market definitions and methodology), supplemented by Quarterly/Monthly Binders containing Vital Signs, Topline Graphs, Share% by Hour, Audience Composition, and Hour-by-Hour reports. The proprietary LPCcloud software (formerly ListenerPC) serves as the primary analytical platform for Diary markets, while PPM markets access data through Nielsen's Tapscan Web and PD Advantage tools. Additional modules include PPM Analysis Tool (PAT) for granular PPM data analysis, Scarborough Qualitative Data for consumer research, and PPM Weeklies for weekly trend reporting. Training and webinar services support station personnel in interpreting and applying the data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Market Ranker RRC-produced local market ranker report covering all stations for Persons 6+ (PPM markets) or Persons 12+ (Diary markets) across six standard Dayparts. Delivered 13 times per year for PPM markets and quarterly for Diary markets, sold to non-commercial radio stations.
• Quarterly Binder Series of audience measurement reports produced four times per year for PPM markets, including Topline Graphs with Trends, Vital Signs, Share% by Hour, Audience Composition, Week-by-Week, Day-by-Day, Hour-by-Hour, and PUMM% by Quarter Hour reports for non-commercial radio stations.
• Monthly Binder RRC series of audience measurement reports produced for the nine surveys per year when a quarter is not ending for PPM markets, providing interim audience data to non-commercial radio stations.
• eBook Reference document containing Metro Household Data, local market sample statistics, market definitions, and Nielsen's Description of Methodology. Included with most RRC subscriptions for PPM markets.
• LPCcloud (formerly ListenerPC) RRC's proprietary cloud-based software for diary market stations to examine listener behavior in custom dayparts, create trends over time, export reports, view loyalty metrics, crossover data, and listener distribution by county and zip code. Replaced ListenerPC in 2025.
• Vital Signs One-page report tracking the overall health of a radio station over time, monitoring vital components of audience metrics with trend variations for both PPM and Diary markets.
• PPM Analysis Tool (PAT) Desktop application that analyzes PPM data below the full survey level down to days and weeks for isolating special programming and fund drives. Sold as an add-on to PPM market subscriptions.
• Tapscan Web Web-based application designed for underwriting and sales, providing ratings, Shares, Cume, AQH, Composition and Time Spent Listening estimates for any daypart or demographic, including survey trending and spot scheduler for underwriting plans.
• PD Advantage Cloud application (and PD Advantage Web variant for Diary markets) providing panel turnover analysis, audience sharing data, hot zip-code analysis, Vital Signs, P1/P2 listeners, tuning frequency and duration, zip code analysis, and diary comments for non-commercial radio stations.
• PPM Weeklies Two-page Leading Indicators report produced weekly (52 times per year) providing an interim report card on station ratings trends, including access to data files for further analysis.
• Scarborough Qualitative Data Long-term leader in consumer, media and retail research available in most markets through Prime Lingo and Tapscan Web services, providing local market qualitative information including consumer attitudes, healthcare behaviors, media consumption, and retail behavior data.
• Training Videos Series of short, focused training videos for station personnel covering PPM Reports, Webinars, and Tools of the Trade including Tapscan Web, eBook, PD Advantage, and PPM Analysis Tool tutorials.
• Live Training and Data Consultations Online meetings and training through Zoom or Microsoft Teams, including complimentary Data Consultations with one-on-one analysis of station data, with hourly rates for extensive consultations.
• RRC Webinar Shorts Series of 20-minute webinars designed for specific roles at stations including Membership & Development, Underwriting, Marketing, and Programming, focused on using Nielsen data to guide revenue efforts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Public radio stations are leading markets in cume and TSL (Time Spent Listening) in numerous metros according to April 2026 PPM data
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nielsen, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationRRC contracts with Nielsen, Inc. to produce local market audience estimates for non-commercial radio stations. RRC is Nielsen's exclusive provider of ratings and audience data for public and non-commercial radio stations. RRC purchases all available data for every measured market and DMA in bulk, then sublicenses to stations.
• WFDDminorOthersPublic radio station where RRC President & CEO Molly Davis previously worked for nearly 20 years before joining RRC in August 2024

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nielsen: The underlying data provider for RRC and the dominant US radio audience measurement firm (PPM and Diary). RRC is essentially Nielsen's exclusive nonprofit distribution channel, so any change in Nielsen's product, pricing or partnership strategy directly impacts RRC's offering.
• Triton Digital: Audio measurement and ad-tech provider for digital radio, streaming and podcasting. While RRC focuses on over-the-air non-commercial radio, Triton's MRC-accredited podcast and streaming metrics target an adjacent buyer (broadcasters and agencies) with overlapping training and reporting needs.

Direct peers

• Coleman Insights: Research and strategic consulting firm specializing in audio audience research (PPM, diary, perceptual studies) for radio broadcasters and digital audio platforms. Directly comparable on subscription research products purchased by programming and audience teams.
• Edison Research: Independent research firm producing syndicated audio audience studies (Share of Ear, Infinite Dial, Top 50) for radio, podcasting and streaming. Edison competes for analytical mindshare and training engagements with public radio programmers who are also RRC's audience.
• Jacobs Media: Consulting and research firm serving public and commercial radio broadcasters with audience research, digital strategy and programming insights. Direct competitor for the same public-radio general manager and program director buyer using RRC's data.
• Inside Radio: Radio industry trade publisher and research provider delivering daily news, ratings analysis and proprietary data to broadcasters. Competes for the same research-and-insights budget line at station GMs and corporate public radio management.
• BIA Advisory Services: Provides revenue forecasting, valuation and advisory for local broadcasters including radio. Comparable as an analyst and data-licensing firm serving the US radio industry with subscription-based research products purchased by station GMs.

Others

• Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): Federal funding entity for US public broadcasting. Relevant as the upstream funder whose station-grant decisions shape RRC's subscriber budget capacity and as a stakeholder referenced in RRC's leadership lineage.
• Public Radio Regional Organizations (e.g., Greater Public): Member-based organizations serving US public radio stations with training, fundraising and audience development support. Adjacent ecosystem player whose board members and GMs overlap with RRC's subscriber base and decision-makers.
• Quincy Media (NRG Media / similar station groups): Broadcasting groups operating multiple radio and TV stations. Relevant as a customer-segment reference for the kind of multi-station operator that consumes audience measurement services, though RRC's exclusive focus is non-commercial.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/radio-research-consortium/posts/?feedView=all
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/radio-research-consortium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Radio Research Consortium