R&R (magazine)

R&R (also known as the "new" Radio & Records) is a weekly music trade publication that follows the radio industry and tracks the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes. The magazine is a sister publication to Billboard magazine and is mostly available through subscription to people who work in the radio industry and music chart enthusiasts, as well as various record stores and newsstands.

History

R&R is a newly relaunched version of two different publications: "Billboard Radio Monitor" and "Radio & Records", the latter where the "R&R" name was adopted from as the trade's "new" name. The move is a result of a merger between the 'original' "R&R" and "Radio Monitor" after VNU Media acquired "Radio & Records" on July 6, 2006.

On July 14, 2006, Billboard Radio Monitor, which originally started out in 1993 as "Airplay Monitor", ceased publication with its final issue, while "Radio & Records", which originally started in 1973, published its last issue as an independent trade on August 4, 2006. Its first issue under the newly retitled "R&R" was August 11, 2006, beginning with the official monitored BDS charts ending the week of August 6, 2006.

Features

Among the features and articles that appear in R&R, there are for each format, "Street Talk" (which tracks the latest buzz in the radio industry), and daily news from radio and record industry in general. Those features were carried over from Radio & Records.

It also features the latest weekly BDS monitored music charts and chart data information. Those features were carried over from Billboard Radio Monitor, but it also includes the addition of indicators for non-monitored radio markets and Canadian chart airplay that was part of R&R. The overlapping of radio station reporters and format criteria from the former Monitor and R&R are expected to be modified in the new R&R.

Controversy

On January 17, 2008, R&R awarded Bob Grant with the "Talk Radio Lifetime Achievement Award." [http://www.wabcradio.com/Article.asp?id=550120] Almost immediately, the award was withdrawn, apparently after R&R received derogatory information about Bob Grant. [http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080117/BUSINESS/760146677/1006] "R&R is sensitive to the diversity of our community and does not want the presentation of an award to Mr. Grant to imply our endorsement of past comments by him that contradict our values and the respect we have for all members of our community," [http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/Search.aspx?search=grant#] but R&R then invited Al Sharpton to speak, himself the subject of controversy.

Format panels

The list will continue using the BDS radio panels that was featured in Billboard Radio Monitor, but the names of the formats are expected to change after the conversion is completed.

The monitored radio panels are:

United States

* Top 40:
** Top 40/CHR
** Rhythmic
** Dance (Highlights only; chart now exclusive to Billboard)
* Adult Contemporary:
** Hot AC
** Mainstream AC
* Urban Contemporary:
** Urban
** Urban AC
** Rap
* Country:
** Country
* Rock:
** Alternative
** Active Rock
** Heritage Rock
** Triple-A
* Jazz:
** Smooth Jazz
* Christian:
** Christian CHR
** Christian AC
** Christian Inspo
** Christian Rock
* Gospel:
** Gospel
* Latin:
** Latin Rhythm
** Latin Pop
** Regional Mexican
** Tropical/Salsa

Canada

* Top 40/CHR
* Hot AC
* Mainstream AC
* AC
* Border Stations
* Country
* Rock

ee also

For articles about their predecessors:
* The "Original" Radio & Records (1973-2006)
* Airplay Monitor/Billboard Radio Monitor (1993-2006)

External links

* [http://www.radioandrecords.com Radio & Records website]