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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media market (research) |
| Founded | 1985; 40 years ago (1985) |
| Founders | Rich Deitemeyer (aka, Rich Meyer), Nancy Deitemeyer |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | North America |
Key people | Philippe Generali, Nancy Deitemeyer |
| Products | Music airplay data |
| Parent | iHeartMedia |
| Website | www |
Mediabase is amusic industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishesmusic charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial andsatellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals. Mediabase charts and airplay data are used on many popular radio countdown shows and televised music awards programs. Music charts are published in both domestic and international trade publications and newspapers worldwide. Mediabase is a division ofiHeartMedia.
Mediabase was founded in 1985 by Nancy and Rich Deitemeyer (a.k.a. Rich Meyer). Originally known as Mediascan, the company changed its name to Mediabase in 1987. Mediabase became the industry's first mass-airplay monitoring company in late 1987. After its inception, Mediabase was purchased by aprivate equity group based inDetroit,Michigan, then acquired byCalifornia-basedPremiere Radio Networks,Jacor Communications,Clear Channel Communications, and ultimately, Bain Capital.
In January 1988, Mediabase began publishing a trade magazine known asMonday Morning Replay, featuring monitored airplay in the top 35 US radio markets. Mediabase then expanded its coverage to 180 US and Canadian markets. In 1992, Mediabase transitioned to delivery by data disk. In 1997, Mediabase moved its product to the Internet. Over the years, Mediabase has supplied data to numerous trade business-to-business (B-to-B) publications includingRadio & Records, Network Magazine Group, Gavin, Hits, and Friday Morning Quarterback. Mediabase charts appear every Friday (originally every Tuesday until during the 3rd quarter of 2015) inUSA Today's LIFE section. Mediabase serves as the official music chart provider for USA Today, theAmerican Music Awards,[1] and numerous syndicated programs, such asAmerican Top 40 withRyan Seacrest.[2]
Mediabase produces song charts and airplay analyses of radio airplay in more than two dozen radio formats based on the monitoring of more than 1,800 radio stations in the US and Canada. Mediabase also monitors HD formats, video channels, and satellite radio.
Published charts are used on popular business-to-business (B-to-B) and consumer websites including AllAccess, Friday Morning Quarterback, Country Aircheck, andHits Daily Double.[3]
Music and entertainment industry executives gain access to in-depth charts and analyses through B-to-B exclusive access.[4][5]
Mediabase owns and operates Rate the Music, a service that allows consumers to rate music on a scale from 1 to 5 and whether or not they are tired of hearing the song on the radio for the radio and record industries.[6]
As of November 2022,Billboard started using Mediabase to make calculations for theRadio Songs chart, which is one of the components that is used to determine chart positions in theHot 100 charts in the United States and Canada.[7]
Mediabase charts are the source for the following radio countdown programs:
Mediabase is the primary programming tool for nationally syndicated programs likeOpen House Party, After Midnite, and Nighttime with Delilah.