Folks, this is HUGE. And not just for the gospel industry, but for the ENTIRETY of the music business, cross-genre.
After 36 years, Radio & Records (R&R), the entity responsible for reporting radio airplay data in the music industry, is ceasing all operations by this Friday, June 5th.
I wanna be clear: the data still exists, as it is tracked by Neilsen Broadcast Data Systems (the same service that tracks television viewing, as well as record sales for Billboard). But R&R had done a great job of converting that data to user-friendly charts, upon which the entire music industry relied. It’s kinda like if Billboard magazine shut down and stopped reporting sales figures.
What are we gonna do NOW?! 
*humming “The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow” and tappin’ my foot to the beat…*
That's crazy!
Saw it coming. Radio sucks.
EJ, post a link or two for those that don't believe you. That might help in killing off the rumor-mill stigma of the post.
EJ, might need to change your headliner bud. Wikipedia has this to say: On July 6, 2006 VNU, the parent company of Billboard and its sister publication Billboard Radio Monitor, announced the acquisition of Radio & Records, and a month later on August 1, officially took over ownership. R&R now falls under the operations of the Billboard Information Group. In a statement on both R&R and Billboard Radio Monitor's websites: “This acquisition is in line with VNU's strategy to further strengthen its services to the radio and record industries,” said Michael Marchesano, president and CEO of VNU Business Media and Nielsen Entertainment. “With the added resources of VNU, especially our music services, including the Billboard Information Group, Nielsen BDS, and Nielsen SoundScan, R&R will continue to grow as a vibrant brand.” On July 12, 2006, VNU announced that Radio & Records and Billboard Radio Monitor would be integrated into one publication called R&R. The new R&R publishes charts based on Nielsen BDS data. Both Billboard Radio Monitor and R&R ceased publication as separate trades, with Monitor issuing its last edition on July 14, 2006 after 13 years, and R&R ending their 33 year run as an independent trade with its August 4, 2006 edition. Technically, they aren't going anywhere, in other words. They just been bought out by Billboard to act as an intergrated company and to harness better organizaiton for radio and record industries. You can still trace radio hits at Billboard - where Nielsen Soundscan and Nielsen Data is still at work.
@J Matt: hey bro! good lookin' out. where you been hiding? ;-) For clarification to all: Neilsen provided data to both Billboard and R&R. Billboard tracked radio for a while, too, but merged its efforts with R&R back in 2006. R&R was the entity responsible for reporting the data, though Billboard still had some stake in it. With R&R ceasing operations, the ball is tossed back to Billboard to report radio. But now, it's 3 years after their merger and Billboard hasn't really focused on creating user-friendly charts for the industry as it relates to radio; they've focused on record sales. So, they're kinda not ready to pick up where R&R left off, in my opinion. Like I said in the post, the data certainly still exists (because it's all being supplied by Neilsen), so all is not lost, but no entity is ready to immediately take the reigns and provide the industry with uninterrupted service.
EJ, I understood what you said from the beginning. If people want to know more, let them do the research, especially if they love the industry side of things. For someone to copy and paste (for what they say is clarification) from a source that's not his, is just foolishness and just trying to start drama. Take that messy-ness back to PH, Matt. Don't need that here!
Ummm... Just to clarify, I don't think JMatt was being messy-- he was lookin' out. All is well-- that's my dude.
OMG I JUST HOPE ALL GOES WELL!!