Kelvin jumped on the system which uses a body worn receiver, which lots what audio is heard around the listener. This is linked to station output and so a much more accurate measurement can be done, rather than the "recall diary " entries used by RAJAR. Incidentally, they used to use 'diary workers' who could prompt listeners with such leading questions that included "that nice Classic FM" etc. I always suspected that they didn't accuracy record the responses - when I was diarised (about 15 years ago) they were very reluctant to let me fill in the sheets and wanted to sit there and do not for me. The potential for seeing is enormous.
The body-worn recording device must be the way to go, but when trialled for a year in the UK, their results were quite different to the RAJAR results. There was hue and cry from the big boys of ILR, and The BBC, who persuaded RAJAR to keep their blessed paper diaries. However prone to manipulation it might be.
The sample sizes are quite reasonable by market research standards, and give a reasonable indication of listening. Radio Caroline does figures in the RAJAR measurements, but they cannot use them (even if they got access) as it's only for those who pay the costs of RAJAR. If you join the club and pay, you can join - it used to be included in the Commercial radio Companies Association fees, but Kelvin refused to pay and others pulled out too - which is why some stations never appear in the lists.
I think the truth is, as ever, a bit hazy and hard to pin down. Research is a lovely thing, and a great guide, but to be trusted and meaningful it should be independent.
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