Amos On New Arbitron Ratings

Radio talk show host Amos Brown says the new electronic metering system utilized by Arbitron to measure the size of radio listening audiences has been challenging for black radio stations, but he is pleased with how his own show has fared thus far. Brown writes in his column in the most recent edition of the Indianapolis Recorder:

Not only have Black broadcasters faced challenges with the new system, so have radio talk shows. The new methodology shows that right wing talkers like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck aren’t as dominant as the old measurement showed.


This has been the case here in Indianapolis, where under the new system; ratings for those programs have eroded.

But, here in Indianapolis, a Black-oriented talk show is thriving and surviving under the new system.

Our seven-year-old “Afternoons with Amos” on WTLC-AM (1310) continues as the second most listened to local radio talk show (behind a slipping Greg Garrison on WIBC-AM 1070) and the third most listened to radio talk show overall behind Rush Limbaugh and Garrison.

The city’s other locally-oriented talk show hosted by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz on WXNT-AM (1430) ranks last among the city’s weekday talk shows.

“Afternoons with Amos” received another top honor last Saturday when the Indiana Broadcasters Association honored the program with a Spectrum Award as the Outstanding Community Service Radio Program in Indiana. The second straight year the program has received this prestigious statewide honor.

Yep, Abdul is dead last in the ratings as Amos delights in noting.