wondering how to track radio plays

[andris]

I wasn't sure what forum to post this question in, but here goes.
I was wondering if there is any resource you have found to track radio plays.
I've been using google searches with band name and album title, but the search seems to miss many college radio playlists. I keep thinking there must be some kind of search engine to look at radio station playlists (mostly college and public radio.)

[Gregg Juke]

When you say "track," you mean like playlist/chart information, rather than "how to record," right?

GJ

[andris]

yup, playlist/chart information.

[dfuruta]

CMJ charts are probably the place to look.

Not all stations will have their playlists online or generally available to you, and reporting can sometimes be spotty with smaller stations.

[Gregg Juke]

Reporting college stations = CMJ
(unless they are reporting NPR or APR affiliates)

NPR stations-- Depends on format or individual show formats:
Jazz = Major jazz mags like Downbeat and Jazziz
Blues/Folk/Roots/Americana/Indie Rock/Indie Country = Roots Music Report
(they also have their own jazz charts, I think)
There are also separate charting organizations for Americana, AAC, and AAA formats. Of course, there is Billboard for everything else, and Rolling Stone (which basically mimics Billboard). There's more, of course... What is it exactly that you're trying to track?

GJ

[andris]

Not sure if charts are going to help in my case. I'm often looking for one or two plays that occurred on a station. I'm hoping to keep track of the plays so that I can follow up with the dj's to see if they would like a physical copy.