Radio & Records
A trade publication that reported on radio and recorded music and published influential airplay-based charts.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Radio & Records, commonly abbreviated as R&R, was a trade publication serving the radio broadcasting and recorded-music industries. Founded in 1973 by Bob Wilson and Robert Kardashian, it published its first issue on October 5 of that year and became a recurring source of industry news, format-specific commentary, station and programming information, playlists, and radio airplay charts. The publication operated originally as an independent weekly print trade. Its editorial structure was organized around radio formats, allowing programmers, record companies, artists, and other industry participants to follow developments in areas such as contemporary hit radio, rhythmic radio, country, adult contemporary, rock, gospel, urban, Christian, Latin, smooth jazz, and related formats. In addition to its weekly magazine, Radio & Records produced a directory on a twice-yearly basis. Its charts became particularly important because syndicated radio countdown programs and other broadcasters used them as reference points for measuring the popularity of records on radio. From 1987 through 2002, Radio & Records was owned by Westwood One. During that period, the publication worked with the radio syndication company, including through the use of its charts and format editors in Westwood One programming. Its influence extended beyond the magazine itself: a number of nationally syndicated countdown programs used its format charts, including Casey's Top 40, American Top 40 during portions of its earlier post-1980s run, Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, country countdown programs, Christian countdown shows, and other format-specific broadcasts. The publication also expanded its industry coverage. In 2000, it entered the Spanish-language music business by acquiring Radio y Musica, a weekly trade publication, and the associated Radio y Musica Convention from Alfredo Alonso. This gave Radio & Records a more direct presence in Spanish-language radio and music trade activities. A major transition occurred in 2006. VNU, the owner of Billboard and Billboard Radio Monitor, announced the acquisition of Radio & Records in July and completed the ownership transfer on August 1. VNU subsequently placed the title within the Billboard Information Group. Radio & Records and Billboard Radio Monitor were then integrated into a relaunched publication that retained the R&R name. The new publication combined elements of the two trades and used Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems data for its charts, replacing the Mediabase-based charting approach that Radio & Records had used before the integration. The original independent print edition ended with the August 4, 2006 issue after a 33-year run. The relaunched R&R appeared as a VNU-owned magazine beginning August 11, 2006, and operated as a sister trade to Billboard. VNU later became part of the Nielsen organization, whose media businesses continued to publish digital material for radio and recorded-music sectors. The R&R publication ultimately ceased operations. On June 3, 2009, it announced that it would shut down immediately after issuing its June 5 edition. Radio & Records' historical importance came from its position between radio programmers, record labels, artists, syndicators, and music-industry analysts. Its format charts helped establish a shared measurement language for radio airplay and influenced the presentation of music popularity in syndicated countdown programming. Although the brand is defunct, its archives and chart history remain relevant to research into American radio programming, music promotion, and the development of airplay-based industry metrics.
History
Radio & Records began in 1973 as an independent trade publication focused on the business of radio and recorded music. Bob Wilson and Robert Kardashian were among its founders, and the first issue appeared on October 5, 1973. The publication developed a weekly print format supported by a twice-yearly directory. Its editorial mission was to provide practical information for radio professionals, including news, format analysis, programming features, playlists, and airplay charts. The magazine organized much of its coverage by radio format. Its chart portfolio eventually included contemporary hit radio, rhythmic, gospel, urban, country, adult contemporary, rock, Christian, Latin, smooth jazz, and related categories. These charts gave radio programmers and music-industry personnel a recurring view of which records were receiving airplay. They also became source material for syndicated countdown programs, making the publication influential beyond its core trade readership. Westwood One owned Radio & Records from 1987 until 2002. The relationship connected the publication with one of the major American radio-syndication companies. Westwood One used Radio & Records charts and format editors in connection with syndicated radio programming, while the magazine benefited from its close relationship with the broader radio-programming ecosystem. In 2000, Radio & Records expanded into Spanish-language radio and music coverage by acquiring Radio y Musica and the Radio y Musica Convention from Alfredo Alonso. The acquisition broadened the brand's trade activity beyond its established English-language radio formats. Radio & Records' independent era ended in 2006. VNU, which also owned Billboard and Billboard Radio Monitor, announced the acquisition on July 6 and took control on August 1. VNU then announced that Radio & Records and Billboard Radio Monitor would be integrated. Billboard Radio Monitor published its final separate issue on July 14, while the original independent Radio & Records print run ended with the August 4 issue, completing a 33-year independent run. A relaunched R&R appeared under VNU ownership on August 11, 2006. It was positioned as a sister trade to Billboard and combined the legacy Radio & Records operation with material from Billboard Radio Monitor. The relaunched publication changed its chart methodology from the monitored charts and playlists previously associated with Mediabase to data from Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. This placed the title within a larger data-oriented publishing structure serving radio and music businesses. The brand continued in its relaunched form until 2009. On June 3 of that year, R&R announced that it would immediately cease operations after releasing its June 5 issue. The shutdown ended the publication's active editorial and charting role. Its legacy remains visible in historical radio-chart research, syndicated countdown archives, and documentation of how radio programmers and record companies evaluated airplay across different formats.
- 2009
Publication ceases operations
[1]R&R announced that it would shut down after its June 5 issue.
- 2006
VNU acquires Radio & Records
[1]VNU announced the acquisition in July and formally took ownership on August 1.
- 2006
Original independent edition ends
[1]The final issue of the independently operated publication was released on August 4, ending its original 33-year run.
- 2006
R&R relaunched under VNU
[1]A new R&R magazine launched on August 11 following the integration with Billboard Radio Monitor.
- 2002
Westwood One ownership ends
[1]The period in which Westwood One owned Radio & Records concluded.
- 2000
Expansion into Spanish-language music publishing
[1]Radio & Records acquired Radio y Musica and the Radio y Musica Convention from Alfredo Alonso.
- 1999
Charts begin using Mediabase data
[1]Beginning with the June 25 issue, the publication's charts were populated using airplay-monitoring data from Mediabase.
- 1987
Westwood One ownership begins
[1]Westwood One acquired ownership of Radio & Records, beginning a period of corporate control that lasted until 2002.
- 1973
Radio & Records founded
[1]Bob Wilson and Robert Kardashian were among the founders of the trade publication, whose first issue was published on October 5.
Products and positioning
A specialist business-to-business information source for radio broadcasters, music programmers, record companies, syndicators, and other participants in the radio and recorded-music industries.
Trade publication · 1973
R&R weekly trade magazine
The core weekly publication covered radio and recorded-music business news, format-specific programming, industry commentary, playlists, and airplay information. It served professionals rather than a general consumer audience and remained the brand's principal product throughout both its independent and VNU-owned phases.
Industry directory
Radio & Records Directory
A directory issued twice each year, providing reference information for participants in radio and music industries. It complemented the weekly publication's news and chart coverage with a more systematic reference format.
Chart and data service · 1973
Radio airplay charts
Radio & Records published charts organized by programming format, including CHR/Top 40, rhythmic, gospel, urban, country, adult contemporary, rock, Christian, Latin, and smooth jazz. The charts were used by radio professionals and supplied reference data for numerous syndicated countdown programs.
Spanish-language trade publication
Radio y Musica
Radio y Musica became part of Radio & Records through a 2000 acquisition from Alfredo Alonso. The transaction extended the company's trade-publishing activity into Spanish-language radio and music markets.
Brand decisions
2009
Cease publicationStrategyBackground
The VNU-owned R&R publication was operating within a changing trade-media environment.
Action taken
R&R announced on June 3 that it would cease operations after releasing its June 5 issue.
Aftermath
The announcement ended the active publication of the Radio & Records brand.
2006
VNU acquisition of Radio & RecordsM&ABackground
VNU owned Billboard and Billboard Radio Monitor and pursued a broader radio and music information portfolio.
Action taken
VNU announced the acquisition in July and assumed ownership on August 1.
Aftermath
Radio & Records was placed within the Billboard Information Group and subsequently integrated with Billboard Radio Monitor.
2006
Integrate R&R with Billboard Radio MonitorStrategyBackground
VNU controlled two overlapping radio-industry trade titles and sought to combine their operations.
Action taken
VNU ended the separate publications and relaunched R&R as a combined trade magazine using Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems chart data.
Aftermath
The original independent R&R ended after its August 4 issue, while the VNU-owned version began publication on August 11.
2000
Acquire Radio y MusicaM&ABackground
Radio & Records sought to broaden its trade coverage into Spanish-language radio and music.
Action taken
The company purchased the weekly Radio y Musica publication and its convention from Alfredo Alonso.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded the brand's presence in Spanish-language music-industry publishing.
Sources1 sources
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