At the time this letter was circulated by management at CKLW in May of 1966, CKLW had long ceased publications of any weekly music chart surveys for some time, most notably, by the end of September 1964 (and it was partial run of the CKLW charts that year). In 1965, not one single CKLW chart was printed nor made available for retailers and for the public in general.
CKLW was a radio station owned by RKO General at the time (which they purchased outright in 1963). RKO (according to CKLW’s Charlie O’Brien) owned Essex Broadcasters, which operated CKLW AM and CKLW FM only. RKO General also owned five other radio stations in the United States.
Presumably, at CKLW RKO, the music survey sheets were, for the most part, just another unnecessary cost factor not having been appropriated in the station’s budget overall (i.e., like radio contests promotions as well).
CKLW, in the letter above, essentially put out word that the music surveys would only become available to interested music retailers and dealers if they were willing to pay for them. And in looking at the numbers CKLW attached in their letter, you will note they were all optional, yet an ‘expensive’ proposition (in monetary terms at the time) the station offered for music retailers to choose from, for this service having been offered, back in May of 1966.
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