Once known for handing cars and cash to programmers for their hit radar, Active Industry Research has shut its doors, Billboard.biz has learned.
The shuttering follows the recent exit of a handful of upper echelon A.I.R. execs, including former CEO Bruce Tyler, now an executive VP at Sony Music U.S.
Founded in 1983 by Jonas Cash, the company was used by major record labels to augment promotional efforts to radio. Participating programmers would attempt to predict peak airplay chart positions of new songs in their format, competing for cars and cash prizes.
The company’s impact was diminished when Clear Channel and other large group owners forbade programmers from participating in its competitions, as part of broad no-indies edicts.
