Final answer:
Radio outlets with significant influence on song popularity are called charting stations, not to be confused with local affiliates which rebroadcast national programming. The playlists of these charting stations affect the positions of songs in the charts closely followed by the music industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Radio outlets whose song playlists are closely watched by trade papers, electronic song tracking services, and tip sheets are called charting stations. These stations' playlists have a significant influence on which songs become popular and are thus closely monitored by the music industry. Options like Top 40, Independent, and College radio stations may all contribute to influencing the charts, but the term charting specifically denotes those with playlists that directly affect music rankings.
A local station that broadcasts national network programming is generally known as a(n) affiliate. This is different from charting stations, as an affiliate may not necessarily influence music charts but acts as a broadcaster of content from larger networks. In regards to the survey conducted on music preferences, such information can be insightful for radio stations to understand their audience's behavior towards music consumption, like the finding that 80 of the 571 participants download music weekly.
It's also noteworthy that most radio programming targets specific audiences based on a variety of factors, like musical taste and interests. For news, companies like Westwood One, being a subsidiary of Viacom, provide much of the programming. Meanwhile, talk radio has a significant reach with its largely conservative host lineup.