All four diaries were returned from one household, and for once there’s an explanation, though not from Arbitron. Nashville-market owned Bud Walters of the Cromwell Group says that a former salesperson for his operation, who left four years ago, “informed someone in the media that he ‘knew someone who had a diary.’ In fact, the household had four diaries, and we believe the household makeup did not match what Arbitron had been told.” In other words, the person contacted by Arbitron may have misstated the number and the ages of people living there. Cromwell Group’s rock “Buzz” WBUZ (102.9) and CHR “Party 102.5” WPRT were the beneficiaries of the phantom listening, and Arbitron says their previously-published results may be affected by 25-30% in the 25-54 demo. Walters says “we have completely cooperated with Arbitron…we have helped Arbitron pursue the question at hand, though we are innocent victims of the mis-reporting.” He also observes that “The very placement of so many diaries in one household offers the opportunities for mis-reporting when one person is ‘in charge.’” Arbitron will issue a revised Spring 2010 book for Nashville on Thursday, August 26. This is Nashville’s last diary-based survey: it has already begun transitioning over to electronic measurement using Arbitron’s People Meter. The Nashville Board of Radio-Info is already talking about the Arbitron re-issue, here.