BPA Worldwide
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media auditing |
| Predecessor | Controlled Circulation Audit Inc (CCA) |
| Founded | 1931 in New York City, United States |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Europe, Asia |
Key people | Richard Murphy (President and CEO) |
Number of employees | 500+ |
BPA Worldwide operates as a nonprofit media auditing firm based in the United States, delivering impartial, third-party audits across print, digital, out-of-home, and event media sectors.
In early 2023, BPA combined forces with the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM), creating the largest nonprofit entity dedicated to media auditing with an emphasis on trust, transparency, and assurance within the media industry. Both organizations originated in the early 1900s, established by advertising groups to independently verify media companies' audience claims.
Currently, AAM conducts verification of print and digital circulation figures, website metrics, social media data, technology platforms, and audience insights for newspapers, magazines, and digital outlets across the U.S. and Canada. Within digital advertising, AAM offers technology certification audits that comply with standards set by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Media Rating Council, Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), and the Mobile Marketing Association.
20th century
BPA was initially founded in 1931 under the name Controlled Circulation Audit Inc (CCA) in New York City, performing its inaugural audit for Drug Topics during that same year. The organization was renamed BPA (Business Publications Audit of Circulation, Inc.) in 1954 and expanded by opening an office in Chicago. By 1970, BPA had conducted its first audit in Europe for the publication Vision.
In 1980, BPA began offering pass-along readership audits through subscriber surveys for publications such as Architectural Record. The company established a West Coast presence with an office in Los Angeles in 1985. BPA International was launched in 1995 with a London branch; three years later, it merged with the Canadian Circulations Audit Board (CCAB), growing its membership to over 2,500 media owners and employing more than 500 staff members.
21st century
In 2004, BPA International rebranded itself as BPA Worldwide and inaugurated an office in Beijing. Subsequently, additional locations were opened in Dubai Media City (2006), Hong Kong (2001), and Shenzhen (2012).
The Brand Report product was introduced by BPA in 2008 to unify all audience interaction points into a single comprehensive statement for media owners.
In 2017, the Media Exchange platform was launched to assist publishers with deploying media solutions amid evolving digital market conditions, facilitating both direct and indirect transactions between publishers and advertisers.
Richard Murphy assumed the role of President and CEO in July 2022, succeeding Glenn Hansen who moved into the position of Executive Strategic Advisor with a focus on sustainability initiatives and event audit services.
The merger completed in March 2023 with the Alliance for Audited Media established the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to media auditing across North America’s print and digital landscapes.
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