Just Radio Only: Holiday Ratings, 2015, 12 Take Aways

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Jan 20th 2016, 07:53, by radioinfo

PPM Data – Round One. Information for the "Holiday" 2015 ratings period has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union. Nielsen Audio's "Holiday" survey covered December 3 – 30. RadioInfo managing editor Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from these 12-PPM markets.

TWELVE TAKEAWAYS

1) New York – The market's pacesetter for the 15th straight ratings period, iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW

improves by +4.8 to 12.8 (6+). Even so, "Lite FM" is seven-tenths behind the 13.5 it posted in "Holiday" 2014. In December, "Lite-FM" applied the brakes to back-to-back downward trends (7.5 – 6.9 – 6.8, 6+). Without an increase for the fifth successive sweep (6.8 – 6.6 – 6.6 – 6.4 – 6.0 – 5.1, 6+), CBS Radio classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM (-.9) drops from second to fourth; it had occupied the runner-up slot the past 14 monthlies. WQHT

Overtaking it at #2 is Emmis urban AC WBLS (5.8 – 5.4, -.4), which had ranked third the previous eight survey periods. With a gain of one-tenth to 3.1 (6+), its rhythmic CHR sibling WQHT "Hot 97" halts four successive down or flat monthlies (4.0 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.4 – 3.0, 6+) that produced a cumulative loss of one full-share; "Hot" bolts from #12 to a three-way tie at #9. On the heels of registering back-to-back increases totaling a combined +1.9 (2.3 – 3.1 – 4.2, 6+), Univision Spanish tropical WXNY "X-96.3" regresses by one full-share to 3.2 (6+), sliding from sixth to eighth. Hitting 4.2 in December marked the first time "X-96.3" reached the four-share threshold since March 2013 (4.0, 6+). After not posting a decrease in the previous four monthlies (1.6 – 1.6 – 1.8 – 1.8 – 2.0, 6+), Cumulus Media country outlet WNSH "Nash-FM" is off by one-tenth to 1.9, but remains at #18. Despite the fact that it has its fourth consecutive downward trend for a combined -1.1 (4.8 – 4.6 – 4.2 – 3.9 – 3.7, 6+), iHeartMedia urban contemporary WWPR "Power 105" actually improves from #7 to #6. Co-owned classic rocker WAXQ "Q-104.3" is also off for the fourth straight time (4.4 – 4.2 – 3.6 – 3.3 – 3.1, 6+) yet – likewise – manages to jump one ranker (tenth to ninth).

2) Los Angeles – Following its two full-share gain from November (5.0 – 7.0, 6+) when it leapfrogged from fourth to first, KOST

iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST "Coast 103" balloons by +5.3 to 12.3, besting its "Holiday" 2014 showing by one-tenth (12.2, 6+). Taking the brunt of the massive gain by "Coast" are its hot AC and CHR siblings KBIG "My-FM" (5.6 – 4.7, 6+) and KIIS "Kiss-FM" (5.3 – 4.4, 6+). Even though each is off by nine-tenths, they remain behind "Coast" at second and third, respectively. Notwithstanding that it accounted for a net gain of just four-tenths, the string of up or flat trends for "Kiss" ends at six (4.9 – 4.9 – 4.9 – 5.1 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 5.3, 6+). Steady at #4, CBS Radio classic hits-oldies KRTH "K-Earth 101" is nonetheless a combined -1.4 in back-to-back sweeps (5.7 – 5.1 – 4.3, 6+). Not only did "K-Earth" have November bragging rights, the 5.7 it racked up in that survey period represented its finest-ever 6+-performance under PPM methodology. In four of the last six ratings periods, co-owned adult hits KCBS-FM has notched a 3.5 (6+), but "Jack-FM" declines by six-tenths (3.5 – 2.9) to drop out of the top ten (#7 to #11). Owing to a +.1 (2.7, 6+), which is good enough to elevate it from #16 to #13, Emmis rhythmic CHR KPWR "Power 106" curtails its string of five consecutive monthlies without an increase (3.1 – 3.1 – 2.9 – 2.8 – 2.6 – 2.6, 6+). Although flat at 2.8 (6+), CBS Radio's KROQ inches up from #14 to #12, while iHeartMedia's KYSR gains one-tenth to 2.4, but remains at #18; these two alternative rivals were each down by three-tenths in December. After 11 successive times of registering either a 3.5 or 3.4 (3.4 – 3.5 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 3.5 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 3.5 – 3.4 – 3.4 – 3.4, 6+), KYSR cluster-mate KFI loses one-tenth (to 3.3), yet the talk outlet advances from #9 to a tie at #7.

3) Chicago – When your direct format competitor takes an eye-popping gain of +7.3 and you "only" drop by one-half share, you WLIT

will most likely consider it a minor victory. At least stats wise, such is the case in the Windy City hot AC battle as iHeartMedia's WLIT "My-FM Chicago's Christmas Station" explodes from 6.6 to 13.9 as it marches from second to first. Meanwhile, cross-town foe – Hubbard Broadcasting's WTMX "The Mix" – regresses 4.7 – 4.2 but remains at #4. "Mix" is coming off a -.7 in December. Ousted from the top spot is CBS Radio all-news WBBM-AM WGCI-FM

(6.8, -.2, 6+), which has its string of up-trends halted at four (4.6 – 5.3 – 5.8 – 5.9 – 7.0, 6+) and segues from first to second. Following six straight downward trends totaling a combined -.6 (3.8 – 3.8 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 3.3 – 3.2, 6+), iHeartMedia urban contemporary WGCI-FM picks up three-tenths to 3.5 to progress from eighth to fifth. Up or flat for six straight sweeps (3.0 – 3.1 – 3.1 – 3.2 – 3.2 – 3.5 – 3.7, 6+), Merlin Media-owned/Cumulus Media-operated alternative WKQX faltered by six-tenths in December and now drops another seven-tenths (3.1 – 2.4, 6+) to exit the top ten (#9 to #12). Also off by seven-tenths (3.0 – 2.3, 6+) is CBS Radio country-formatted WUSN, which had been locked on 2.8 (6+) in September, October, and November; "US 99.5" slips from a tie at #11 to a three-way logjam at #13. Also in that tie at #13 (unchanged from December) is co-owned classic hits-oldies WJMK "K-Hits 104.3," which falters by six-tenths (2.9 – 2.3, 6+). Up one-tenth to 3.4 (6+), iHeartMedia CHR WKSC "Kiss-FM" (seventh to sixth) pulls the plug on three straight negative trends (4.0 – 3.6 – 3.5 – 3.3, 6+). Unlisted in November and December, talk sibling WVON registers a .4 and checks in at #35. In addition to WTMX, off by one-half share each are Tribune Media talker WGN (3.8 – 3.3, fifth to seventh, 6+); Univision Spanish contemporary WPPN "Amor 106.7" (2.5 – 2.0, #16 to #17, 6+); and Venture Technologies' WRME "Me TV 87.7" (1.9 – 1.4, #25, 6+). Frozen at 2.2 (6+) the past four monthlies, CBS Radio's WSCR "670 The Score" dips by two-tenths to 2.0, yet advances from #20 to a four-way tie at #17. Meanwhile, WPPN regional Mexican sibling WOJO – which was locked on 3.7 the past three ratings periods – drops four-tenths to 3.3, falling from sixth to seventh (6+).

4) San Francisco – Not only does KOIT-FM "Better Music for a Better Workday" have its fourth straight up or flat trend (4.8 – 4.8 KOIT-FM

– 5.3 – 5.7 – 10.4, +4.7, 6+), the Entercom adult contemporary progresses from second (where it had been in November and December) to #1. Meanwhile, Digity Media's similarly-formatted KBAY (2.6, +.7, 6+) jumps from #21 all the way to #13; KBAY registered a 2.2 (6+) in September, October, and November, before falling to 1.9 in December. Stymied at 3.1 (6+) in November and December, Univision Spanish adult hits KBRG picks up six-tenths to zoom KBRG

from tenth to sixth. Displaced from San Francisco's top spot is CBS Radio all-news outlet KCBS-AM (6.0 – 5.4, -.6, 6+), which had occupied the #1 slot the past six sweeps. Down for the fourth straight time for a combined -1.6 (4.9 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.1- 3.3, 6+), iHeartMedia hot AC KIOI "Star 101.3" spirals from fourth to ninth. Declining by seven-tenths each are classic hits-oldies cluster-mate KOSF "Big 103.7" (2.2 – 1.5, #16 to #24, 6+) and public KQED (5.6 – 4.9, steady at #3, 6+). Registering a 6+-share in the 4.1 – 4.9 range each of the past 13 sweeps, KQED exploded with a +1.2 in December. The last time KQED reached the five-share level was November 2014 (5.2, 6+). Although steady at #6, Cumulus Media's KNBR "The Sports Leader' is off for the fourth consecutive time (5.7 – 5.0 – 4.1 – 3.9 – 3.7, 6+) for a cumulative loss of two full-shares. After not declining in the past five ratings periods (2.0 – 2.0 – 2.3 – 2.4 – 2.6 – 2.9, 6+), co-owned KSAN "107.7 The Bone Rocks" loses two-tenths to 2.7 (6+), yet advances from #12 to a tie at #11. Despite not posting an increase for the fifth straight monthly for a combined -1.2 (3.8 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.3 – 2.6 – 2.6, 6+), Entercom rhythmic hot AC KRBQ "Q-102.1 The Throwback Station" moves up from #14 to a tie at #13. Falling from #11 to #15, urban AC sibling KBLX "The Bay's R&B" dips by one-half share (3.0 – 2.5, #15, 6+).

5) Dallas – After consecutive decreases (5.4 – 4.5 – 4.3, 6+), CBS Radio classic hits-oldies KLUV posted a +2.1 in December and it KLUV

now doubles that gain (6.4 – 10.6, +4.2, 6+) to repeat at #1. Improving by eight-tenths each are Salem Media Group contemporary Christian KLTY "Safe for the Whole Family" (3.6 – 4.4, ninth to third, 6+) and Service Broadcasting-owned KRNB "Smooth R&B 105.7" (3.5 – 4.3, 6+). KLTY had been down the past three sweeps (4.6 – 4.4 – 4.3 – 3.6, 6+) with 3.6 representing its lowest (6+) share since July 2014's 3.5; KRNB KRNB

progresses from #10 to a three-way tie at #4. Another station in that three-way logjam at #4 (down from #3) is Cumulus Media country KPLX "The Wolf," which sputters by nine-tenths (5.3 – 4.3, 6+). Similarly-formatted sibling KSCS "New Country 96.3" (#14 to #16) has not had an increase in the last five sweeps (3.4 – 3.3 – 2.9 – 2.9 – 2.8 – 2.6, 6+). Regressing by eight-tenths each are iHeartMedia hot AC KDMX "Now 102.9" (4.6 – 3.8, fourth to eighth, 6+) and Service Broadcasting urban contemporary KKDA-FM "K-104" (3.8 – 3.0, #8 to #11, 6+). Jumping from #16 to a three-way tie at #13 is iHeartMedia rocker KDGE "The Edge," which records its fourth successive (albeit modest) gain (2.2 – 2.4 – 2.5 – 2.7 – 2.8, 6+). Over the course of four consecutive negative trends (3.6 – 3.5 – 3.3 – 3.0 – 2.8, 6+), Radio One rhythmic CHR KBFB "97.9 – The Beat" (#12 to #13) has dropped a combined eight-tenths. CBS Radio regional Mexican KMVK "La Grande 107.5" (#19 to #20) has not had an increase in the past four sweeps (2.9 – 2.3 – 2.2 – 2.2 – 1.9, 6+).

6) Houston – Having bounced back from a -.8 way back in August, iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA notches its fifth KODA

successive increase, this one a whopping +3.9, as "Sunny 99.1" ranks first for the 16th consecutive ratings period (7.8 – 7.0 – 7.5 – 7.6 – 7.7 – 8.0 – 11.9, 6+). The market's top four stations are up or flat, including Radio One urban AC KMJQ "Majic 102.1" (6.5 – 6.6, +.1, 6+), which is in the runner-up slot for the sixth straight time. Down or flat the past six monthlies (2.6 – 2.3 – 2.2 – 2.2 – 2.1 – 1.9 – 1.8, 6+), Liberman regional Mexican KTJM rings up a one-half share gain to 2.3 as it cracks the top 20 (#19). After holding

the #3 spot the past eight sweeps, Univision's KLTN suffers the greatest decline (6.2 – 4.8, -1.4, 6+) of any station in the 12 PPM-markets whose data was released Tuesday; "Estereo Latino 102.9" slips to #5. Locked on 3.1 (6+) in October, November, and December, CBS Radio hot AC KHMX had not had an increase the last six sweeps (3.8 – 3.3 – 3.3 – 3.2 – 3.1 – 3.1 – 3.1, 6+), but "Mix 96.5" adds four-tenths to 3.5 as it leaps from #16 to #12. Faltering by nine-tenths each are Cox Media Group's KKBQ "Country 93-Q" (5.6 – 4.7, fourth to sixth, 6+) and Radio One rhythmic CHR KBXX "The Box" (5.2 – 4.3, sixth to seventh, 6+). Off by seven-tenths each are Cumulus Media CHR KRBE "Houston's #1 Hit Music Station" (4.1, steady at #8, 6+) and CBS Radio Spanish contemporary KLOL "Mega 101" (3.5 – 2.8, 6+). KRBE had been up or flat the past seven ratings periods for a combined +1.4 (3.4 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 3.9 – 4.1 – 4.6 – 4.7 – 4.8, 6+); "Mega" freefalls from #11 to #17. After three straight gains (3.6 – 3.7 – 3.8 – 4.0, 6+), "93-Q rival – CBS Radio's KILT-FM "The Bull" – drops three tenths to 3.7 (ninth to tenth, 6+). This is the fifth consecutive negative trend for iHeartMedia alternative outlet KTBZ "The Buzz" (5.8 – 5.0 – 4.8 – 4.7 – 3.9 – 3.8, 6+), which slips from eighth to tenth and has lost two full-shares since August.

7) Philadelphia – Over and above registering its fourth straight gain, this one a stunning +5.6, Jerry Lee Radio adult WBEB

contemporary WBEB "More FM" is #1 for the sixth successive sweep and boasts the highest 6+ share of any station in the 12 PPM-markets whose data was released Tuesday (6.8 – 7.3 – 8.0 – 10.7 – 16.3, 6+). Owing to a +.7 (5.5 – 6.2, 6+), CBS Radio classic hits-oldies WOGL "Philadelphia's Greatest Hits" climbs from third to second. After consecutive WOGL

increases of one-half share (August) and eight-tenths (September), co-owned WXTU "Philadelphia's Country Station" dipped by one-half share in October; regressed by an additional nine-tenths in November; dropped two-tenths in December; and now sputters by -1.1 (5.0 – 5.5 – 6.3 – 5.8 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 3.6, 6+), tumbling from a sixth-place tie to ninth. Frozen on 4.5 the past three sweeps (and 4.6 in September, 6+), iHeartMedia urban contemporary WUSL "Power 99" regresses by one full-share to 3.5, dropping from ninth to tenth. After a robust +1.1 in October, Greater Media's WMMR returned roughly half of it in November and "93.3 Rocks" has dropped an additional seven-tenths (each) in December and "Holiday" 2015 (6.3 – 5.7 – 5.0 – 4.3, 6+), moving from fourth to fifth. Co-owned classic rocker WMGK declines by eight-tenths (5.6 – 4.8, 6+) to dip from second to third. Adult hits sibling WBEN-FM "Ben-FM Playing Anything We Feel Like" is off by one-half share in consecutive sweeps (3.6 – 3.1 – 2.6, #14 to #15, 6+). Making identical 4.7 – 4.2 moves (-.5, sixth to seventh, 6+) are CBS Radio all-news KYW and iHeartMedia CHR WIOQ "Q-102." Also declining by one-half share (3.6 – 3.1, 6+) is Radio One urban-rhythmic oldies WRNB, but "Old School 100.3" manages to improve from #13 to #12, 6+). Steady at #12, public WHYY returns six-tenths of the eight-tenths it gained in December (2.9 – 3.7 – 3.1, 6+). Up (slightly) or flat the past three months (3.8 – 3.8 – 3.9 – 4.0, 6+), iHeartMedia alternative WRFF "Radio 104.5" drops seven-tenths to 3.3 but remains at #11.

8) Atlanta – For a change of pace, Atlanta's most significant (6+) December 2015 – "Holiday" 2015 move is made by a sports outlet – WZGC

CBS Radio's WZGC "The Game" (2.7 – 3.6, +.9, 6+) – which progresses from #15 to a three-way tie at #12. Despite an eight-tenths loss (8.9 – 8.1, 6+), urban contemporary cluster-mate WVEE "V-103" is the market's pacesetter for the 12th consecutive sweep. Up one full-share in December, Cox Media Group talker WSB-AM forfeits 90% of it (7.8 – 8.8 – 7.9, -.9, 6+) but it finishes #2 for the fourth straight WFSH

time. Gaining seven-tenths each are Salem Media Group contemporary Christian WFSH "The Fish" (4.3 – 5.0, ninth to eighth, 6+) and Cumulus Media's WWWQ-HD2 (.2 – .9, #24). "The Fish" had back-to-back increases totaling a combined +.3 (4.9 – 5.1 – 5.2, 6+) followed by December's -.9. Registering identical 4.9 – 5.4 trends (+.5, sixth to fifth) are Radio One urban AC WAMJ "Majic 107.5" and iHeartMedia CHR WWPW "Power 96.1." Down four-tenths, Cumulus Media all-news WYAY is in 1.2 – 1.9 territory for the 21st successive time (1.7 – 1.3, 6+), but falls out of the top 20 (#19 to #22). The last four stations listed in Atlanta's "Holiday" 2015 report are in the talk genre and they account for a combined 1.6 shares (6+).

9) Long Island – The third straight gain in Nassau-Suffolk by iHeartMedia New York City adult contemporary WLTW is a WALK-FM

potent +4.0 (3.4 – 3.7 – 3.9 – 7.9, 6+) that carries "Lite-FM" from sixth to second. After gaining one full-share in December, Connoisseur Media hot AC WALK-FM tacks on another +3.9 (5.2 – 6.2 – 10.1, 6+) and repeats at #1. It is the best 6+-performance for WALK-FM since "Holiday" 2014 (10.6). Having sputtered by eight-tenths in December, Emmis urban AC WBLS further erodes by -1.1 (4.1 – 3.3 – 2.2, 6+) and plummets from #11 to #19. With a -.8 (to 5.3, 6+), the string of up-trends for iHeartMedia New York City CHR WHTZ "Z-100" (second to third) ends at four (5.0 – 5.4 – 5.8 – 5.9 – 6.1, 6+). Also off by eight-tenths (to 3.6, 6+) is Connoisseur Media classic hits-oldies WBZO "103.1 Max-FM," which had been up the last five survey periods for a combined +1.1 (3.3 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 4.1 – 4.3 – 4.4, 6+); "Max" falls from third to sixth. Dropping by seven-tenths each are Cox Media Group CHR and classic rock siblings WBLI (4.2 – 3.5, fourth to eighth, 6+) and WBAB (3.7 – 3.0, seventh to ninth, 6+), as well as CBS Radio New York City classic hits-oldies outlet WCBS-FM (eighth to tenth, 6+). In four straight declines (6.5 – 5.4 – 4.2 – 3.6 – 2.9, 6+), WCBS-FM has lost over half its 6+-share (-3.6). After six consecutive up or flat moves (2.0 – 2.2 – 2.2 – 2.3 – 2.9 – 3.1 – 3.3, 6+), Cumulus Media New York City talker WABC coughs up one-half share to 2.8 (6+) to slip from #11 to #12. In 3.2 – 3.7 range the last six sweeps, iHeartMedia classic rock WAXQ "Q-104.3" falters by six-tenths to 2.6, but stays at #13. In 2.0 – 2.9 territory (6+) for the 30th straight time, CBS Radio CHR WBMP "Amp Radio" is steady at 2.1 and flat at #21.

10) Riverside – Jumping from fifth to third, Univision regional Mexican KSCA puts together its third straight positive trend (2.9 – KSCA

3.1 – 4.4 – 4.5, 6+). Although off by one-half share (6.5 – 6.0, 6+), Entravision Spanish adult hits KLYY "Jose" repeats at #1. On the heels of enduring a -1.2 in December that forced it to move from first to second, Anaheim Broadcasting classic hits-oldies KOLA erodes by another eight-tenths (6.9 – 5.7 – 4.9, 6+) but remains at #2. The -.4 that perennial runner-up KOLA KCXX

registered in October concluded four successive up or flat trends (4.3 – 5.9 – 6.4 – 6.4 – 7.0, 6+), which came after five straight negative monthlies (5.6 – 5.3 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 4.5 – 4.3, 6+). As it drops from third to fifth, this is the third straight downward trend for Univision Spanish contemporary KLVE "K-Love 107.5," which has lost nine-tenths in that period (5.5 – 4.8 – 4.8 – 4.6, 6+). This marks the fifth successive sweep in which Liberman regional Mexican KRQB "Que Buena 96.1" (steady at #7) has notched a decline (4.1 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 3.0 – 2.5 – 2.4, 6+) for a cumulative -1.7. After registering a 5.3 (6+) in October and November, CBS Radio's country-formatted KFRG "K-Frog" (fourth to third) is now frozen on 4.5 (December and "Holiday"). Stuck on .9 the past three ratings periods, All-Pro Broadcasting flipped alternative KCXX to KHTI "Hot 103.9" on 12/22; "Hot" KCXX "Hot 103.9" bumps up to 1.0 (#14 to #12). In the one-share range the past 23 sweeps, adult contemporary cluster-mate KATY "The Mix" trends 1.1 – .9 (#12 to #13). While the overall gain is a modest three-tenths, Entravision Spanish contemporary KSSE "Super Estrella" (#18 to #17) has not been down in the last nine sweeps (.2 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .4 – .5 – .5, 6+). This is the fifth straight time that public KVCR is at .6 (steady at #16).

11) San Jose – The market's adult contemporary 6+-share swells by +4.7, thanks to a +2.5 from Entercom's KOIT-FM "Better

Music for a Better Workday" (3.3 – 5.8, 6+) and a +2.2 from Digity Media's KBAY (6.7 – 8.9, 6+). Locked on 3.3 (6+) in November and December, KOIT-FM rockets from tenth to third, while KBAY (down nine-tenths in December) is anchored at #1 for the 14th successive time. KBAY has a three-share advantage over Univision Spanish adult hits KBRG (5.9, -.1, 6+), which had KITS

been up or flat the past four monthlies (5.3 – 5.3 – 5.5 – 5.6 – 6.0, 6+). Following back-to-back gains that produced a combined +1.2 (3.4 – 4.3 – 4.6, 6+), Empire Broadcasting's KRTY "Hot Country" regresses by one full-share to 3.6, dropping from sixth to ninth. It is a somewhat similar scenario for public KQED, which gained +1.1 in December but relinquishes nine-tenths (4.9 – 6.0 – 5.1, 6+) as it tumbles from second to fifth. Hitting 6.0 in December marked the first time KQED advanced to the six-share level (6+) in San Jose since November 2014 (6.2). Slumping by one-half share (2.1 – 1.6, 6+), Empire news facility KLIV departs the top 20 (three-way tie at #19 to #24). For the fourth straight San Jose sweep, iHeartMedia urban contemporary KMEL "#1 For Hip-Hop & R&B" (#14 – #17) does not notch an increase (3.2 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 2.5 – 2.1, 6+). Conversely, CBS Radio alternative KITS (#19 in December) has not a decrease in the past five ratings periods (1.6 – 1.8 – 2.0 – 2.0 – 2.1 – 2.1, 6+); "Live 105" is tied with KMEL at #17.

12) Middlesex – This time last month in Middlesex-Somerset-Union, adult contemporary outlets ranked second WMGQ

(iHeartMedia's WLTW "Lite-FM") and fourth (Greater Media-owned WMGQ "Magic 98.3"). With a +3.6 (7.6 – 11.2, 6+), "Lite-FM" advances to #1, while "Magic" gains two full-shares (4.8 – 6.8, 6+) to progress to third. In its last four trends, "Magic" is +.5 (October); -.9 (November); +.7 (December) and now +2.0 ("Holiday"). Sandwiched between the two ACs and dropping from first to second is Townsquare Media talker WKXW (7.8 – 7.5, -.3, 6+); "New Jersey 101.5" had

been #1 the past four months. Racking up a +.7 in November and then a +.6 in December, Univision Spanish tropical WXNY "X-96.3" returns nine-tenths of that combined +1.3 (3.0 – 3.7 – 4.3 – 3.4, 6+) and exits the top ten (#7 to #11). Up or flat the past four sweeps (2.9 – 2.9 – 3.0 – 3.4 – 3.6, 6+), CBS Radio hot AC WWFS "Fresh" falters by seven-tenths to 2.9 and like "X-96.3" drops out of the top ten (#10 to #12). Slumping by six-tenths each are "Fresh" sports and news cluster-mates WFAN "The Fan" (sixth to eighth, 6+) and WCBS-AM (2.2 – 1.6, #18 to #21, 6+). Having posted four straight up or flat showings, "The Fan" dropped one-tenth in November and sputtered by one full-share in December (5.5 – 5.4 – 4.4 – 3.8, 6+). The stream of classical WQXR registered a .5 in December (#27), but it disappears in the "Holiday" report. Also evaporating by one-half share each (6+) are three Cumulus Media properties: hot AC WPLJ (3.1 – 2.6, #13 to #14); country WNSH "Nash FM" (an identical 3.1 – 2.6, also #13 to #14); and talker WABC (2.2 – 1.7, #18 to #19).

The top 12 gainers for the 12 PPM-markets shown above in the "Holiday" 2015 report are:

1 WLIT, Chicago (+7.3)

2 WBEB, Philadelphia (+5.6)

3 KOST, Los Angeles (+5.3)

4 WLTW, New York (+4.8)

5 KOIT-FM, San Francisco (+4.7)

6 KLUV, Dallas (+4.2)

7 WLTW, Long Island (+4.0)

8 KODA, Houston (+3.9)

8 WALK-FM, Long Island (+3.9)

10 WLTW, Middlesex (+3.6)

11 KOIT-FM, San Jose (+2.5)