PPM Data – Round One. Information for the January 2016 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 January 2016 survey covered December 31 – January 27.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from these 12-
PPM markets. Some drastic drops by many adult contemporary outlets follow huge "Holiday" 2015 spikes, while some news and talk outlets increase as the 2016 presidential race picks up steam.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
New York – For the first time ever in its
PPM-history,
Spanish Broadcasting System Spanish tropical WSKQ crosses
the six-share threshold (5.3 – 6.6, +1.3, 6+) as "Mega 97.9" inches up from third to second. Owing to a full-share increase (3.1 – 4.1, 6+)
CBS Radio all-news WINS climbs from ninth to seventh and has its best 6+-performance since last April (also 4.1). Co-owned WFAN posts a +.8 to 3.8 (6+), thus halting a string of three successive declines (4.2 – 3.9 – 3.2 – 3.0, 6+) that yielded a combined -1.2; "The Fan" re-enters the top ten (#12 to #9). Following four consecutive downward
trends for a combined -1.1 (4.8 – 4.6 – 4.2 – 3.9 – 3.7, 6+),
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WWPR "Power 105" posts a +.7 and is steady at #6. Improving by one-half share each are CHR and rhythmic CHR cluster-mates WHTZ "Z-100" (4.5 – 5.0, steady at #5, 6+) and WKTU (3.5 – 4.0, seventh to eighth, 6+). After being without an increase the past five sweeps (6.8 – 6.6 – 6.6 – 6.4 – 6.0 – 5.1, 6+), CBS Radio classic hits-oldies WCBS-FM gains two-tenths (to 5.3, 6+) and moves from fourth to third. Prior to the "Holiday" report, it had occupied the runner-up slot the previous
14 monthlies. Another streak ends as iHeartMedia classic rocker WAXQ improves by four-tenths (3.1 – 3.5, 6+); "Q-104.3" had been off the past four sweeps (4.4 – 4.2 – 3.6 – 3.3 – 3.1, 6+). Even so, it actually drops from a three-way tie at #9 to #10. While this marks the
16th straight ratings period that adult contemporary sibling WLTW is on top, "Lite-FM" follows the "Holiday" +4.8 with a -6.1 (8.0 – 12.8 – 6.7, 6+). It is the lowest 6+-share for "Lite" since November 2014 (5.6).
2)
Los Angeles – Entering the January sweep,
CBS Radio adult hits KCBS-FM had notched a 3.5 (6+) in four of the last six ratings
periods, but "Jack-FM" dials up a one-half share gain (2.9 – 3.4, 6+) and is back in the top ten (#11 to #8). Despite losing more than one-half of its "Holiday" share (12.3 – 5.9, -6.4, 6+),
iHeartMedia adult contemporary KOST "Coast 103" is the market's pacesetter for the third successive sweep. Prior to January's decline, "KOST" had put together three
consecutive impressive up-trends (4.5 – 5.0 – 7.0 – 12.3, 6+). In the runner-up slot each of those three ratings periods is hot AC cluster-mate KBIG "My-FM," which is up one-tenth after a -.9 in "Holiday" (5.6 – 4.7 – 4.8, 6+). Climbing from fourth to third,
CBS Radio classic hits-oldies KRTH "K-Earth 101" picks up four-tenths to 4.7 (6+) to halt a mini-skid that produced a combined -1.4 (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. Among other Los Angeles outlets also improving by four-tenths are
Entercom classic rocker KSWD "The Sound" (2.6 – 3.0, #11, 6+);
Univision regional Mexican KSCA (2.9, #17 to #14, 6+); and
Cumulus Media's KLOS (2.0 – 2.4, unchanged at #19, 6+); KSCA was locked on 2.5 in December and "Holiday."
3)
Chicago – A stunning turn of events transpires in the market's hot AC skirmish as
iHeartMedia's WLIT "My-FM Chicago's
Christmas Station" follows a whopping
+7.3 in "Holiday" with an even more eye-popping
–9.2 to 4.7 (6+), as it falls from first to fourth. The decline – the largest by any station in the 12-
PPM markets whose data was released Tuesday – halts WLIT's successive positive trend at three (3.2 – 3.3 – 6.6 – 13.9, 6+). Leapfrogging "My-FM" on the strength of a one full-share gain
(4.2 – 5.2, 6+) is cross-town foe –
Hubbard Broadcasting's WTMX "The Mix" – which jumps from fourth to third. Also improving by +1.0 is
CBS Radio classic hits-oldies WJMK, which faltered by six-tenths in "Holiday" (2.9 – 2.3 – 3.3, 6+); "K-Hits 104.3" is back in the top ten #13 to #9. Frozen at 2.2 (6+) in September, October, November,
and December, cluster-mate WSCR "670 The Score" dipped by two-tenths in "Holiday" but gains six-tenths in January. At #17 in "Holiday" 2015, "The Score" is part of a massive
five-station logjam at #12. Bouncing back from a one-half share decrease,
Tribune Media talker WGN rolls out a gain of nine-tenths (3.8 – 3.3 – 4.2, 6+) to climb from seventh to fifth. WGN had been in the 3.3 – 3.8 range the past seven sweeps and has its best 6+-stat since June's 4.3. Notwithstanding it is flat at 6.8, CBS Radio all-news operation WBBM-AM advances from the runner-up spot to #1. It had been ousted from the penthouse in the "Holiday" report by "My-FM." Notching gains of one-half share each are siblings WBBM-FM "B-96" (3.3, unchanged at #9, 6+); country WUSN "US-99.5" (2.8, #13 to #11, 6+); and
Merlin Media classic rocker WLUP "The Loop" (flat at #17), which had been down the past three sweeps (2.6 – 2.5 – 2.4 – 2.0, 6+). Off by seven-tenths in the "Holiday" report, "US-99.5" had been locked on 2.8 (6+) in September, October,
and November.
4)
San Francisco – Dusting itself off after four straight negative trends for a combined -1.6 (4.9 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.1- 3.3, 6+),
iHeartMedia hot AC KIOI "Star 101.3" improves by nine-tenths to 4.2, zooming from ninth to fourth. A gain of eight-tenths (2.1 – 2.9, 6+) propels
Cumulus Media talker KSFO from #17 to #11. Jumping by seven-tenths each are KSFO cluster-mate KNBR "The Sports Leader" (sixth to third) and KSOL (#11 to #9, 6+). Not only is this the sixth straight sweep without a decline for KSOL, the
Univision regional Mexican facility has
doubled its 6+-share in that time (1.7 – 2.0 – 2.0 – 2.3 – 2.7 – 2.7 – 3.4, 6+). "The Sports Leader' pulls the plug on four consecutive downward trends that produced a cumulative loss of two full-shares (5.7 – 5.0 – 4.1 – 3.9 – 3.7, 6+). Conversely, after four straight up or flat trends (4.8 – 4.8 – 5.3 – 5.7 – 10.4, 6+),
Entercom adult contemporary KOIT-FM "Better Music for a Better Workday" regresses by -4.8 to 5.6, slipping from first to second. The market's adult contemporary share erodes by another nine-tenths as KBAY trends 2.6 – 1.7 (6+). In the "Holiday" report, KBAY jumped from #21 to #13, but it again exits the top 20 (#22). Having been dislodged from San Francisco's top spot by KOIT-FM in "Holiday,"
CBS Radio all-news outlet KCBS-AM posts a +.4 (5.4 – 5.8, 6+) and reclaims the penthouse, which it had occupied the past six sweeps before "Holiday." This represents the sixth successive monthly that
Entercom rhythmic hot AC KRBQ "Q-102.1 The Throwback Station" (#13 to #14) has not registered an increase for a combined -1.4 (3.8 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.3 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 2.4, 6+).
5)
Dallas – Included in a three-way tie at #21,
Liberman Broadcasting regional Mexican KNOR "La Raza 93.7" is up
seven-tenths (1.1 – 1.8, 6+). Remaining at #20, similarly formatted
CBS Radio-owned KMVK "La Grande 107.5" – which didn't have an increase in the past four sweeps (2.9 – 2.3 – 2.2 – 2.2 – 1.9, 6+) – notches a +.1 to 2.0. Tacking on a one-half share improvement to the eight-tenths it gained in "Holiday" and the +.4 in December (3.1 – 3.5 – 4.3 – 4.8, 6+),
Service Broadcasting-owned KRNB "Smooth R&B 105.7" jumps from a
three-way tie at #4 to #3. Also gaining one-half share each are
Cumulus Media sports outlet KTCK "The Ticket" (2.5, #19 to #17, 6+) and public (
Southwestern Adventist University) contemporary Christian KJRN "The Journey," which doubles its .5 to 1.0 (#32). Prior to its increase, "The Ticket" had lost four-tenths in three straight dips (2.4 – 2.3 – 2.2 – 2.0, 6+). Co-owned KSCS "New Country 96.3" (unchanged at #16) had not had an increase in the last five sweeps (3.4 – 3.3 – 2.9 – 2.9 – 2.8 – 2.6, 6+), but is up by one-tenth to 2.7. Curtailing four consecutive negative trends which yielded a combined -.8 (3.6 – 3.5 – 3.3 – 3.0 – 2.8, 6+),
Radio One rhythmic CHR KBFB "97.9 – The Beat" picks up one-tenth to 2.9 (#13 to #12). Even though KLUV sputters by four full-shares (10.6 – 6.6, 6+), the CBS Radio classic hits-oldies outlet is #1 for the third successive sweep. After four successive modest gains (2.2 – 2.4 – 2.5 – 2.7 – 2.8, 6+),
iHeartMedia rocker KDGE "The Edge" (#13 to #17) drops two-tenths to 2.6 (6+). Down or flat for the sixth straight time (2.4 – 2.1 – 1.8 – 1.8 – 1.7 – 1.6 – 1.5, 6+), contemporary Christian KCBI slips from #23 to #25.
6)
Houston – After holding the #3 spot for eight straight sweeps,
Univision's KLTN suffered a -1.4 in the "Holiday" report and
"Estereo Latino 102.9" slipped to #5. It regains nearly half of that loss (6.2 – 4.8 – 5.4, +.6, 6+) and inches up to #4. Down or flat six consecutive ratings periods prior to the "Holiday" report (2.6 – 2.3 – 2.2 – 2.2 – 2.1 – 1.9 – 1.8, 6+),
Liberman Broadcasting regional Mexican KTJM duplicates its one-half share gain (1.8 – 2.3 – 2.8, 6+) to climb from #19 to #17. Following five successive increases totaling a combined +4.9 (7.0 – 7.5 – 7.6 – 7.7 – 8.0 – 11.9, 6+),
iHeartMedia adult contemporary KODA coughs up most of it (7.2, -4.7, 6+) but "Sunny 99.1" ranks first for the
17th
consecutive ratings period. In the runner-up slot for the seventh straight time,
Radio One urban AC KMJQ "Majic 102.1" registers its third consecutive gain (6.2 – 6.5 – 6.6 – 6.8, +.2, 6+) and is four-tenths behind "Sunny." Applying the brakes to five consecutive negative trends which resulted in a loss of two full-shares (5.8 – 5.0 – 4.8 – 4.7 – 3.9 – 3.8, 6+), iHeartMedia alternative outlet KTBZ "The Buzz" (#10 to #9) improves by one-tenth to 3.9 (6+). This marks the sixth successive sweep in which Univision Spanish contemporary KAMA (unchanged at #21) is either down or flat (2.6 – 2.4 – 2.1 – 2.1 – 2.1 – 1.9 – 1.8, 6+).
7)
Philadelphia – Down one-half share in "Holiday,"
CBS Radio all-news KYW roars back with a whopping +1.3 (4.7 – 4.2 –
5.5, 6+) to progress from #7 to a three-way tie at #3. This is its best 6+-showing since last March when it reached 6.1. Having posted consecutive increases of one-half share (August) and eight-tenths (September), co-owned WXTU dipped by one-half share in October; regressed by an additional nine-tenths in November; dropped two-tenths in December and was -1.1 in
"Holiday." Much like KYW though, "Philadelphia's Country Station" rebounds with a full-share gain (6.3 – 5.8 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 3.6 – 4.6, 6+) and inches up from ninth to eighth. After a +1.1 in October,
Greater Media's WMMR returned roughly half of it in November and "93.3 Rocks" dropped an additional seven-tenths (each) in December and "Holiday" 2015. It bounces back in January though with a +1.2 (6.3 – 5.7 – 5.0 – 4.3 – 5.5, 6+) and is part of that three-way logjam at #3 (up from #5). Co-owned classic rocker WMGK declined by eight-tenths in "Holiday" but recoups seven-tenths of it (5.6 – 4.8 – 5.5, 6+) and is the third player in that three-way tie at #3. The market's sports share spikes by +1.6, with CBS Radio's WIP ending three straight downward trends (5.1 – 4.6 – 4.5 – 4.3, 6+) with a +.7 (5.0, fifth-place tie to a sixth-place tie, 6+), while Greater Media's WPEN-FM "The Fanatic" boosts its 6+ numbers by nine-tenths (2.4 – 3.3, #17 to #14). Frozen on #12 for the third straight sweep, public WHYY continues its rollercoaster ride, as its recent trends are +.8 (December); -.6 ("Holiday") and +.6 in January (2.9 – 3.7 – 3.1 – 3.7, 6+). Off by seven-tenths in "Holiday,"
iHeartMedia alternative WRFF "Radio 104.5" regains one-half share (4.0 – 3.3 – 3.8, flat at #11, 6+). Its hot AC sibling – WISX (unchanged at #15) – improves by six-tenths (3.2, 6+) to halt three straight downward trends (3.6 – 3.1 – 2.7 – 2.6, 6+). Although on top for the seventh successive sweep,
Jerry Lee Radio adult contemporary WBEB "More FM" has its 6+-share trimmed by more than 50% to 7.8 (-8.5). The loss halts what was a string of four straight positive trends (6.8 – 7.3 – 8.0 – 10.7 – 16.3, 6+).
8)
Atlanta – In the #2 position the past four sweeps, WSB-AM logs a +1.1 to 9.0 (6+) and takes over at the top. The
Cox Media 
Group talker was +1.0 in December and -.9 in "Holiday" (7.8 – 8.8 – 7.9 – 9.0, 6+). Exiting at #1 after
12 consecutive sweeps there is
CBS Radio urban contemporary WVEE "V-103" (8.1 – 7.9, -.2, 6+), which slides to second. Simultaneous with
Radio One urban AC WAMJ "Majic 107.5" regressing by -1.3 (5.4 – 4.1, 6+) to tumble
from fifth to eighth, co-owned WUMJ "Boom Atlanta" debuts at #22 with a .9. As
Cumulus Media CHR WWWQ "All The Hits Q-100" registers a strong +.9 (3.7 – 4.6, #11 to #7, 6+), WWWQ HD-2 regresses by six-tenths (.9 – .3) but remains at #24. Applying the brakes to five successive downward trends (2.4 – 2.0 – 1.9 – 1.8 – 1.6 – 1.4, 6+),
iHeartMedia regional Mexican WBZY "El Patron 105.3" records a one-half share gain to 1.9 (#20 to #18). After gaining seven-tenths in "Holiday,"
Salem Media Group contemporary Christian WFSH "The Fish" forfeits nearly three times that (4.3 – 5.0 – 3.1, -1.9, 6+) and spirals from #8 to #15. Declining by eight-tenths and one-half share, respectively, are
Entercom hot AC WSTR "Star 94" (4.1 – 3.3, #10 to #14, 6+) and Cox Media Group adult contemporary WSB-FM "B-98.5" (5.1, fourth to fifth, 6+); "B-98.5" had been up in each of the past four sweeps (4.7 – 4.9 – 5.0 – 5.2 – 5.6, 6+).
9)
Long Island – Spoken-word stations reap some major January sweep benefits here, particularly in the
CBS Radio cluster where
sports WFAN "The Fan" balloons by +1.7 to 5.8 (6+), advancing from fourth to third. "The Fan" had been off the past three ratings periods (5.4 – 5.1 – 4.2 – 4.1, 6+); 5.8 is its highest 6+-share in Long Island since last April (also 5.8). All-news siblings WCBS-AM (3.8 – 4.9, fifth to fourth, 6+) and WINS (2.9 – 3.5, tenth to eighth, 6+) improve by
+1.1 and +.6, respectively. The last time WCBS-AM reached the four-share level (6+) in Long Island was last March (4.8). In four straight declines (6.5 – 5.4 – 4.2 – 3.6 – 2.9, 6+), classic hits-oldies sibling WCBS-FM has lost over half its 6+-share (-3.6), but it improves by seven tenths to 3.6 (6+), progressing from tenth to seventh. On the heels of a -.8 in "Holiday,"
iHeartMedia CHR WHTZ "Z-100" regains all of it (6.1 – 5.3 – 6.1, 6+) to march from third to second. Before the -.8 in "Holiday," Z-100 put together four straight up-trends (5.0 – 5.4 – 5.8 – 5.9 – 6.1, 6+). Gaining six-tenths each are
Connoisseur Media classic hits-oldies WBZO "103.1 Max-FM" (4.2, sixth to fifth, 6+) and
Univision regional Mexican WQBU (.7 – 1.3, #26, 6+). Prior to a -.8 in the "Holiday" report, "Max" had been up for five straight survey periods yielding a combined +1.1 (3.3 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 4.1 – 4.3 – 4.4, 6+). Hot AC sibling WALK-FM sputters by -3.7 (10.1 – 6.4, 6+), but remains #1 for the third straight sweep. WALK-FM had gained one full-share in December and was +3.9 in "Holiday." Following three consecutive gains in the Nassau-Suffolk report, iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLTW falters by -4.4 (3.4 – 3.7 – 3.9 – 7.9 – 3.5, 6+) to sink from second to eighth. For the fifth straight time,
Emmis urban AC WBLS (unchanged at #19) does not register an increase (4.3 – 4.1 – 4.1 – 3.3 – 2.2 – 2.2, 6+). In 2.0 – 2.9 territory (6+) for the 31st straight ratings period, CBS Radio CHR WBMP "Amp Radio" picks up two-tenths (2.1 – 2.3, 6+) and returns to the top 20 (#21 to #18).
10)
Riverside – Notwithstanding being flat at 6.0 (6+),
Entravision Spanish adult hits KLYY "Jose" is #1 for the third
successive ratings period. Locked on .9 in October, November,
and December,
All-Pro Broadcasting-owned KCXX bumped up to 1.0 in "Holiday" and after a 12/22 format change, the alternative-turned-rhythmic CHR as KHTI "Hot 103.9" doubles that to 2.0, zooming from #12 to #8. Following three straight downward trends
resulting in a combined -.9 (5.5 – 4.8 – 4.8 – 4.6, 6+),
Univision Spanish contemporary KLVE "K-Love 107.5" gets all of it back with a +.9 to 5.1 as it climbs from fifth to third. Despite a one-tenth uptick and its fourth straight positive trend (2.9 – 3.1 – 4.4 – 4.5 – 4.6, 6+), regional Mexican cluster-mate KSCA actually falls from a third-place tie to fifth. Continuing at #7,
Liberman regional Mexican KRQB "Que Buena 96.1" picks up one-tenth to 2.5, curtailing five successive negative sweeps that produced a cumulative -1.7 (4.1 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 3.0 – 2.5 – 2.4, 6+). Off by six-tenths (2.4 – 1.8, 6+),
Anaheim Broadcasting rocker KCAL-FM drops from seventh to tenth. Even though the overall gain is (remarkably) just three-tenths,
Entravision Spanish contemporary KSSE "Super Estrella" (#17 to #14) has not been down in the last ten sweeps (.2 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .3 – .4 – .5 – .5 -.5, 6+).
11)
San Jose – In 2.2 – 2.9 range (6+) the past nine survey periods,
Univision regional Mexican KSOL explodes with a +1.3
(2.3 – 3.6, 6+), catapulting from #15 to #8. On the strength of its third straight gain (5.1 – 5.4 – 5.6 – 6.5, +.9, 6+),
Cumulus Media's KNBR "The Sports Leader" advances from fourth to first. Co-owned talker KSFO dials up a +.8 (3.3 – 4.1, 6+) to progress from tenth to sixth; it is the highest 6+-share for KSFO since last March (4.2). The market's (6+) adult contemporary share – which bloated by +4.7 in "Holiday" – reduces by six full-shares, owing to a -3.1 from
KBAY (8.9 – 5.8, 6+) and a 50% reduction of
Entercom's KOIT-FM (5.8 – 2.9, 6+). Anchored at #1 the past
14 sweeps, KBAY slides to third, while KOIT-FM "Better Music for a Better Workday" freefalls from #3 to #11. A gain of six-tenths (4.4 – 5.0, 6+) lifts hot AC KEZR "Mix 106.5" from sixth to fourth. Having slumped by one-half share in "Holiday,"
Empire news facility KLIV rebounds with a full-share improvement (2.1 – 1.6 – 2.6, 6+), rocketing from #24 to #13. This represents the sixth successive ratings period that
CBS Radio alternative KITS "Live 105" (#17 to #15) has not suffered a
decrease (1.6 – 1.8 – 2.0 – 2.0 – 2.1 – 2.1 – 2.3, 6+). On the other hand,
iHeartMedia urban contemporary KMEL "#1 For Hip-Hop & R&B" (#17 – #18) does not notch an
increase for the fifth straight San Jose sweep (3.2 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 2.5 – 2.1 – 1.9, 6+).
12)
Middlesex – After dropping from first (December) to second ("Holiday"),
Townsquare Media talker WKXW boasts a +1.4
(7.5 – 8.9, 6+) and recaptures top honors. The last time "New Jersey 101.5" crossed the eight-share barrier (6+) was in July 2013 (8.2). Wild fluctuations continue for
Univision Spanish tropical WXNY, which was +.7 in November; +.6 in December; -.9 in "Holiday";
and is a robust +1.5 in January (3.0 – 3.7 – 4.3 – 3.4 – 4.9, 6+); "X-96.3" advances from #11 to #6. On the heels of a one-half share dip in "Holiday,"
Cumulus Media country WNSH "Nash FM" bounces back with a full-share gain (3.1 – 2.6 – 3.6, 6+) to climb from #13 to #11). Shaking off a six-tenths "Holiday" slump,
CBS Radio's WFAN "The Fan" improves by seven-tenths (4.4 – 3.8 – 4.5, 6+) but remains at #8. 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+). Also registering a +.7 is
Spanish Broadcasting System Spanish tropical WSKQ, up for the third straight time in Middlesex-Somerset-Union (2.9 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 4.2, 6+) and steady at #10. Thanks to a +.6 (4.6, steady at #7, 6+), a long dry spell of sorts concludes for
iHeartMedia CHR WHTZ "Z-100," which was actually down or (mostly) flat the past
nine survey periods (5.5 – 5.5 – 5.5 – 4.9 – 4.9 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.4 – 4.1 – 4.0, 6+). Adult contemporary sibling WLTW "Lite-FM" forfeits more than four full-shares (11.2 – 6.8, -4.4, 6+) as it slips from first to second. Meanwhile,
Greater Media-owned, similarly-formatted WMGQ regresses by one-half share (6.8 – 6.3, 6+) but "Magic 98.3" remains in third-place. This time last month, "Lite-FM" was +3.6. In its last five trends, "Magic" is +.5 (October); -.9 (November); +.7 (December); +2.0 ("Holiday"); and +.5 (January).
