Round Four of Holiday 2015 PPM Data Released. The fourth and final round of Holiday 2015 PPM ratings information from Nielsen Audio has been released for 12 markets including: Austin, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Providence, Raleigh, Norfolk, Nashville, Greensboro, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Hartford. The Holiday 2015 survey period covered December 3 – 30.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all of these 12 PPM markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Austin – After faltering by one-half share in September,
Entercom adult contemporary KKMJ regained all of it in
October; tacked on seven-tenths in November; gained one-half share in December; and now improves by five full-shares to its strongest 6+-share in exactly two years (5.2 – 4.7 – 5.2 – 5.9 – 6.4 – 11.4, 6+). "Majic 95.5" progresses from #2 to succeed
Emmis adult hits KBPA "Bob," which ranked #1 the past
12 sweeps. After declining by one full-share in September, "Bob" roared back with a +.8 in October; added one-half-share in
November; and was up one-tenth in December, but regresses by
-1.5 to segue to second (8.9 – 7.9 -8.7 – 9.2 – 9.3 – 7.8, 6+). Having sandwiched a 3.6 (November 2015, 6+) between a 3.8 in October and December,
Crista Media contemporary Christian KFMK improves by six-tenths (3.8 – 4.4, 6+) to vault from #13 to a three-way tie at #6 and has its most potent 6+-showing since November
2014 (4.9). This is the fifth successive sweep that
iHeartMedia-owned KASE has not registered an increase (6.0 – 6.0 – 5.4 – 5.0 – 4.4 – 3.7, 6+) for a combined -2.3; "Today's Country" departs the top ten (#8 to #12). Similarly–formatted sibling KVET – off by
one-half share in December – erodes by one
full-share in the "Holiday" report (5.9 – 5.4 – 4.4, 6+) to slide from #5 to that three-way tie at #6. Steady at #19,
Genuine Austin Radio-owned KOKE "Austin's Country Alternative" is off by four-tenths (2.0 – 1.6, 6+), thus yielding the market's combined "Holiday" 2015 country share (among KASE, KVET and KOKE) a -2.1 (11.8 in December 2015 to 9.7 "Holiday" 2015, 6+). In the 3.1 – 3.7 range the past seven survey periods, Emmis regional Mexican KLZT "La Z 107.1" declines by one-half share to 2.8, moving from #14 to #15.
2)
Milwaukee – Flat at 8.8 in December (after November's -.7 and October's +1.7, 6+),
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WRIT
"95.7 Big FM Milwaukee's Greatest Hits" storms back with a +5.6 to 14.4 (6+) and ranks first for the eighth straight sweep. Prior to the -1.7 in October, WRIT put together seven successive positive trends (6.2 – 7.0 – 7.8 – 9.5 – 10.1 – 10.2 – 10.5 – 11.2, 6+) with "Big" improving by exactly five full-shares since February. Escaping a three-way tie at #9,
Saga urban AC WJMR "Jammin'
98.3″ registers its third straight up-trend (3.9 – 4.1 – 4.4 – 4.7, 6+) and climbs to #8. Following back-to-back gains of +.8 in November and December,
Scripps talker WTMJ erodes by a mighty -2.1 (6.6 – 7.4 – 8.2, 6.1, 6+) and moves from second to third. Registering a downward move for the third straight sweep for a cumulative -1.1 (7.1 – 7.0 – 6.8 – 6.0, 6+),
Entercom hot AC WMYX "99.1 The Mix" dips from third to fourth. Just after WMIL gained eight-tenths in November, the
iHeartMedia country outlet surrendered all of it plus three-tenths (-1.1) in December and now declines by one-half share (6.2 – 7.0 – 5.9 – 5.4, 6+), but remains at #5. Before November, "Milwaukee's Best Country" had been down or flat the past
eight sweeps (10.7 – 10.7 – 10.5 – 9.5 – 8.4 – 6.8 – 6.7 – 6.7 – 6.2, 6+) for a cumulative -4.5. With a one-half share decline (.9 – .4, 6+), co-owned WOKY "The Big 920 Milwaukee's Sports Station" departs the top 20 (#20 to #21).
3)
Indianapolis – Bouncing back from four straight down or flat trends which yielded a combined -1.8 (8.3 – 7.9 – 7.3 – 7.3 – 6.5,
6+),
Emmis adult contemporary WYXB is a cumulative
+8.9 in the last
two sweeps (6.5 – 8.6 – 15.4, 6+) – "Soft Rock B-105.7" repeats at #1. Following three straight .3 performances (6+),
Olivet Nazarene University contemporary Christian WHZN "Shine FM" roughly quadruples to 1.1 (+.8) and enters the top 20 (#21 to #16). Up or flat for four successive ratings periods
that produced a +2.3 (7.4 – 8.5 – 8.7 – 8.7 – 9.7, 6+),
Entercom CHR WZPL has run into a buzz saw in December and "Holiday" as "Indy's Hit Music Station" (second to third) is a combined -3.2 (9.7 – 8.2 – 6.5, 6+). Off by one full-share from December are
Radio One rhythmic CHR WHHH "Hot 96.3" (5.2 – 4.2, seventh to ninth, 6+) and Emmis' WIBC-HD2 (#16 to #21, 6+). It is the third consecutive slide for the latter (1.8 – 1.6 – 1.3 – .3, 6+), while a streak of three positive up-trends by "Hot" ended in December (4.2 – 4.5 – 4.9 – 5.5, 6+). CHR cluster-mate WNOW "Radio Now" sputters by nine-tenths (4.1 – 3.2, 6+) to backslide from #11 to #13. Declining by eight-tenths each are country competitors WLHK "Hank" (6.5 – 5.7, 6+) and WFMS (4.9 – 4.1, 6+); Emmis-owned "Hank" is steady at #4, while
Cumulus Media's WFMS (-.7 in December ending its string of up or flat trends at three) slides from eighth to tenth. Basically flat since September (5.6 – 5.9 – 6.0 – 5.9, 6+),
iHeartMedia's WFBQ drops one-half share to 5.4, but "Q-95 Rocks" remains at #5. The yoyo continues for Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRWM "The Beat," which posted seven consecutive decreases for a cumulative -3.7 (7.7 – 7.2 – 6.1 – 5.6 – 5.1 – 4.4 – 4.3 – 4.0, 6+) before notching a +.6 in September. That has now been followed by four consecutive negative trends including a -.1 in the "Holiday" report (4.6 – 3.5 – 3.3 – 2.9 – 2.8, 6+). Even so, "The Beat" actually improves from #15 in December to #14.
4)
Providence – Preceded by a modest gain of three-tenths (from 6.9, 6+),
Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI has
followed with three successive mega-improvements producing a cumulative
+11.4 (7.2 – 8.7 – 10.7 – 18.6, 6+) and (of course) "Lite Rock 105" repeats at #1. Although steady in the runner-up spot, co-owned CHR WPRO-FM loses nearly two full-shares and "Today's Hit Music" has its
string of progressive trends (which yielded a +2.3) snapped at four (6.9 – 7.7 – 8.8 – 8.9 – 9.2, 6+); WPRO-FM (7.4, -1.8, "Holiday" 2015, 6+) was #1 in October and November. Stuck on .5 (6+) in October and November,
Rhode Island Public Radio's WELH now continues on .6 (December and "Holiday") and is #13 for the fourth straight time. Slumping by eight-tenths are
Hall Communications' WCTK "Cat Country" (flat at #4, 6+) and
iHeartMedia hot AC WSNE "Coast 93.3" (6.0 – 5.2, steady at #5, 6+). This is the fifth straight decrease for "Cat Country" (9.0 – 8.9 – 7.7 – 7.3 – 7.1 – 6.3, 6+) for a combined -2.7. Although it remains in third-place, iHeartMedia rocker WHJY loses seven-tenths (7.4 – 6.7, 6+). Classic hits-oldies sibling WWBB "B-101" (5.0 – 4.5, unchanged at #7, 6+) and
Entercom sports WVEI (3.1 – 2.6 steady at #8) each surrender one-half share. It is the
sixth straight sweep without an increase for "B-101" for a net loss of 3.5 shares (8.0 – 8.0 – 7.7 – 7.0 – 6.0 – 5.0 – 4.5, 6+). This particular string follows
six successive monthlies without a decrease for a combined +3.3 (4.7 – 4.8 – 5.9 – 6.5 – 7.2 – 8.0 – 8.0, 6+).
5)
Raleigh – Erasing a -.5 in November with a +.6 in December,
Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL "Mix 101.5"
pours on a +5.7 in "Holiday" (8.5 – 8.0 – 8.6 – 14.3, 6+) and is on top for the fourth consecutive ratings period. By registering its fourth straight up-trend (5.6 – 5.8 – 5.9 – 6.2 – 6.9, 6+), WUNC (+.7) marches from fifth to second; the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned facility is a combined +1.3 since September. Displaced from the runner-up slot with a -1.4 and tumbling to sixth is
Curtis Media Group's WQDR "Today's Best Country," which is off for the
fourth straight time for a cumulative -3.6 (9.2 – 8.0 – 7.6 – 7.0 – 5.6, 6+). This represents the sixth consecutive sweep that adult hits sibling WBBB (
down two-tenths) is without an increase (7.1 – 6.1 – 5.5 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 4.5 – 4.3, 6+), yet "Radio 96.1" manages to
climb two rankers (tenth to eighth). Improving from eighth to seventh,
iHeartMedia's WRDU "Classic Rock 100.7" (flat from December) is nonetheless without an increase for the fourth consecutive time and is a combined -1.5 in that stretch (6.5 – 6.1 – 5.9 – 5.0 – 5.0, 6+). Following a December +.9 to 5.5, matching its best 6+-stat in just over three years (November 2012), talk sibling WTKK regresses by -1.3 (4.6 – 5.5 – 4.2, 6+) and skids from seventh to tenth. Although cluster-mate WDCG-HD2 (-.5) is steady at #17, the alternative outlet falters for the third successive sweep (2.6 – 2.4 – 2.0 – 1.5, 6+). Also down for the third straight time – this time by one full-share (5.1 – 4.9 – 4.8 – 3.8, 6+) is
Radio One gospel WNNL "The Light 103.9," which exits the top ten (#9 to #11). Notwithstanding WCMC "99.9 The Fan" remains at #12, the consecutive streak of up-trends for the Capitol Broadcasting sports outlet (down three-tenths to 3.7, 6+) concludes at four (2.5 – 2.7 – 3.6 – 3.9 – 4.0, 6+).
6)
Norfolk – After gaining one-half share in December,
Entercom adult contemporary WWDE "2WD" tacks on more
than five full-shares (6.2 – 6.7 – 11.8,
+5.1, 6+) to jump from fourth to second. It comes within two-tenths of co-owned urban AC WVKL (13.0 – 12.0, -1.0, 6+), which is #1 for the
43rd consecutive ratings period. The last time "Smooth R&B From Yesterday & Today" was
not in double-digits (6+) was January 2014, when it scored 9.8; WVKL was +1.2 in December. Also off by one full-share, in
addition to WVKL, is
Max Broadcast Group country WGH-FM "Eagle 97.3" (sixth to ninth), which slips for the third consecutive ratings period (5.1 – 5.0 – 4.7 – 3.7, 6+). Not only does WMOV "MOViN 107.7" hang out an impressive +3.4 (2.7 – 6.1, 6+), the
iHeartMedia rhythmic hot AC rockets from twelfth into the top five (#5). Eroding by nine-tenths each are Max Broadcast Group classic hits-oldies WVBW "92.9 The Wave" (7.6 – 6.7, second to fourth, 6+) and
Saga rocker WNOR-FM (5.7 – 4.8, 6+). WNOR-FM lost nine-tenths in November as well, but bounced back with a one-half share gain in December; it had been at #5 the past four sweeps, but drops to sixth. Returning the six-tenths it gained in December, Max Broadcast Group CHR WVHT "Hot 100.5" (3.5 – 4.1 – 3.5, 6+) drops out of the top ten (#7 to #11). Co-owned WVSP "
ESPN 94.1″ slumps by one-half share (3.1 – 2.6, 6+) and slides from #11 to #12.
7)
Nashville – The third straight progressive trend for
Midwest Communications adult contemporary WJXA is a +4.4 (9.8 –
10.6 – 11.2 –
15.6, 6+), easily securing "Mix 92.9" at #1 for the
46th successive monthly. After being in the same ranker order the last three ratings periods, Music City USA's three FM country properties get separated with
Cumulus Media's WSM-FM "Nash Icon"
notching a +.6 (3.7 – 4.3, 6+) enabling it to climb from tenth to eighth. Conversely, sputtering by -1.1
each are the other two country players –
iHeartMedia's WSIX-FM "The Big 98" (5.0 – 3.9, eighth to ninth, 6+) and "Nash Icon" sibling WKDF "Nash FM" (4.1 – 3.0, #9 to #12). The combined (6+) share for these three stations (11.2) is 4.4
less than that of "Mix." The 11.2 compares to 12.8 in December; 13.5 in November; 13.0 in October; 13.1 in September; and 14.1 in both July and August. Modest back-to-back dips in November and December by Cumulus Media sports outlet WGFX are followed by a robust -1.3 (8.1 – 8.0 – 7.8 – 6.5, 6+) with "104.5 The Zone" moving from third to fourth. Format rival – Cromwell Group's WPRT – is down three-tenths to 1.4 (#17 – #18); "
ESPN Nashville" had been up or flat the past six sweeps for a cumulative +.9 (.8 – .9 – .9 – 1.0 – 1.6 – 1.6 – 1.7, 6+). This is the 24th successive sweep in which
Joule Broadcasting CHR WNFN (2.5 – 2.8, +.3, #15 to #13) is in the two-share range (6+). After applying the brakes to six successive downward trends that yielded a combined loss of one full-share (8.3 – 8.0 – 7.7 – 7.6 – 7.5 – 7.4 – 7.3, 6+) WRVW posted a +.8 in December, but the iHeartMedia CHR relinquishes all of it (7.3 – 8.1 – 7.3, 6+); nonetheless, "The River" stays at #2. Also declining by eight-tenths is
Educational Media Foundation contemporary Christian WLVU "K-Love" (2.9 – 2.1, #14 to #15, 6+). Even though Midwest Communications adult hits WCJK regresses by one-half share (7.6 – 7.1, 6+), "Jack-FM" inches up from fourth to third.
8)
Greensboro – On the heels of December's whopping +3.0,
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMAG "The Triad's Christmas
Station" adds another +5.3 (6.9 – 9.9 –
15.2, 6+) and repeats at #1. In 7.1 – 7.6 range (6+) the past six sweeps,
Entercom adult hits WSMW "Simon" improves by one full-share to 8.1 and climbs from fifth to third. Following a gain of six-tenths in December, WMAG's CHR sibling, WMKS, forfeits nine-tenths but
remains at #7 for the third straight time; "Kiss-FM" had a
+1.0 in June;
-1.1 in July;
+1.4 in August;
-.7 in September;
-.5 in October; and
-.8 in November (5.6 – 6.6 – 5.5 – 6.9 – 6.2 – 5.7 – 4.9 – 5.5 – 4.6, 6+). Steady at #9, FM talk sibling WPTI is off by six-tenths (3.2 – 2.6, 6+). Two full-shares separate the market's FM country outlets, with iHeartMedia's WTQR "New Country Q-104.1" at 7.3 (#4 to #5, 6+) and Entercom's WPAW "The Wolf" at 5.3 (steady at #6, 6+); "Q-104.1" is off by three-tenths and "The Wolf" declines by one-half share.
9)
West Palm Beach – More than doubling its December +1.4,
Palm Beach Broadcasting-owned adult contemporary WEAT
"Sunny 107.9" advances from third to second (4.6 – 6.0 – 8.9, 6+); its 8.9 in "Holiday" 2015 eclipses the 8.2 it posted one year ago ("Holiday"
2014). Recapturing the nine-tenths it lost in December, co-owned WIRK climbs from fifth to fourth (5.5 – 4.6 – 5.5, 6+); prior to December, "South Florida Country" occupied the #3 slot for five
successive ratings periods. Also in that cluster, WRMF holds down the top spot for the
17th consecutive time – but the hot AC is down -1.2 after December's -1.1 and leads "Sunny" by just one-tenth (11.3 – 10.2 – 9.0, 6+). After adding a combined +1.1 in November and December, urban AC cluster-mate WMBX "X-102.3" returns all of it (3.9- 4.3 – 5.0 – 3.9, 6+) and slides from fourth to sixth. Notwithstanding it posts a +.2 (7.1 – 7.3, 6+), iHeartMedia adult contemporary WOLL "Today's Kool 105.5" drops from #2 (where it had been the past
six monthlies) to #3. Without an increase in five straight ratings periods (4.3 – 4.3 – 4.2 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 3.4, 6+), classic rock sibling WKGR posted a gain of one-half share in December but coughs it all back (3.4 – 3.9 – 3.4, 6+); "Gator 98.7" is #7 for the fifth successive sweep. The string of progressive trends for public WLRN (-.4 to 2.0, 6+) ends at four (1.1 – 1.3 – 1.5 – 2.0 2.4, 6+), but it remains at #10.
10)
Jacksonville – Boasting the
second-highest (6+) December 2015 – "Holiday" 2015 increase by any station in the 48
PPM–
markets,
Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary WEJZ "Lite 96.1 – Today's Variety" (10.3 –
19.7,
+9.4, 6+) repeats at #1. Holding top honors for most significant (6+) December 2015 – "Holiday" 2015 improvement is iHeartMedia Portland adult contemporary KKCW "K-103" (
+10.0). "Lite 96.1" (+1.1 in
December) had been on top for
17 straight sweeps before dropping to #2 in November. Owing to its massive 19.7, "Lite" outpoints the combined total of
iHeartMedia-owned WQIK "Jacksonville's Country" (8.7 – 8.2, -.5 in "Holiday" and -1.0 in December, steady at #2) and
Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WJGL "The Eagle" (8.2 – 7.6, -.6, flat at #3, 6+) by nearly four full-shares. In addition to the -.5 by "Jacksonville's Country," the format declines by another -1.3 as WEJZ cluster-mate WGNE "99.9 Gator Country" (sixth to seventh) falters 5.7 – 4.4 (6+). While it is flat at #14,
Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting contemporary Christian WMUV "The Promise" records a gain of three-tenths (1.9 – 2.2, 6+). The third straight decline for WOKV is a whopping -1.8 (8.6 – 8.1 – 7.7 – 5.9, 6+) taking the Cox Media Group talker to its lowest 6+-share since April (also 5.9), but it remains at #4. After three successive up or flat monthlies for a combined +1.4 (4.3 – 4.3 – 5.4 – 5.7, 6+), iHeartMedia urban contemporary WJBT slumps by nine-tenths to 4.8, but "The Beat" is steady at #6. Eroding by eight-tenths each with identical 5.2 – 4.4 trends – yet climbing from eighth to seventh – are Cox Media Group alternative WXXJ "X-102.9" and iHeartMedia adult hits WWJK "Jack-FM." Steady at #12, public WJCT is also off by eight-tenths (3.9 – 3.1, 6+). Prior to dropping one-half share in
December, "X-102.9" was without a decrease the previous three sweeps (5.0 – 5.0 – 5.5 – 5.7, 6+). Following four consecutive up or flat trends (5.8 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 6.2 – 6.3, 6+), CHR sibling WAPE (unchanged at #5) posts a -.5 to 4.8 (6+). Flat at #11 and in 4.0 – 4.9 range (6+) for the eighth straight time, format rival – iHeartMedia's WKSL "Kiss-FM" – declines by six-tenths (4.6 – 4.0, 6+).
11)
Memphis – Over and above being the sixth straight month that WRVR "Continuous Soft Rock The River" is either up or flat
for a combined
+8.3 (5.7 – 6.0 – 6.9 – 7.2 – 7.2 – 7.9 –
14.0, 6+), the
Entercom adult contemporary zooms from #3 to #1. Its 14.0 (6+) outdoes the 11.5 "The River" registered in "Holiday"
2014. Locked on .7 (6+) in November and December, public urban AC WQOX nearly doubles that stat to 1.3 (+.6) and inches up from #19 to
#18. Unseated at #1 is
iHeartMedia urban AC KJMS "V-101" (8.6, -1.4, first to third, 6+); "V-101" had not had a decline in the previous four sweeps (8.9 – 9.2 – 9.3 – 9.3 – 10.0, 6+). Owing to a
+.3 (to 5.4, 6+) in
December, urban-rhythmic oldies sibling WDIA curtailed three straight downtrends that resulted in a cumulative -2.7 (7.8 – 6.6 – 5.5 – 5.1, 6+), but "1070 – The Heart & Soul of Memphis" slumps by -1.3 to 4.1, slipping from seventh to eighth. While co-owned gospel WHAL is still in fifth-place, "Hallelujah" follows December's -.8 with a -.7 (7.1 – 6.3 – 5.6, 6+). Faltering by nine-tenths each and finishing sixth and eighth, respectively, are Entercom hot AC WMC-FM "FM 100 Today's Best Mix" (5.2, 6+) and
Cumulus Media country WGKX "Kix 106" (5.1 – 4.2, 6+); "FM 100" was a combined +1.6 since October (4.5 – 5.6 – 6.1, 6+).
12)
Hartford – Not only does
CBS Radio adult contemporary WRCH notch a progressive trend for the fifth consecutive sweep –
this one by nearly six full-shares (8.7 – 10.8 – 11.1 – 11.6 – 11.9 –
17.8, 6+), "Lite 100.5" (+5.9) is Hartford's market leader for the
15th time in the last 16 sweeps – including the past seven. Albeit by modest increments,
Connoisseur Media talker WDRC-AM improves for the fourth straight time (.8 – .9 – 1.1 – 1.3 – 1.4, 6+) and it stays at #10. After three successive ratings periods in the runner-up slot (September, October, and
November),
iHeartMedia's WWYZ "Country 92-5" fell to fifth in December. Spiraling by -1.9, "Country 92-5" has its third successive downward trend (8.1 – 7.5 – 6.9 – 5.0, 6+) and sinks to eighth. Unchanged at #7 for the fourth consecutive sweep, Connoisseur Media classic rock WDRC-FM "The Whale" follows December's +.5 with a -1.2 (6.3 – 6.8 – 5.6, 6+). Following three consecutive increases for a cumulative +1.5 (6.3 – 6.7 – 6.9 – 7.8, 6+),
iHeartMedia CHR WKSS "All the Hits Kiss 95.7" relinquishes -1.1 to backslide from second to third. Stymied at 2.6 (6+) in September, October,
and November, WNPR improved by six-tenths in December, but surrenders eight-tenths (3.2 – 2.4, 6+); the public facility though remains at #9 for the
19th straight sweep.
The top 12 gainers for the 12 PPM-markets shown above in the Holiday 2015 report are: 1 WEJZ, Jacksonville (+9.4); 2 WWLI, Providence (+7.9); 3 WYXB, Indianapolis (+6.8); 4 WRVR, Memphis (+6.1); 5 WRCH, Hartford (+5.9); 6 WRAL, Raleigh (+5.7); 7 WRIT, Milwaukee (+5.6); 8 WMAG, Greensboro (+5.3); 9 WWDE, Norfolk (+5.1); 10 KKMJ, Austin (+5.0); 11 WJXA, Nashville (+4.4); and 12 WMOV, Norfolk (+3.4).
Coming up this week: The most comprehensive look at the Holiday sweep with full scoreboards of adult contemporary, hot AC, and country (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com). 
