PPM Data – Round Two. "Holiday" 2015 ratings information has been released for Washington (D.C.), Boston, Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.
Nielsen Audio's "Holiday" 2015 survey period covered December 3 – 30.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all of these
PPM-markets.
TOP TAKEAWAYS
1)
Washington, DC – This time last month, perennial bridesmaid WAMU caught
Hubbard all-news WTOP at #1.
American University-owned WAMU finished in the runner-up position the previous
12 ratings periods, while WTOP occupied the market's ratings penthouse the same number of consecutive months. The tie is broken in the "Holiday" sweep,
but neither WAMU nor WTOP emerges victorious. Instead, that honor goes to
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WASH. Steady at #3 in December, it dialed up a +.9. Now, WASH adds five full-shares (6.1 – 7.0 – 12.0, 6+), while WAMU regresses by one full-share and slips to third (7.9 – 6.9, 6+). Sandwiched between WASH and WAMU is WTOP, down four-tenths to 7.4 (6+). Before its 7.9 in December, WTOP had been in the 8.0 – 8.9 range the
previous seven sweeps. Locked on 4.5 (6+) in October and November, another spoken-word outlet –
Cumulus Media talker WMAL – declined by one-half share in December and drops another seven-tenths (4.5 – 4.0 – 3.3, 6+), tumbling from the top ten (#10 to #12). Public classical WETA cobbles together its fourth straight up-trend (3.3 – 3.5 – 3.7 – 4.2 – 4.6, 6+), inching up from eighth to seventh. Notwithstanding this is its third successive sweep at #4, iHeartMedia CHR WIHT "Hot 99.5" is down or flat for the seventh straight time. Four consecutive 5.9 showings are included in that streak, which has produced a cumulative -1.7 (6.9 – 6.8 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 5.8 – 5.2, 6+). Off by one-half share each are cluster-mate WMZQ "Today's Hit Country" (3.1, steady at #13) and
CBS Radio hot AC WIAD "Fresh 94.7" (4.0 – 3.5, #10 to #11, 6+); WMZQ had registered a 3.6 in three of the last four sweeps. Both of the market's major sports outlets – CBS Radio's WJFK-FM "The Fan" (2.5 – 2.3 – 2.1 – 1.9, #17 to #18) and
Red Zebra's WTEM "
ESPN 980″ (2.3 – 2.1 – 1.9 – 1.6, #19 to #20) are each down for the third straight time.
2)
Boston – Over and above ranking first for the fourth straight time,
Greater Media adult contemporary WMJX "Magic 106.7"
rolls out a massive +6.8 and is up or flat for the eighth successive survey period (5.9 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 6.1 – 6.3 – 7.5 – 8.0 – 8.0 – 14.8, 6+). The country format is especially hard hit by the +6.8 that "Magic" boasts and no market outlet has greater 6+-erosion than cluster-mate WKLB "Country 102.5," which sputters by -1.7 (5.0 – 3.3, 6+); even so, it only loses one ranker (seventh to
eighth). Meanwhile,
iHeartMedia's country WBWL "The Bull," which declined by one-half share in December, duplicates that loss (2.3 – 1.8 – 1.3, 6+) and tumbles out of the top 20 (#20 to #21). The other genre seemingly affected by "Magic" is sports, as
CBS Radio's WBZ-FM "The Sports Hub" (6.7 – 5.9, 6+) and
Entercom's WEEI-FM (5.5 – 4.7, 6+) are down eight-tenths, yet each maintains its December ranker – "The Sports Hub" at #2 and WEEI-FM at #6; both stations were flat in December. They also mirror each other in another aspect, in that neither has had an increase in the last three sweeps. Also off by eight-tenths are
iHeartMedia CHR WXKS-FM "Kiss-FM" (5.8, steady at #3, 6+) and CBS Radio hot AC WBMX "Mix" (#10 to #13). "Kiss" had been up the previous three monthlies for a combined +1.2 (5.4 – 5.6 – 6.1 – 6.6, 6+), while "Mix" is without an increase for the fourth consecutive sweep (4.2 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.5 – 2.7, 6+). Following a -.8 in December, Greater Media-owned WROR falters by another seven-tenths (7.0 – 6.2 – 5.5, 6+), however, "Boston's Greatest Hits" remains at #4. It is the first time WROR has slipped below a six-share since "Holiday"
2014 (5.4, 6+). Public WGBH is trending 2.2 – 2.5 – 2.9 (6+) and climbs from #16 to #12. Up or flat for past four sweeps (3.2 – 3.2 – 3.6 – 3.9 – 4.4, 6+),
Boston University-owned WBUR is off by three-tenths – yet improves from eighth to seventh. At #18 for the third straight time,
Northeast Broadcasting triple A WXRV "The River" sputters for the fourth successive sweep (3.1 – 2.9 – 2.2 – 1.9 – 1.8, 6+); it ranked #12 in October.
3)
Detroit – On the heels of rocketing from tenth to first in December (with a +3.5),
iHeartMedia adult contemporary
WNIC does even better with a robust +6.6 (4.5 – 8.0 – 14.6, 6+). Two cluster-mates – urban AC WMXD "Mix 92.3" (4.7, tenth to eighth, 6+) and classic rock WDTW "106.7 The D" (3.1, #16 to #14, 6+) – make considerably more modest gains of one-half share each. As far as "Mix" is concerned, the +.5 curtails six straight down or flat trends that produced a combined -1.6 (5.8 – 5.8 – 5.1 – 4.7 – 4.6 – 4.6 – 4.2, 6+). Format rival –
Radio One's WDMK "Kiss 105.9" – falters for the fourth successive sweep (5.0 – 4.6 – 4.5 – 4.1 – 3.7, 6+) and is a combined -1.3 in that stretch. Multiple stations in the market are
off by one full-share or more, including
CBS Radio sports outlet WXYT-FM "The Ticket" (6.7 – 5.4, -1.3, 6+), which falls from third to fifth, and
Cumulus Media hot AC WDVD "Today's Best Hits" (3.8, -1.2, eighth to tenth, 6+). WDVD had been up or flat the past four sweeps (4.2 – 4.2 – 4.3 – 4.7 – 5.0, 6+). Steady in December following a combined +1.5 in October and November, WDVD talk sibling WJR coughs up one full-share (4.3 – 5.0 – 5.8 – 5.8 – 4.8, 6+) and drops to seventh. WJR was in sixth-place the past three monthlies; 5.8 (November and December) is its strongest 6+-share in just over three years (5.9 in November 2012). Also declining by exactly -1.0 is CBS Radio-owned WYCD "Detroit's Country 99.5" (3.8, ninth to tenth, 6+), which registered a 4.8 in four of the last five sweeps (4.8 – 4.8 – 4.7 – 4.8 – 4.8, 6+). Tied with each other at #3 in November and then together at #4 in December,
Greater Media-owned WCSX "Detroit's Classic Rock" picks up three-tenths (6.2 – 6.5, 6+) to move to #3, while CBS Radio all-news WWJ is off by four-tenths (6.2 – 5.8, 6+) but stays in fourth-place. This is the 11th successive ratings period that WCSX is in the 6.0 – 6.7 range (6+), including a 6.7 in September, October,
and November. Without an increase for the fifth consecutive time, Cumulus Media's WDRQ was locked on 3.0 in August and September; on 2.7 in October and November; 2.2 in December; and now slips to 1.9 (6+); "Nash FM" though stays at #17. Following three straight monthlies without a decrease (1.4 – 1.4 – 1.7 – 1.8, 6+),
Bell Media Radio triple A CIDR "The River" recedes by one-half share to 1.3 and is unchanged steady at #19.
4)
Miami – A pair of Miami stations with similar calls –
Spanish Broadcasting System tropical WXDJ "El Zol 106.7" (4.8, ninth
to fifth, 6+) and
Entercom classic hits-oldies WMXJ "The Beach" (4.3, #11 to #8, 6+) – each improve by six-tenths. Formerly using the "Magic 102.7" handle, WMXJ was down eight-tenths in December. Prior to December's 3.7, WMXJ was in 4.0 – 4.8 territory (6+) the previous 14 sweeps. Six-tenths though is
unlucky for
iHeartMedia CHR WHYI "Y-100" (4.1 – 3.5,
-.6, #10 to #11, 6+) and
Univision Spanish talk WAQI (3.2 – 2.6,
-.6, #13 to #15, 6+); "Y-100" was +.5 in December.
Entercom adult contemporary WLYF adds three-tenths to December's +.4, as "Lite FM" is #1 for the ninth consecutive month (7.6 – 8.0 – 8.3, 6+). With "
four" apparently as its theme,
Cox Media Group's similarly-formatted WFEZ "Easy 93.1" gains
four-tenths, putting an end to
four successive negative trends (6.6 – 5.9 – 5.5 – 5.3 – 5.1, 6+) and remains at
#4 for, of course, the
fourth straight time. Occupying the runner-up slot for the fifth successive monthly report,
Cox Media Group urban AC WQHT "Hot 105" picks up one half share (7.1 – 7.6, 6+). Up or flat the past four sweeps (4.4 – 4.5 – 4.5 – 4.6 – 5.0, 6+), urban contemporary sibling WEDR "99 Jamz" sputters by nine-tenths to 4.1 to slip from fifth to ninth. After gaining one-half share in December,
CBS Radio rhythmic CHR WPOW "Power 96" relinquishes nearly twice as much (also -.9), tumbling from seventh to tenth (4.0 – 4.5 – 3.6, 6+). The 4.5 "Power" recorded in December is its most potent 6+-share in two years (4.9 in "Holiday" 2013). Following a -.8 in December, iHeartMedia-owned WBGG "Big 105.9 South Florida's Classic Rock" drops another one-half share (3.9 – 3.1 – 2.6, 6+) but stays at #15 (tied with WAQI). Over the past seven sweeps, hot AC cluster-mate WMIA "My 93.9" (#18 to #19) has not registered a gain and is down by a combined -1.8 in that time (3.9 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 2.7 – 2.6 – 2.4 – 2.1, 6+). The string of consecutive up or flat trends for
Univision Spanish contemporary WAMR ends at five (4.8 – 5.0 – 5.1 – 5.8 – 5.8 – 6.0, 6+) as "Amor 107.5" is off by three tenths to 5.7; however, it retains the #3 slot for the fourth successive month. At .2 the past eight monthlies, co-owned Spanish talk WQBA improves to .5 (#29).
5)
Seattle – More than quadrupling its December +1.7,
Hubbard adult contemporary KRWM "Warm 106.9" – advances from
second to first. This is the fourth straight up or flat sweep for "Warm" (4.4 – 4.4 – 4.8 – 6.5- 13.4, +6.9, 6+), 6+), which trades places with co-owned CHR KQMV "MOViN 92.5 – All The Hits" (7.4 – 6.8, -.6, 6+). Gaining six-tenths each are classical KING (2.7 – 3.3, 6+) and
Crista Ministries contemporary Christian KCMS-FM "Spirit 105.3" (2.9 – 3.5, 6+). Matching its recent best (3.5, 6+ in June and July), "Spirit" catapults from #16 to #8, while KING also enters the top ten (#19 to #10). Descending for the sixth straight
time for a cumulative -3.3 (5.8 – 5.1 – 4.1 – 4.0 – 3.6 – 3.3 – 2.5, 6+),
Entercom country outlet KKWF "100.7 The Wolf" spirals from #13 to #18. Ironically, format rival –
CBS Radio's KMPS – also sputters by eight-tenths and slumps from #10 to #15; this is the third straight sweep KMPS is down or flat (5.0 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.1, 6+). Other Seattle facilities falling by eight-tenths are classic rock cluster-mate KZOK (5.3 – 4.5, steady at #4, 6+) and
Sinclair Broadcast Group hot AC KPLZ "Star 101.5" (4.3 – 3.5, seventh to eighth, 6+); KZOK and "Star" were each down by half as much (-.4) in December. After nine straight monthlies in 3.1 – 3.8 territory (3.6 – 3.8 – 3.8 – 3.4 – 3.1- 3.3 – 3.2 – 3.2 – 3.7, 6+), CBS Radio adult hits KJAQ reached the four-share threshold in December, but with a -.7, "Jack-FM" returns to 3.3 (eighth to tenth). Up or flat the past seven consecutive times (2.0 – 2.0 – 2.2 – 2.4 – 2.7 – 3.2 – 3.4 – 3.7, 6+) for a combined +1.7, Sinclair Broadcast Group all-news property KOMO regresses by one-half share to 3.2 (#11 to #13). Also faltering by one-half share each are
Bonneville talkers KIRO-FM and KTTH, as well as
iHeartMedia classic rock KJR-FM "95.7 The Jet." Flat at #3, KIRO-FM was +.8 in September; +.6 in October; flat in November; and -.7 in December (5.4 – 6.2 – 6.8 – 6.8 – 6.1 – 5.6, 6+). This is the fourth straight downward trend for KJR-FM (6.5 – 5.4 – 5.3 – 5.0 – 4.5, 6+), but "The Jet" actually improves from #5 to a tie at #4. Ping-ponging since September (1.7 – 2.0 – 1.7 – 2.0, 6+), KTTH lands at 1.5 (#23, 6+). Public KPLU is off by six-tenths (2.8 – 2.2, #18 to #19, 6+).
6)
Phoenix – For the
15th successive ratings period, KESZ is in the driver's seat. The
iHeartMedia adult contemporary outlet
does so in style by hanging out a gain of seven full-shares (9.5 – 16.5, 6+). Although steady at #25, format challenger –
The Yucaipa Companies' KOAI "The Oasis" – is off for the third straight time (2.1 – 2.0 – 1.4 – 1.2, 6+) for a combined -.9. Slipping from third to fourth,
CBS Radio classic hits-oldies KOOL suffers a -1.2 (5.7 – 4.5, 6+). With its second successive gain
of one-tenth (3.5 – 3.6 – 3.7, 6+), co-owned KZON "Live 101.5 The Valley's Hit Music Leader" inches up from tenth to eighth. Returning the +.7 it registered in December, public KJZZ exits the top 20 (1.7 – 2.4 – 1.7, -.7, #18 to #22, 6+). Prior to gaining seven-tenths in December, KJZZ was down or flat the previous three sweeps (2.4 – 2.4 – 1.9 – 1.7, 6+). Also declining by seven-tenths – and down for the fifth successive sweep (5.7 – 5.4 – 5.1 – 4.8 – 4.7 – 4.0, 6+) – is iHeartMedia talker KFYI, which slides from fourth to seventh. Co-owned KNIX "The Valley's #1 for New Country" sputters by six-tenths (4.3 – 3.7, 6+) to segue from seventh to eighth, while
Univision Spanish adult hits KOMR "Mas Variedad" declines by one-half share but stays at #20; "Mas Variedad" had been up or flat the past four sweeps (1.6 – 1.7 – 2.0 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 1.8, 6+). In addition to KFYI,
Bonneville talker KTAR-FM records its fifth straight decline (4.0 – 3.9 – 3.8 – 3.3 – 3.2 – 3.1, 6+), but it remains at #12 for the third successive time. After three straight (modest) increases (3.2 – 3.5 – 3.6 – 3.7, 6+), iHeartMedia CHR KZZP "Kiss-FM" dips by one-tenth to 3.6, moving from ninth to tenth.
7)
Minneapolis – Boasting the loftiest (6+) December 2015 – "Holiday" 2015 increase of any station in the 24
PPM-markets
whose data has been released thus far,
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KQQL "Kool 108" logs a +8.0 (8.5 – 16.5, 6+) and (obviously) repeats at #1. After picking up eight-tenths in November and seven-tenths in December,
CBS Radio adult hits KZJK "Jack-FM" tacks on two-tenths (4.4 – 5.2 – 5.9 – 6.1, 6+) to climb from seventh to fourth. It is the highest 6+-share for the Twin Cities' version of "Jack-FM" since September 2014 (6.3). Flat at #3, iHeartMedia's KFXN "Sports Radio KFAN" slumps by -1.2 (7.5 – 6.3, 6+), while
Cumulus Media-owned
KQRS "Minnesota's Classic Rock" is off by one full-share (6.9 – 5.9, fifth to sixth, 6+). Formats hardest hit by the +8.0 from "Kool" are hot AC and country. Regarding the former, while steady at #2,
Hubbard's KSTP-FM "KS-95" erodes by -1.6, while iHeartMedia-owned KTCZ "Cities 97" loses one full-share and departs the top ten (#10 to #11). It is the fourth straight dip for "KS-95" (8.4 – 8.3 – 8.0 – 7.9 – 6.3, 6+) for a combined -2.1 and the third successive drop for "Cities 97" (5.2 – 5.1 – 4.9 – 3.9, 6+). As far as country is concerned, iHeartMedia's KEEY "K-102" is -1.2 (7.1 – 5.9, fourth to sixth, 6+), while CBS Radio's KMNB "Buz'
n@102.9" is -.8 (#12 to #13, 6+). Recent trends for "K-102" include a -.6 in
October; +1.3 in November; and a -.9 in December. This represents the fifth successive down or flat trend for KMNB (6.5 – 6.5 – 5.4 – 4.9 – 4.3 – 3.5, 6+) for a combined loss of three full-shares. It has been no less than a true rollercoaster ride for "Buz'n": Prior to October's -1.1, it was
up or flat for four straight sweeps (4.7 – 5.3 – 6.3 – 6.5 – 6.5, 6+), following four successive
negative trends (5.6 – 5.3 – 5.0 – 4.9 – 4.7, 6+). On the heels of five straight increases (3.8 – 4.1 – 4.2 – 4.7 – 5.2 – 5.3, 6+), CBS Radio talker WCCO lost one-tenth in December and is now down by one-half share (5.2 – 4.7, 6+), but stays at #9. For the 11th time in the last 12 sweeps, iHeartMedia CHR KDWB registers a negative trend yet manages to climb from sixth to fifth. Since January 2015, "The Twin Cities' #1 Hit Music Station" is a combined -4.1 (10.1 – 9.9 – 9.7 – 9.0 – 8.7 – 8.5 – 8.0 – 7.6 – 7.8 – 7.5 – 6.4 – 6.3 – 6.0, 6+).
8)
San Diego – Underscoring that just about any scenario can eventuate in a "Holiday" sweep, hot AC representatives finish first
and second and an AC is third. Specifically,
CBS Radio adult contemporary-turned-hot AC KYXY erupts with a +2.8 (4.7 – 7.5, 6+) to march from #5 to #1. Posting a seven-tenths gain on top of December's +.5 (4.5 – 5.0 – 5.7, 6+),
iHeartMedia's similarly-formatted KMYI "Star 94.1" inches up from third to second. Despite gaining three-tenths (5.3 – 5.6, 6+),
Entercom adult contemporary KIFM "Easy 98.1" slides from second to third, while sibling KSON-FM "San Diego's #1 for New Country" (5.4 – 4.1, -11.3, 6+) is displaced from the top
spot and falls to fifth. Spanish contemporary XLTN "Radio Latina 104.5" improves by six-tenths (1.8 – 2.4, 6+) and cracks the top 20 (#18), while
Univision regional Mexican KLNV (3.2 – 3.7, #12 to #11, 6+) and CBS Radio CHR KEGY "Energy 103.7" (3.1 – 3.6, #14 to #12, 6+) each improve by one-half share. Commencing back in April, KLQV "102.9 Mas Variedad" amassed five straight up or flat trends for a combined +1.5 (3.0 – 3.2 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 4.2 – 4.5, 6+) and two modest dips followed (4.5 – 4.3 – 3.9, 6+). "Mas Variedad" returned in December with a +.6, but the Univision Spanish adult hits outlet relinquishes that gain (4.5 – 3.9, 6+), falling from sixth to eighth. Urban-rhythmic oldies XHRM "Magic 92.5 The Beat of San Diego" is down for the fourth straight sweep for a cumulative -1.5 (5.4 – 5.1 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 3.9, 6+), but manages to improve from ninth to a three-way tie at eighth. Exiting the top 20 (#20 to #21), sports XPRS-AM "The Mighty 1090" has its fifth successive decline (3.3 – 3.2 – 3.1 – 2.6 – 2.0 – 1.7, 6+) for a combined -1.6.
9)
Tampa – Not only is
Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV on top for an amazing
39th successive sweep, "Lite
Favorites" improves by +5.6 (9.3 – 14.9, 6+) and is in double-digits (6+) for the first time since April (11.1). Owing to a -.2 (to 4.9, 6+), co-owned and similarly-formatted WWRM "Magic 94.9" (three-way tie in sixth-place in December to sole possession of sixth-place) has its string of up or flat trends ended at three (4.6 – 4.7 – 5.1 – 5.1, 6+). Over and above enjoying its third straight gain – this one a whopping +1.6 (2.6 – 3.1 – 3.2 – 4.8, 6+), contemporary Christian WCIE "The Joy" vaults from #14 into the
top ten (#7). After four straight sweeps without a decrease (4.8 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 5.5, 6+),
Beasley Media Group WQYK "Tampa Bay's New Country Hits" sputters by -1.2 to 4.3 and spirals from fourth to ninth. Finishing second for the fifth successive sweep, co-owned classic hits-oldies WRBQ "Q-105" is down for the third consecutive ratings period (6.5 – 6.2 – 6.1 – 5.5, 6+), following four successive increases (5.4 – 4.8 – 5.3 – 6.2 – 6.5, 6+). After six straight months without a decrease for a combined +1.2 (4.6 – 4.8 – 4.9 – 5.1 – 5.2 – 5.4 – 5.8, 6+), rhythmic CHR sibling WLLD "Wild 94.1 The Bay's Party Station" dropped three-tenths in December and now loses another half-share (5.5 – 5.0, 6+) to segue from fourth to fifth. Slipping from #12 to #14,
iHeartMedia hot AC WMTX "Mix 100.7" forfeits -1.1 (4.2 – 3.1, 6+). Down by six-tenths in November, cluster-mate WXTB regained one-half share, but now surrenders seven-tenths (4.1 – 3.5 – 4.0 – 3.3, 6+); "98 Rock" remains at #13. In 5.0 – 5.9 territory (6+) the past eight sweeps, CHR sibling WFLZ (sixth to eighth) drops six-tenths to 4.5. Also in that cluster, WFUS "US 103.5 Tampa Bay's New Country Leader" regresses by one-half share (5.6 – 5.1, 6+) and slides from third to fourth. Noncommercial contemporary Christian WBVM has not had an increase in the last dozen sweeps. A model of consistency, "Spirit 90.5 Tampa Bay's Hit Christian Music" (#23 to #24) posts a .4 for the sixth consecutive time (1.0 – .9 – .7- .7 – .6 – .5 – .5 – .4 – .4 – .4 – .4, – .4 -.4, 6+).
10)
Denver – Progressing from second to first,
Bonneville adult contemporary KOSI notches a +5.6 and is in double-digits (6+) for
the first time since "Holiday"
2014 (12.4). Moreover, it is the third successive gain for "Continuous Lite Rock" (3.3 – 4.2 – 6.1 – 11.7, 6+). Ousted from #1 is
Entercom classic rocker KQMT "The Mountain" (6.2 – 5.5, -.7, 6+), which had ranked first the past three sweeps. Co-owned hot AC KALC "Alice" is down or flat for the fifth consecutive time (5.4 – 5.0 – 5.0 – 4.7 – 4.2 – 3.9, 6+) and is part of a three-way logjam at #10. Rebounding from December's one-half share drop,
iHeartMedia KBPI posts a +.9 (3.1 – 2.6 – 3.5) to advance from #18 to #14. In its third
straight gain (.6 – .8 – 1.1 – 1.6, 6+),
Colorado Public Radio classical KVOD reaches the top 20 (#20). Slumping by nine-tenths (3.9 – 3.0, 6+), Bonneville's KKFN "Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan" drifts from #12 to #17. Descending by six-tenths each are country sibling KYGO (4.8 – 4.2, fourth to fifth, 6+) and
Educational Media Foundation contemporary Christian KLDV "K-Love" (#15 to #16); it is the third straight decline for "K-Love" (5.3 – 4.1 – 3.8 – 3.2, 6+) resulting in a combined -2.1. Similarly, this is the third consecutive sweep in which iHeartMedia classic rocker KRFX is without a gain (4.8 – 4.8 – 4.4 – 3.9, 6+) – "The Fox" sinks from sixth to tenth.
11)
Baltimore – Repeating at #1,
CBS Radio adult contemporary WLIF "Today's 101.9" registers a +5.9 and reaches
an even 15.0 (6+). After dropping one full-share in December to slide from first to third,
iHeartMedia-owned WPOC "Baltimore's Country Station" regresses by another full-share (7.6 – 6.6 – 5.6, 6+) and slips to fourth. Prior to these declines, WPOC was -.7 in September; -.8 in October; and +.4 in November (8.7 – 8.0 – 7.2 – 7.6, 6+). Despite a loss of four-tenths (6.5 – 6.1, 6+),
Radio One urban AC WWIN-FM progresses from
#4 to #3; "Magic 95.9" finished fourth the past five sweeps. Following back-to-back gains of eight-tenths (4.1 – 4.9 – 5.7, 6+),
Peter & John Radio Fellowship-owned contemporary Christian WRBS "Shine FM" erodes by nine-tenths to 4.8, but it remains at #5. Dropping from #17 to #18 is
CBS Radio's WNEW, which is off by one-half share (1.7 – 1.2, 6+). Although steady at #13,
Shamrock's WZBA "The Bay – Baltimore's Classic Rock Station" records its sixth successive negative trend (6.1 – 5.0 – 4.1 – 3.8 – 3.3 – 3.0 – 2.8, 6+), which has produced a cumulative -3.3.
12)
St. Louis – It is not often a
#1 station
doubles its ratings from one ratings period to the next, but KEZK just did that (and
then some), trending 7.2 – 14.8 (+7.6); KEZK ranked fifth in October and November before reaching first in December. The
CBS Radio adult contemporary outlet has not had a decline in the past
seven monthlies (3.8 – 3.8 – 4.3 – 5.2 – 5.5 – 5.9 – 7.2 – 14.8, 6+) and has gained
11 full-shares
in that stretch. Meanwhile though, owing to a -1.4 to 4.9 (6+), hot AC sibling KYKY "Y-98" (fourth to sixth) has its string of up or flat trends end at five (4.8 – 4.8 – 5.2 – 5.4 – 6.0 – 6.3, 6+). This marks the fifth successive time KSHE hasn't had a decrease (6.2 – 6.2 – 6.7 – 6.9 – 7.1 – 7.7, 6+) and the
Emmis rocker ranks second for the third consecutive sweep. The station KEZK displaced at #1 in December –
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KLOU (flat at #3) – has its seventh consecutive downward trend (11.2 – 9.6 – 8.9 – 7.9 – 7.8 – 7.1 – 6.7 – 5.5, 6+); its 6+-share has been virtually carved in half in that period (a cumulative -5.7). Eroding by -1.1 (4.9 – 3.8, 6+),
Hubbard Broadcasting adult hits WARH "The Arch" drops out of the top ten (#9 to #12, 6+). Off by seven-tenths each (6+) are co-owned WXOS "101 Sports" (3.3, flat at #13); Emmis alternative KPNT "The Point" (5.5 – 4.8, seventh to eighth); and CHR cluster-mate KNOU "Now 96.3" (3.1, #14 to #15). WXOS was +.6 in September; +1.4 in October; +.8 in November; and -.5 in December (1.7 – 2.3 – 3.7 – 4.5 – 4.0, 6+); "Now" ends three straight increases (2.4 – 2.9 – 3.2 – 3.8, 6+). Following consecutive losses of -.8 in November and December, KMOX drops an additional six-tenths (7.6 – 6.8 – 6.0 – 5.4, 6+), yet actually climbs from fifth to a fourth-place tie. The CBS Radio talker had been in second-place for five successive sweeps; slipped to third in November; and to fifth in December. Even though it duplicates December's -.5 (5.0 – 4.5 – 4.0, 6+),
Gateway Creative contemporary Christian KLJY remains at #10; "Joy FM" tumbled by nine-tenths in November (5.9 – 5.0, 6+). Problems continue with the market's two country outlets. Specifically,
Hubbard's WIL (#11 to #9) has not had an increase in the last five sweeps (5.8 – 5.5 – 4.9 – 4.9 – 4.4 – 4.1, 6+) and is down by a collective -1.7. Meanwhile, iHeartMedia's KSD "The Bull" (unchanged at #16) is down for the sixth straight ratings period (5.6 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 4.0 – 3.1 – 3.0, 6+) for a combined -2.6.
The top 12 gainers for the 12 PPM-markets shown above in the Holiday 2015 report are: 1 KQQL, Minneapolis (+8.0); 2 KEZK, St. Louis (+7.6); 3 KESZ, Phoenix (+7.0); 4 KRWM, Seattle (+6.9); 5 WMJX, Boston (+6.8); 6 WNIC, Detroit (+6.6); 7 WLIF, Baltimore (+5.9); 8 WDUV, Tampa (+5.6); 8 KOSI, Denver (+5.6); 10 WASH, Washington, DC (+5.0); 11 KYXY (+2.8); and 12 WCIE, Tampa (+1.6).
