PPM Data – Round Two. January 2016 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 January 2016 survey period covered December 31 – January 27.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all of these
PPM-markets.
TOP TAKEAWAYS
1)
Washington, DC – Three consecutive downward trends by WTOP have produced a combined -1.4 (8.9 – 8.2 – 7.9 – 7.5, 6+),
but the
Hubbard all-news operation puts an end to that with a stunning +2.4 to 9.9, its most potent 6+-performance since September 2011, when it reached 10.1. WTOP marches from second to first, the position it occupied for 12 successive sweeps, before giving way in "Holiday" to
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WASH ( 5.3, -6.7, first to
third). The 5.3 by WASH – which had been up the past three sweeps (5.9 – 6.1 – 7.0 – 12.0, 6+) – is its lowest since April (also 5.3, 6+). Powered by a lofty +2.2 (6.9 – 9.1, 6+),
American University-owned WAMU is back in its familiar #2 spot. Prior to finishing third in the "Holiday" sweep, WAMU (-1.0 in "Holiday") was in the runner-up position the previous
12 ratings periods; 9.1 represents its highest 6+-share since April 2013 (9.7). Stalled at 1.8 in December and "Holiday,"
Radio One gospel WPRS "Praise 104.1" breaks out with a +1.1 to 2.9 as it glides from #19 to #14. More than regaining the half-share it lost in "Holiday," iHeartMedia-owned WMZQ "Today's Hit Country" is +.7 (3.1 – 3.8, 6+) and moves from #13 to a three-way tie at #10. While
Cumulus Media talker WMAL gains one-half share (3.3 – 3.8, #12 to #10, 6+), hot AC cluster-mate WRQX "Mix 107.3" declines by that margin (2.6 – 2.1, #15 to #17, 6+). WMAL had been down or flat the past three ratings periods (4.5 – 4.5 – 4.0 – 3.3, 6+). Down or flat for the
eighth straight time, iHeartMedia CHR WIHT "Hot 99.5" is nonetheless steady at #4 for the fourth successive sweep. Four consecutive 5.9 showings are included in that "Hot 99.5" streak, which has produced a cumulative loss of two full shares (6.9 – 6.8 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 5.8 – 5.2 – 4.9, 6+). After each was down the past three sweeps,
CBS Radio's WJFK-FM "The Fan" improves by one-tenth (2.5 – 2.3 – 2.1 – 1.9 – 2.0, steady at #18), while format foe –
Red Zebra's WTEM "
ESPN 980″ – gains two-tenths (2.3 – 2.1 – 1.9 – 1.6 – 1.8, #20 to #19). Unlisted in the January report is public classical WETA, which had cobbled together four straight up-trends (3.3 – 3.5 – 3.7 – 4.2 – 4.6, 6+) and ranked seventh in the "Holiday" sweep.
2)
Boston – Following a combined -1.5 in December and "Holiday,"
Greater Media-owned WROR roars back with a
whopping +1.7 (7.0 – 6.2 – 5.5 – 7.2, 6+) as "Boston's Greatest Hits" rockets from fourth to first. Ousted from #1 after a four-sweep stay is adult contemporary sibling WMJX "Magic 106.7," which – until January's -8.5 to 6.3 (6+) – had been up or flat the past eight survey periods (5.9 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 6.1 – 6.3 – 7.5 – 8.0 – 8.0 – 14.8, 6+); "Magic" falls to #5. As hopes of a
New England Patriots Super
Bowl appearance intensified (but did not materialize), Beantown's January 6+-share for the sports format inflates by +2.1, with
CBS Radio's WBZ-FM "The Sports Hub" up nine-tenths (5.9 – 6.8, 6+) and
Entercom's WEEI-FM improving by +1.2 (4.7 – 5.9, 6+). While WEEI-FM remains at #6, Patriots' flagship "The Sports Hub" actually slides from second to third. Both of these stations were down eight-tenths in "Holiday" and flat in December. Overtaking "The Sports Hub" is
iHeartMedia CHR WXKS-FM "Kiss 108," which posts a +1.3 to 7.1, the first time "Kiss" has crossed the seven-share level (6+) since November 2014 (also 7.1). Like WEEI-FM and WBZ-FM, "Kiss" was down eight tenths in "Holiday"; it advances from #3. Format challenger –
CBS Radio's WODS "Amp" – improves by six-tenths (3.3 – 3.9, 6+) to break out of a three-way tie at #8 and inch up to #7. With a +.7 to 3.9, cluster-mate WZLX "Classic Rock 100.7" (#11 in "Holiday") halts four straight downward trends (4.7 – 4.1 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 3.2, 6+) and ties "Amp" at #7. Without an increase the past four sweeps (4.2 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.5 – 2.7, 6+), their hot AC sibling WBMX "Mix" registers a +1.1 to 3.8, and re-enters the top ten (#13 to #9). Following back-to-back
declines of one-half share in December and "Holiday," iHeartMedia's country WBWL "The Bull"
gains one-half share (2.3 – 1.8 – 1.3 – 1.8, 6+) and is back in the top 20 (#21 to #17). Owing to a +.3 (to 2.1, 6+),
Northeast Broadcasting triple A WXRV "The River" applies the brakes to four successive negative trends (3.1 – 2.9 – 2.2 – 1.9 – 1.8, 6+) and finishes at #15; "The River" was stuck at #18 the past three monthlies. Public WGBH – which was trending 2.2 (November), 2.5 (December), 2.9 ("Holiday," 6+) and ranked #12 in "Holiday" – is not in print in January.
3)
Detroit – Off by four-tenths in "Holiday,"
CBS Radio all-news WWJ answers back with a whopping gain of two full-shares (6.2 –
5.8 – 7.8, 6+) as it jumps from fourth to first. This marks the strongest 6+-performance for WWJ since last February's 8.0. Dislodged from the "Motor City" penthouse after two rating periods is
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WNIC, which swaps places with WWJ by spiraling more than 60% (14.6 – 5.7, -8.9). This is the 12th successive time
that
Greater Media-owned WCSX "Detroit's Classic Rock" (6.8, +.3, #3 to #2) is in the 6.0 – 6.8 range (6+), including a 6.7 in September, October,
and November. Rebounding from a -1.2 in "Holiday,"
Cumulus Media hot AC WDVD "Today's Best Hits" records a +.9 (5.0 – 3.8 – 4.7, 6+) and moves from tenth to eighth. Prior to the -1.2, WDVD had been up or flat the previous four sweeps (4.2 – 4.2 – 4.3 – 4.7 – 5.0, 6+). Gaining eight-tenths each are co-owned talker WJR (4.8 – 5.6, seventh to fifth, 6+); Greater Media's WRIF "Everything That Rocks" (5.3 – 6.1, sixth to third, 6+); and iHeartMedia CHR WKQI "Channel 95-5" (4.0 – 4.8, ninth to seventh, 6+). WJR was -1.0 in "Holiday," and before that sweep, it had been in sixth-place the past three monthlies. Falling from second to fifth is CBS Radio classic hits-oldies WOMC, down by -1.3 to 5.6, its lowest 6+-stat since last April (also 5.6). Down or flat the past five sweeps (3.0 – 3.0 – 2.7 – 2.7 – 2.2 – 1.9, 6+), Cumulus Media's country WDRQ "Nash FM" improves by four-tenths to climb from #17 to #16. Curtailing four successive negative sweeps which yielded a combined -1.3 (5.0 – 4.6 – 4.5 – 4.1 – 3.7, 6+),
Radio One's WDMK "Kiss 105.9" picks up four-tenths to (4.1) and returns to the top ten (#12 to #10).
4)
Miami – Having occupied the runner-up slot the past five monthlies,
Cox Media Group urban AC WQHT "Hot 105"
chalks up a +.9 (7.6 – 8.5, 6+) and takes over at #1, the first time there since last April. "Hot" was up by one-half share in "Holiday." Dropping from first to second (8.3 – 8.0, -.3, 6+) is
Entercom adult contemporary WLYF "Lite FM," which had been first the past nine
sweeps. Similarly formatted, Cox Media Group-owned WFEZ gains three-tenths (5.5 – 5.8, 6+) and "Easy 93.1" remains at #4 for the fifth straight time. After improving by six-tenths in "Holiday,"
Spanish Broadcasting System tropical WXDJ "El Zol 106.7" relinquishes one-half share (4.8 – 4.3, 6+) to dip from fifth to seventh. Prior to January,
iHeartMedia hot AC WMIA "My 93.9" had not registered a gain in the past seven monthlies and was down a combined -1.8 in that time (3.9 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 2.7 – 2.6 – 2.4 – 2.1, 6+). That changes though as "My 93.9" notches a +.3 to 2.4 as it climbs from #19 to a three-way tie at #16. For the second straight time, WAQI (#15 to #20) sputters by six-tenths, but it is actually the
Univision Spanish talker's fourth successive downtrend (3.6 – 3.3 – 3.2 – 2.6 – 2.0, 6+).
5)
Seattle – Over and above posting a +.9 that takes it to #1,
Hubbard Broadcasting CHR KQMV "MOViN 92.5 – All The
Hits" registers a 7.8, its highest 6+-share in the
PPM-era in both its present format and when it was rhythmic hot AC. In doing so, "MOViN" knocks out of first-place its adult contemporary cluster-mate KRWM "Warm 106.9" (5.5, -7.9, 6+), which tumbles to fourth. Before the massive -7.9, "Warm" had put together four straight up or flat trends (4.4 – 4.4 – 4.8 – 6.5- 13.4, 6+) that produced a combined gain of nine
full-shares. In addition to KQMV,
CBS Radio's KMPS also improves by nine-tenths, thus erasing its -.8 in "Holiday." The country outlet – which jumps from #15 to #7 – had been down or flat the previous three sweeps (5.0 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.1, 6+). Falling by eight-tenths in "Holiday," classic rock cluster-mate KZOK recoups all of it and then some (4.5 – 5.6, +1.1, 6+), inching up from fourth to a second-place tie. In the
iHeartMedia cluster, KJR-AM "Seattle Sports Radio" improves by eight-tenths to 2.8 and is part of a three-way tie at #16 with co-owned rhythmic CHR-turned-CHR KPWK "Power 93.3" (formerly KUBE), which gains seven-tenths (2.1 – 2.8, 6+). KJR-AM had been down or flat the past three sweeps (2.5 – 2.5 – 2.3 – 2.0, 6+); "Power" transitioned from KUBE in mid-January. Adding one-half share each and finishing eighth and ninth, respectively, are
Entercom alternative KNDD "107.7 The End" (3.3 – 3.8, #10 in "Holiday," 6+) and
Bonneville's KIRO-AM "710
ESPN Seattle" (3.2 – 3.7, #13 in "Holiday," 6+). After six straight decreases 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" gains four-tenths to 2.9 (6+) and moves from #18 to #15. Even though iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KJR-FM puts up a +.4 to end four straight downward trends that accounted for a combined -2.0 (6.5 – 5.4 – 5.3 – 5.0 – 4.5, 6+), "The Jet" actually slides from a tie at #4 to #5.
6)
Phoenix – While this is the
16th successive ratings period that KESZ is #1, the
iHeartMedia adult contemporary outlet erodes
by more than 50% (16.5 – 7.9, -8.6). After three straight increases (3.2 – 3.5 – 3.6 – 3.7, 6+), CHR sibling KZZP "Kiss-FM" dipped by one-tenth in "Holiday," but registers a +.8 in January (3.6 – 4.4, 6+), zooming from tenth to a sixth-place tie. The latest on the market's two talk outlets each having a string of five straight negative trends finds
iHeartMedia's KFYI flat at 4.0, but drops from seventh to eighth. Prior to January, it was trending 5.7 – 5.4 – 5.1 – 4.8 – 4.7 – 4.0 (6+). Meanwhile,
Bonneville's KTAR-FM registers a +.2 (to 3.3, 6+), thus ending five consecutive declines (4.0 – 3.9 – 3.8 – 3.3 – 3.2 – 3.1, 6+). Despite the increase KTAR-FM – which ranked #12 the past three sweeps – falls to #14. Ups/downs continue for public KJZZ, which – in "Holiday" – returned the +.7 it registered in December, but notches a +.8 in January (1.7 – 2.4 – 1.7 – 2.5, 6+) and is back in the top 20 (#22 to #17). 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+). A +.7 (2.9 – 3.6, 6+) lifts Bonneville
's KMVP "Arizona Sports 98.7" from #14 to #10. Improving by six-tenths are
CBS Radio classic hits-oldies KOOL (5.1, steady at #4); iHeartMedia adult hits KYOT "The Mountain" (4.8, #6 to #5);
Farmworker Educational Radio regional Mexican KNAI (3.0, #16 to #15); and
The Yucaipa Companies' adult contemporary KOAI "The Oasis" KOAI (1.8, #25 to #22). KOOL was -1.2 in the "Holiday" report. "The Oasis" had been off the past three sweeps for a combined -.9 (2.1 – 2.0 – 1.4 – 1.2, 6+). Regaining the one-half share it lost in "Holiday" (2.3 – 1.8 – 2.3, 6+),
Univision Spanish adult hits KOMR "Mas Variedad" inches up from #20 to #19. Before the "Holiday" report, "Mas Variedad" had been up or flat the past four sweeps (1.6 – 1.7 – 2.0 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 1.8, 6+). Also improving by one-half share (4.8 – 5.3, 6+) is
Hubbard-owned KUPD "Arizona's Real Rock," which remains at #3.
7)
Minneapolis – Bragging rights for heftiest (6+) "Holiday" 2015 – January 2016 increase in the 24
PPM-markets whose data has
been released thus far belongs to KSTP-FM "KS-95," which hangs out a massive +3.4 (6.3 – 9.7, 6+) with the
Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC marching from second to first. The gain halts four straight dips by "KS-95" which had resulted in a combined -2.1 (8.4 – 8.3 – 8.0 – 7.9 – 6.3, 6+).
Ironically, the Twin Cities also have the largest "Holiday" 2015 – January 2016
decrease so far, as
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KQQL "Kool 108" plummets by nearly ten full-shares (16.5 – 6.6, -9.9, 6+) to skid from first to fourth. Dating back one full year (January 2015), its CHR cluster-mate KDWB registered a negative trend in 11 of 12 sweeps (including the last four) for 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+). "The Twin Cities' #1 Hit Music Station" breaks out of the funk with a +.9 (to 6.9, 6+) and jumps from fifth to second. Co-owned hot AC KTCZ "Cities 97" is also up by nine-tenths (4.8, unchanged at #11), nearly wiping out its -1.0 in the "Holiday" report; "Cities 97" had been down the past three sweeps (5.2 – 5.1 – 4.9 – 3.9, 6+). Country improves by a combined +1.4, with
CBS Radio's KMNB "Buz'
n@102.9" (#13 to #12) recapturing the eight-tenths it lost in "Holiday" (4.3, 6+) and iHeartMedia's KEEY "K-102" picking up six-tenths (5.9 – 6.5, sixth to fifth, 6+). This ends five successive down or flat trends for KMNB (6.5 – 6.5 – 5.4 – 4.9 – 4.3 – 3.5, 6+) for a combined loss of three full-shares. Prior to October's -1.1, KMNB 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+). Recent trends for "K-102" include a -.6 in October
; +1.3 in November; -.9 in December; -1.2 in "Holiday"; and now January's +.6. Notching an increase for the fourth consecutive ratings period is noncommercial contemporary Christian KTIS-FM (4.7 – 4.9 – 5.5 – 5.6 – 6.4, 6+), which bumps up from eighth to sixth. It is the first time KTIS-FM crosses the (6+) six-share line since June's 6.1. Stuck on 4.4 (6+) in December and "Holiday,"
Cumulus Media rocker KXXR "93-X" dials up a +.6 to 5.0 and stays at #10. After five straight increases (3.8 – 4.1 – 4.2 – 4.7 – 5.2 – 5.3, 6+), WCCO slipped by one-tenth in December, but it regains the one-half share it lost in "Holiday,"(5.2 – 4.7 – 5.2, 6+); the CBS Radio talker finishes at #9 for the third straight time. Three successive increases by adult hits cluster-mate KZJK yielded a +1.7 (4.4 – 5.2 – 5.9 – 6.1, 6+), but "Jack-FM" surrenders seven-tenths (to 5.4, 6+) as it drops from fourth to eighth.
8)
San Diego – Not only does KLNV more than triple its "Holiday" one-half share gain, the
Univision outlet catapults
from #11 all the way to #1 (3.2 – 3.7 – 5.3, +1.6, 6+), becoming the first regional Mexican-formatted station to reach the top spot (January 2015, 6+) in the first 24
PPM-markets whose data we have analyzed. Talkers KFMB-AM (1.4 – 2.0, #19, 6+) and KOGO (3.2 – 3.7, #13 to #9, 6+) improve by six-tenths and one-half share, respectively. It was
apparently unrealistic to have three hot ACs (KMYI, KYXY, and KFMB-FM) in "America's Finest City," so on January 4, KFMB-FM "Jack" segued to rock as "100.7 KFM-BFM" and it registers a one-half share gain (2.9 – 3.4, 6+), ironically tying
CBS Radio's KYXY (7.5 – 3.4, -4.1, 6+) at #12. KFMB-FM was #16 in "Holiday," while KYXY – which erupted with a +2.8 in "Holiday" – freefalls from #1 to #12. In addition to KYXY,
iHeartMedia's KMYI is unable to capitalize on KFMB-FM's departure from the format as "Star 94.1" sputters by eight-tenths to 4.9 (6+) to slide from second to third; "Star" had gained a combined +1.2 in December and "Holiday" (4.5 – 5.0 – 5.7, 6+). Meanwhile, in what could be a result of the KFMB-FM format switch, this marks the third straight decrease for KMYI sibling KIOZ "Rock 105.3" (4.3 – 4.2 – 4.0 – 3.5, 6+), which drops out of the top ten (#7 to #11). Down the past four sweeps for a cumulative -1.5 (5.4 – 5.1 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 3.9, 6+), urban-rhythmic oldies XHRM "Magic 92.5 The Beat of San Diego" posts a two-tenths gain to 4.1 (6+) and advances from #8 to a tie at #5. In a similar vein, sports XPRS-AM "The Mighty 1090" (#21 to #20) registers a +.2, thus curtailing five successive declines (3.3 – 3.2 – 3.1 – 2.6 – 2.0 – 1.7, 6+) for a combined -1.6.
9)
Tampa – Up or flat in four straight sweeps (4.8 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 5.5, 6+),
Beasley Media Group-owned WQYK "Tampa Bay's
New Country Hits" regressed by -1.2 in "Holiday" only to regain virtually all of it in January (4.3 – 5.4, +1.1) and advance from ninth to third. Finishing second for the sixth successive sweep, co-owned classic hits-oldies WRBQ "Q-105" gains one-tenth to end three consecutive downward trends (6.5 – 6.2 – 6.1 – 5.5, 6+), following four
successive increases (5.4 – 4.8 – 5.3 – 6.2 – 6.5, 6+). Posting gains of eight-tenths each are Spanish contemporary cluster-mate WYUU "Maxima 92.5" (2.9 – 3.7, #16 to #13, 6+) and
iHeartMedia hot AC WMTX "Mix 100.7" (3.1 – 3.9, #14 to #12, 6+); "Mix" was -1.1 in "Holiday." Off the past three sweeps (5.1 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.2, 6+), urban contemporary cluster-mate WBTP "The Beat" rings up a +.6 to 4.8 (6+) and cruises from #11 to a three-way tie at #5. With a one-half share increase (3.9 – 4.4, 6+),
Cox Media Group CHR WPOI re-enters the top ten (#12 to #10). It is a benchmark for adult contemporary sibling WDUV, as "Lite Favorites" is #1 (6+) for the
40th successive sweep – although it falters by -2.8 to 12.1. In 5.0 – 5.4 range the past five ratings periods, co-owned classic hits-oldies WXGL "The Eagle" slumps by seven-tenths (5.4 – 4.7, 6+) and falls from third to eighth. 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+), Beasley rhythmic CHR WLLD "Wild 94.1 The Bay's Party Station" is down for the third straight time (5.8 – 5.5 – 5.0 – 4.7, 6+), shifting from fifth to eighth. Noncommercial contemporary Christian WBVM "Spirit 90.5 Tampa Bay's Hit Christian Music" (#24 to #20) has not had an increase in the last 13 sweeps (1.0 – .9 – .7- .7 – .6 – .5 – .5 – .4 – .4 – .4 – .4, – .4 -.4 – .3, 6+), including a .4 in the previous six monthlies. A whopping +1.6 in "Holiday" – its third straight gain (2.6 – 3.1 – 3.2 – 4.8, 6+) – propelled WCIE "The Joy" from #14 to #7, but this contemporary Christian facility does not appear in the January report.
10)
Denver – Following a nine-tenths slump in "Holiday,"
Bonneville's KKFN "Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan" rebounds
mightily with a +1.5 (3.9 – 3.0 – 4.5, 6+) to progress from #17 to #11. It is a similar story for country sibling KYGO, which shakes off a -.6 with a +.9 (4.8 – 4.2 – 5.1, 6+), advancing from fifth to third. The consecutive string of down or flat trends for format rival –
KSE
Ventures' KWOF – ends at four (2.7 – 2.5 – 2.5 – 2.2 – 1.8, 6+) as "The Wolf (#19 to #18) notches a gain of six-tenths to 2.4 (6+). Classic rocker KRFX ends three consecutive sweeps without a gain (4.8 – 4.8 – 4.4 – 3.9, 6+) as
iHeartMedia's "Fox" improves by eight-tenths to 4.7 (tenth to sixth, 6+). Hot AC picks up 1.5 shares, with
Entercom's KALC "Alice" gaining nine-tenths to 4.8 (tenth to fifth) and KSE Ventures' KIMN "Mix 100" adding six-tenths (2.6 – 3.2, #18 to #16). "Alice" had been down or flat the past five times (5.4 – 5.0 – 5.0 – 4.7 – 4.2 – 3.9, 6+). Inching up from third to second is public KCFR, which is +.7 (4.9 – 5.6, 6+). It trails
Bonneville adult contemporary KOSI (6.4, -5.3, 6+) by eight-tenths. The drop of more than five full-shares halts three successive gains for "Continuous Lite Rock" that produced a cumulative +8.4 (3.3 – 4.2 – 6.1 – 11.7, 6+). Part of a four-way tie at #7, iHeartMedia's KBCO "World Class Rock" falters for the fifth successive sweep (6.1 – 4.9 – 4.8 – 4.4 – 4.1 – 3.6, -.5, 6+). Right behind it is KSE Ventures classic hits-oldies KXKL "Kool 105" (#10 to #11), which hasn't had an increase in the past four monthlies (4.5 – 4.5 – 4.3 – 3.9 – 4.5, 6+). Owing to a -1.2 (4.0 – 2.8, 6+),
Entravision regional Mexican KXPK "La Tricolor 96.5" plummets from #9 to #17. The third straight decline by Entercom classic hits-oldies KRWZ (#26) is by one full-share (1.6 – 1.4 – 1.3 – .3, 6+). With a -.4,
Colorado Public Radio classical KVOD snaps its consecutive progressive string at three (.6 – .8 – 1.1 – 1.6 – 1.2, 6+) to slip from #20 to #21. Regressing by six-tenths is co-owned classic rocker KQMT "The Mountain" (second to fourth, 6+), which is down for the third successive sweep (6.3 – 6.2 – 5.5 – 4.9, 6+).
Front Range Sports Network's KJAC disappears after a .6 in the "Holiday" report. Also unlisted is
Educational Media Foundation contemporary Christian KLDV "K-Love," which has had three straight declines resulting in a combined -2.1 (5.3 – 4.1 – 3.8 – 3.2, 6+); "K-Love" ranked #16 in "Holiday."
11)
Baltimore – Back-to-back losses of one full-share sunk
iHeartMedia-owned WPOC from 7.6 to 5.6 (6+), but
"Baltimore's Country Station" regains almost all of it in one swoop with a +1.8 to 7.4 (6+). Moreover, WPOC advances from fourth to first, displacing
CBS Radio adult contemporary WLIF "Today's 101.9" (15.0 – 7.2, -7.8, 6+), which segues to #2. Pulling the plug on three
straight downward trends (5.1 – 4.5 – 4.1 – 3.9, 6+), sports sibling WJZ-FM trots out a +1.4 to 5.3, as "The Fan" jumps from ninth to sixth. Owing to a gain of seven-tenths (4.7, 6+), iHeartMedia CHR WZFT applies the brakes to four successive monthlies without an increase (4.9 – 4.6 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.0, 6+); "Z-104.3" remains at #8. Talk competitors WBAL (4.3, 6+) and WCBM (4.4, 6+) improve by one full-share and eight-tenths, respectively, and they remain at #11 and #10;
Hearst Television's WBAL was down or flat the past three sweeps (4.0 – 3.7 – 3.3 – 3.3, 6+). Similarly, co-owned WIYY "98 Rock" improves by one-half share to 4.9 (unchanged at #7, 6+), thus curtailing three straight downward trends (5.2 – 5.1 – 4.6 – 4.4, 6+). The rollercoaster ride continues for
Peter & John Radio Fellowship-owned contemporary Christian WRBS, which had back-to-back gains of eight-tenths in November and December; now, "Shine FM" (steady at #5) recaptures the nine-tenths it lost in "Holiday" (4.1 – 4.9 – 5.7 – 4.8 – 5.7, 6+). Following six successive negative trends which produced a cumulative -3.3 (6.1 – 5.0 – 4.1 – 3.8 – 3.3 – 3.0 – 2.8, 6+),
Shamrock's WZBA "The Bay – Baltimore's Classic Rock Station" registers a +.4 to 3.2 (6+) and climbs from #13 to #12. This is the fifth straight sweep without an increase for iHeartMedia adult hits WQSR "Jack-FM" (4.1 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 3.5 – 3.2 – 2.7, 6+), which slips from #12 to #13.
12)
St. Louis – After a combined -2.2 in the past three sweeps (7.6 – 6.8 – 6.0 – 5.4, 6+),
CBS Radio talker KMOX bounces back with
a +1.4 to 6.8 and advances from a fourth-place tie to second. KMOX had been in second-place for five successive sweeps; slipped to third in November; and to fifth in December. With a -1.4 in the "Holiday" report, its hot AC sibling
KYKY had its string of up or flat trends end at five (4.8 – 4.8 – 5.2 – 5.4 – 6.0 – 6.3, 6+), but "Y-98" posts a +1.0 in January. It progresses from sixth to a third-place tie with co-owned KEZK (14.8 – 5.9, -8.9, 6+). KEZK ranked fifth in October and November before reaching first in December and repeating at #1 in "Holiday." Prior to January's decline of nearly nine full-shares, the adult contemporary outlet did not have a decline in the previous
seven monthlies (3.8 – 3.8 – 4.3 – 5.2 – 5.5 – 5.9 – 7.2 – 14.8, 6+) and gained
11 full-shares in that stretch. Replacing KEZK at #1 is
Emmis rocker KSHE, which has not had a decrease in the past six sweeps (6.2 – 6.2 – 6.7 – 6.9 – 7.1 – 7.7 – 7.9, 6+); it had ranked second for three consecutive monthlies before supplanting KEZK. Having eroded by -1.1 in "Holiday,"
Hubbard Broadcasting adult hits WARH "The Arch" regains nine-tenths (4.9 – 3.8 – 4.7, 6+) and returns to the top ten (#12 to #9, 6+). Improving by eight-tenths each are cluster-mate WXOS "101 Sports" (4.1, unchanged at #13, 6+) and
Gateway Creative contemporary Christian KLJY "Joy FM" (4.8, tenth to eighth, 6+). WXOS was +.6 in September; +1.4 in October; +.8 in November; -.5 in December; and -.7 in "Holiday." This ends three successive negative monthlies for "Joy FM" which yielded a combined loss of nearly two full-shares (5.9 – 5.0 – 4.5 – 4.0, 6+). The station KEZK displaced at #1 in December –
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KLOU – halts seven consecutive downward trends (11.2 – 9.6 – 8.9 – 7.9 – 7.8 – 7.1 – 6.7 – 5.5, 6+) with a +.3, yet actually slips from third to fifth. With a gain of seven-tenths (3.9 – 4.6, 6+), CHR sibling KSLZ "Z-107.7" inches up from #11 to #10. After six straight downward-trending ratings periods for a combined -2.6 (5.6 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 4.0 – 3.1 – 3.0, 6+), co-owned country KSD "The Bull" posts a +.5 to 3.5 (#16 to #14, 6+). Without an increase in the last five sweeps (5.8 – 5.5 – 4.9 – 4.9 – 4.4 – 4.1, 6+), Hubbard's similarly formatted WIL emerges with a +.4 to 4.5, jumping from ninth to fifth (6+). Climbing from eighth to seventh, Emmis alternative KPNT "The Point" picks up one-half share of the seven-tenths it dropped in "Holiday" (5.5 – 4.8 – 5.3, 6+).
