Round Four of January PPM Data Released. The fourth and final round of January 2016 PPM survey data 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 January 2016 survey period covered December 31 – January 27.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Top Takeaways" from all of these 12-PPM markets.
TOP TAKEAWAYS
1)
Austin – Without an increase in the last five survey periods for a cumulative -2.3 (6.0 – 6.0 – 5.4 – 5.0 – 4.4 – 3.7, 6+),
iHeartMedia-owned KASE "Today's Country" busts out a +.9 to 4.6 (6+), leaping from #12 to #6. Similarly–formatted sibling KVET – off by a combined -1.5 the past two sweeps – delivers a +.6 (5.9 – 5.4 – 4.4 – 5.0, 6+) as it escapes a three-way tie at #6 to climb to #5. In addition to KASE,
Emmis triple A KGSR "Radio Austin" also
improves by nine-tenths (2.2 – 3.1, 6+), moving up from #17 to a three-way tie at #13. Down or flat in four successive sweeps (4.9 – 4.9 – 4.8 – 4.8 – 4.4, 6+), co-owned KLBJ-FM "The Rock of Austin" wipes out the combined -.5 in that period with a +.7 to 5.1, exiting a three-way logjam at #6 for #4. Leveling off after a -1.5 in the "Holiday" sweep (9.3 – 7.8 – 7.8, 6+), adult hits sibling KBPA "Bob" (second to first) swaps places with
Entercom adult contemporary KKMJ "Majic 95.5" (11.4 – 6.4, -5.0, first to second, 6+). Over the last several months, "Majic" was
-.5 in September;
+.5 in October;
+.7 in November;
+.5 in December;
+5.0 in "Holiday"; and now
-5.0 in January. Before "Majic" succeeded "Bob" at #1 in "Holiday" 2015, "Bob" ranked #1 the previous
12 sweeps. A gain of eight-tenths (3.6 – 4.4, 6+) propels KKMJ's hot AC cluster-mate KAMX "Mix 94.7" into the top ten (#13 to #8), while a one-half share increase to 3.1 ends three straight down or flat trends for
Univision's KLJA "Inicio 107.7" (#16 to #13). Off by one-half share (5.1 – 4.6, 6+), rhythmic CHR KPEZ "102.3 The Beat" (fifth in "Holiday" 2015) is tied with iHeartMedia country cluster-mate KASE at #6.
2)
Milwaukee – Despite a
-5.7 to 8.7 (6+),
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WRIT "95.7 Big FM – Milwaukee's Greatest Hits"
occupies the top spot for the ninth straight sweep. "Big" was
+1.7 in October;
-.7 in November; flat in December; and
+5.6 in "Holiday." 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. As a result of January's
+1.2, talk sibling WISN completely wipes out its combined
-1.2 from December and "Holiday" (6.4 – 5.5 – 5.2 – 6.4, 6+), jumping from #6 to tie sibling WMIL at #3. Regarding WMIL (fifth to third), it has been a momentous ride for "Milwaukee's Best Country," which was
+.8 in November;
-1.1 in December;
-.5 in "Holiday" 2015; and is
+1.0 in January (6.2 – 7.0 – 5.9 – 5.4 – 6.4, 6+). Before November, WMIL had been down or flat the previous
eight sweeps for a cumulative -4.5 (10.7 – 10.7 – 10.5 – 9.5 – 8.4 – 6.8 – 6.7 – 6.7 – 6.2, 6+). Back-to-back at #7 and #8,
Entercom CHR WXSS "Kiss" (5.6, 6+) and
Saga's WHQG "The Hog – Everything That Rocks" (5.0, 6+) each improve by six-tenths. "Kiss" is steady at #7; "The Hog" had been down or flat the past three sweeps (6.2 – 5.3 – 4.4 – 4.4, 6+). Directly in front of these two outlets at #6 (falling from #2) is "The Hog" cluster-mate WKLH "Hometown Rock," which surrenders eight tenths (6.5 – 5.7, 6+). Faltering by four-tenths to 4.3 (6+), urban AC sibling WJMR "Jammin' 98.3" snaps its string of three straight up-trends (3.9 – 4.1 – 4.4 – 4.7, 6+) and drops from eighth to tenth. Following back-to-back gains of +.8 in November and December, WTMJ plummeted by -2.1 in "Holiday" 2015 but the
Scripps talker mounts a January comeback with a +.5 (6.6 – 7.4 – 8.2, 6.1 – 6.6, 6+) to inch up from third to second. Producing a cumulative -1.2 in four straight downward sweeps (7.1 – 7.0 – 6.8 – 6.0 – 5.9, 6+),
Entercom hot AC WMYX "99.1 The Mix" dips from fourth to fifth.
3)
Indianapolis – In "Holiday" 2015, country rivals WLHK "Hank" and WFMS each declined by eight-tenths. They turn
things around in January though, as
Cumulus Media's WFMS is +1.4 (4.9 – 4.1 – 5.5, tenth to sixth, 6+) and
Emmis-owned "Hank" gains one full-share (6.5 – 5.7 – 6.7, fourth to third, 6+). Off by a combined -3.2 in December and "Holiday" (9.7 – 8.2 – 6.5, 6+),
Entercom CHR WZPL storms back with a +1.3 (to 7.8, 6+),
enabling "Indy's Hit Music Station" to advance from third to first. Dislodged from #1 is Emmis adult contemporary WYXB "Soft Rock B-105.7," which sputters by more than eight full-shares and drops to second (7.2, – 8.2, 6+). Contrasted to WZPL's
-3.2 in the two previous ratings periods, "B-105.7" was a cumulative
+8.9 in those sweeps (6.5 – 8.6 – 15.4, 6+). Prior to that though, WYXB was down or flat the previous four times yielding a combined -1.8 (8.3 – 7.9 – 7.3 – 7.3 – 6.5, 6+). This marks the
seventh successive time that sports sibling WFNI "The Fan" is up or flat (2.4 – 2.6 – 2.7 – 3.2 – 3.2 – 3.4 – 3.6 – 4.3, 6+) as it gains nearly two full-shares in that time; "The Fan" proceeds from #12 to a three-way tie at #10. Still in that cluster, talk WIBC improves by one-half share (3.9 – 4.4, 6+) and returns to the top ten for the first time since September (#11 to #9, 6+). Although unchanged at #13,
Radio One CHR WNOW "Radio Now" follows up a -.9 in "Holiday" with a +.7 (4.1 – 3.2 – 3.9, 6+). A gain of four-tenths to 3.2 (6+) enables Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRWM "The Beat" (steady at #14) to apply the brakes to four consecutive downward trends (4.6 – 3.5 – 3.3 – 2.9 – 2.8, 6+).
4)
Providence – Leading up to the January sweep,
Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI put together three huge jumps
in succession for a combined
+11.4 (7.2 – 8.7 – 10.7 – 18.6, 6+). Notwithstanding a decrease of almost eight full-shares (18.6 – 10.8, 6+), "Lite Rock 105" is again the market leader. After a
-1.8 in the "Holiday" ratings period, co-owned CHR WPRO-FM "Today's Hit Music" regains
virtually all of it (9.2 – 7.4, 9.1,
+1.7, 6+) and finishes second for the third straight time. This is also the third consecutive sweep that WHJY is at #3, as the
iHeartMedia rocker erases the -.7 in "Holiday" with a +1.1 (7.4 – 6.7 – 7.8, 6+); it is the station's best 6+-performance since June's 9.3. With a one-share increase to 5.5, classic hits-oldies sibling WWBB "B-101" (seventh to sixth, 6+) curbs six straight sweeps without an increase that yielded a net loss of 3.5 shares (8.0 – 8.0 – 7.7 – 7.0 – 6.0 – 5.0 – 4.5, 6+). Off by eight-tenths each in "Holiday" 2015,
Hall Communications' WCTK "Cat Country" (7.0, 6+) and iHeartMedia hot AC WSNE "Coast 93.3" (6.0 – 5.2 – 5.9, 6+)
both improve by
seven-tenths; they remain at #4 and #5, respectively. It is the first increase for "Cat Country" in the past five monthlies (9.0 – 8.9 – 7.7 – 7.3 – 7.1 – 6.3, 6+). After a one-half share dip,
Entercom sports outlet WVEI counters with a +.6 (3.1 – 2.6 – 3.2, 6+) and remains at #8.
5)
Raleigh – Having delivered a +5.7 in "Holiday,"
Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL sputters by
approximately 50% in January (8.6 – 14.3 – 7.1, -7.2, 6+); even so, "Mix 101.5" remains on top for the fifth consecutive ratings period. More accurately, it
shares the penthouse with
iHeartMedia CHR WDCG "G-105 The Hit Music Channel" (6.7 – 7.1, +.4), which climbs to the #1 tie from #3. Talk cluster-mate WTKK continues
to have significant swings with a
+.9 in December; a
-1.3 in "Holiday"; and now a
+1.5 in January (4.6 – 5.5 – 4.2 – 5.7, 6+), ascending from tenth to a fifth-place tie. It is linked there with co-owned WRDU "Classic Rock 100.7," which posts a +.7 to 5.7 (6+), thus curtailing a string of four straight sweeps without an increase that produced a combined -1.5 (6.5 – 6.1 – 5.9 – 5.0 – 5.0, 6+). "Classic Rock 100.7" is up from fifth in "Holiday." Also ending four straight sweeps without a gain (for a cumulative -3.6) is
Curtis Media Group's WQDR "Today's Best Country" (7.0, +1.4, sixth to third, 6+). Prior to January's +1.4 "Today's Best Country" trended 9.2 – 8.0 – 7.6 – 7.0 – 5.6, 6+. Owing to a -.3 in "Holiday," WCMC had its consecutive streak of up-trends snapped at four (2.5 – 2.7 – 3.6 – 3.9 – 4.0, 6+), but "99.9 The Fan" is +1.1 in January to 5.1(6+) and rises from #12 to a three-way tie at #7. The Capitol Broadcasting sports outlet is part of a three-way logjam there with two stations trending in opposite directions – Curtis Media Group CHR WPLW "The Pulse" (+.5, up from #8, 6+) and
Radio One urban contemporary WQOK "K-97.5" (-.9, down from #5, 6+). In three straight declines, (6.9 – 5.8 – 5.7 – 4.8, 6+) "K-97.5" is a combined -2.1. Improving by one-half share each are Curtis Media Group classic hits-oldies and talk siblings WKIX "Kix 102.9" (3.6, #14 to #13) and WPTF (1.3, #19 to #16), as well as iHeartMedia's WNCB "B-93.9 New Country" (4.2, #12 to #11), which was locked on 3.1 in October and November and on 3.7 in December and "Holiday." "Kix 102.9" had been down (albeit modestly) the past three sweeps (3.5 – 3.4 – 3.3 – 3.1, 6+) as had WPTF (1.5 – 1.1 – 1.0 – .8, 6+). For the seventh consecutive time, Curtis Media Group adult hits WBBB "Radio 96.1" (eighth to tenth) is either down or flat (7.1 – 6.1 – 5.5 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 4.5 – 4.3 – 4.3, 6+). Although steady at #4, this is the fourth successive sweep without an increase for Radio One urban AC WFXC "Foxy 107.1" (7.1 – 7.1 – 6.9 – 6.6 – 5.8, 6+). Despite notching a +.3 to 4.1 (6+) to end three straight declines (5.1 – 4.9 – 4.8 – 3.8, 6+) gospel sibling WNNL "The Light 103.9" drops from #11 to #12. Up the past four ratings periods and finishing second in the "Holiday" report (5.6 – 5.8 – 5.9 – 6.2 – 6.9, 6+),
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned WUNC does not appear in print.
6)
Norfolk – More than making up for a -1.0 in "Holiday,"
Max Broadcast Group country WGH-FM posts a +1.5 to 5.2 (6+),
ending three straight downward trends that produced a combined -1.4 (5.1 – 5.0 – 4.7 – 3.7, 6+); "The Eagle 97.3" climbs from ninth to sixth. Co-owned WGH-AM "Star 1310" improves by six-tenths (.9 – 1.5) to move from #17 to #15, 6+. Inching up from eighth to seventh is
Saga classic rocker
WAFX "The Fox," which gains eight-tenths (3.8 – 4.6, 6+). Rock sibling WNOR-FM (4.8 – 5.4, sixth to fifth, 6+) and Max Broadcast Group CHR WVHT "Hot 100.5" (3.5 – 4.1, 6+) each gain six-tenths. WNOR-FM was -.9 in both "Holiday" and November. It has been quite the rollercoaster for "Hot" (#11 to #9) which – since May – has been
+.6;
+1.4;
-.2;
+1.2;
-.6;
+.5;
+.6;
-.6; and
+.6. Regaining the half-share it forfeited in "Holiday" (3.1 – 2.6 – 3.1, 6+),
iHeartMedia's WVSP "
ESPN 94.1″ moves back to #11 from #12. Although having its best 6+-showing since April's 4.7,
Entercom rhythmic CHR WNVZ "Z-104" (3.9 – 4.4, 6+) falls from seventh to eighth. Co-owned urban AC WVKL (12.0 – 12.1, +.1 6+) is #1 for the
44th consecutive ratings period. The last time "Smooth R&B From Yesterday & Today" was
not in double-digits (6+) was exactly two years ago (9.8, January
2014). Coming within two-tenths of WVKL in "Holiday" 2015, adult contemporary sibling WWDE "2WD" falters by more than five shares and drops from second to fourth (11.8 – 6.4, -5.4, 6+). After zooming from #12 to #5 in the "Holiday" report with a lofty +3.4,
iHeartMedia rhythmic hot AC WMOV "MOViN 107.7" relinquishes all but one-tenth of that gain (2.7 – 6.1 – 2.8, -3.3, 6+) and returns to #12.
7)
Nashville – Notwithstanding a -4.9 that halts three straight progressive trends (9.8 – 10.6 – 11.2 – 15.6 – 10.7, 6+),
Midwest 
Communications adult contemporary WJXA "Mix 92.9" finishes at #1 for the
47th successive monthly. 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 "The River" posted a +.8 in
December. The
iHeartMedia CHR relinquished all of it in "Holiday" but comes back in January with a half-share gain (7.3 – 8.1 – 7.3 – 7.8,
6+) and is in the runner-up slot for the third successive time. This is the 25th successive sweep in which
Joule Broadcasting CHR WNFN (2.8 – 2.6, -.2, steady at #13) is in the two-share range (6+). After three consecutive downward trends resulting in a cumulative -1.6 (8.1 – 8.0 – 7.8 – 6.5, 6+),
Cumulus Media sports outlet WGFX "104.5 The Zone" bounces back with a +.7 to 7.2 (6+), inching up from fourth to third. Also gaining seven-tenths each are country cluster-mate WSM-FM "Nash Icon" (5.0, steady at #8) and
Cromwell Group alternative WBUZ "102.9 The Buzz," (tenth to ninth), which has its third straight gain (2.4 – 3.1 – 3.5 – 4.2, 6+); "Nash Icon" was +.6 in "Holiday." Improving by six-tenths each are iHeartMedia urban contemporary WUBT "The Beat" (6.8, unchanged at #5, 6+) and
Ryman Hospitality Properties' classic country WSM-AM, which hadn't had an increase in the last four sweeps (1.7 – 1.3 – 1.3 – 1.0 – .8 – 1.4, #15, 6+).
8)
Greensboro – It is a #1 – #2 – #3 finish for
Entercom, including rhythmic CHR WJMH "102 Jamz" climbing from
second to first – despite being down by seven-tenths (9.0 – 8.3, 6+). Without an increase in the last three sweeps (8.9 – 8.2 – 7.7 – 7.7, 6+), co-owned WQMG "The Best R&B and Old School" picks up one-half share to 8.2 (6+), inching up from fourth to third. Following back-to-back December and "Holiday 2015" increases that totaled a combined +8.3,
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMAG "The
Best Mix of the '80s to Now" regresses by nearly 50% and slides from first to fourth (6.9 – 9.9 – 15.2 – 7.8, -7.4, 6+). Off by six-tenths in "Holiday," FM talk sibling WPTI (steady at #9), rebounds with a +.8 (3.2 – 2.6 – 3.4, 6+). Gaining six-tenths each are country and CHR cluster-mates WTQR "New Country Q-104.1" (7.9, fifth to fourth, 6+) and WMKS "Kiss-FM" (5.2, 6+). "Q104.1" lengthens it lead over Entercom's WPAW "The Wolf" (5.4, +.1, steady at #6) from two full-shares to 2.5. "Kiss" remains at #7 for the fourth straight time. Its wild trending continues to be noteworthy:
+1.0 in June;
-1.1 in July;
+1.4 in August;
-.7 in September;
-.5 in October;
-.8 in November;
+.6 in December;
-.9 in "Holiday"; and
+.6 in January.
9)
West Palm Beach – Two owners –
Palm Beach Broadcasting and
iHeartMedia – have four stations each in
the top eight, starting with Palm Beach Broadcasting hot AC WRMF, which holds down the top spot for the
18th consecutive time. WRMF rebounds from a combined decrease of three full shares since October with a one-half share gain (12.0 – 11.3 – 10.2 – 9.0 – 9.5, 6+). Having added a cumulative +1.1 in November and
December, urban AC cluster-mate WMBX "X-102.3" returned all of it in "Holiday" but bounces back with a +.6 (3.9- 4.3 – 5.0 – 3.9 – 4.5, 6+), inching up from sixth to fifth. Conversely, although steady at #2, adult contemporary sibling WEAT "Sunny 107.9" forfeits all but one-tenth of its +2.9 from "Holiday" 2015 (6.0 – 8.9 – 6.1, -2.8, 6+). The adult contemporary format erodes by another -1.2, as iHeartMedia-owned WOLL trends 7.3 – 6.1; "Today's Kool 105.5," however, remains at #3. Prior to "Holiday" 2015, "Kool" had been in the runner-up slot the previous six monthlies. Ranked fifth in the "Holiday" report (4.0, 6+),
Education Media Foundation contemporary Christian WAYF does not appear in January.
10)
Jacksonville – This time last month,
Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary WEJZ "Lite 96.1 – Today's Variety" held a
seemingly insurmountable 11.1-share lead (6+) over
Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WJGL "The Eagle." A combination of "Lite 96.1" surrendering 10.5 shares (19.7 – 9.2) and "The Eagle" soaring by +1.2 (7.6 – 8.8), however, has the two stations separated by just four-tenths. The
+9.4 "Lite" registered in the "Holiday" report (10.3 – 19.7) was the second-highest (6+) December 2015 – "Holiday" 2015 increase by any station in the 48
PPM-markets. Prior to dropping to #2 in November, "Lite" had been on top for
17 straight sweeps. Off by six-tenths in "Holiday," "The Eagle" moves up to the runner-up spot from #3. Co-owned adult contemporary WEZI "Easy 106.5" adds four-tenths (1.6 – 2.0, 6+) and continues at #15. In addition to "The Eagle," WJCT – off by eight-tenths in "Holiday" – also posts a +1.2 (3.9 – 3.1 – 4.3, 6+); the public outlet ranks #12 for the fourth successive time. After eroding by eight-tenths each with identical 5.2 – 4.4 trends, Cox Media Group alternative WXXJ "X-102.9" rebounds with a +1.1 (5.5, seventh to sixth, 6+) and
iHeartMedia adult hits WWJK "Jack-FM"
improves by one-half share to 4.9, but actually
drops from seventh to eighth (6+). Following three straight declines – including a -1.8 in "Holiday" 2015 – (8.6 – 8.1 – 7.7 – 5.9, 6+), Cox Media Group talker WOKV rings up a one-share increase to 6.9 and is at #4 for the third straight sweep. Up or flat in four successive ratings periods, CHR sibling WAPE (steady at #5) faltered by one-half share in "Holiday" but returns with a +.9 (5.8 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 6.2 – 6.3 – 5.8 – 6.7, 6+). Moving up from #11 to #10, format rival – iHeartMedia's WKSL "Kiss-FM – regains the six-tenths it dropped in the "Holiday" sweep and is in 4.0 – 4.9 range (6+) for the ninth straight time (4.6 – 4.0 – 4.6, 6+). Part of a four-way logjam at #7 in "Holiday," urban-rhythmic oldies cluster-mate WSOL "V-101.5" (4.4 – 5.1, +.7, 6+) now has sole possession of #7.
11)
Memphis – Up or flat for a combined
+8.3 in the past six sweeps (5.7 – 6.0 – 6.9 – 7.2 – 7.2 – 7.9 – 14.0, 6+),
Entercom adult
contemporary WRVR "Continuous Soft Rock The River" surrenders a -6.7 to 7.3 (6+) and drops from first to fourth. Taking over (again) at #1 is
iHeartMedia urban AC KJMS "V-101" (8.6 – 9.0, +.4, up from third, 6+). Prior to a -1.4 in "Holiday" 2015, "V-101" had not had a decline in the previous
four sweeps (8.9 – 9.2 – 9.3 – 9.3 – 10.0, 6+). Trailing by one-tenth is urban contemporary sibling WHRK "K-97.1" (8.8 – 8.9, +.1, 6+). A gain of six-tenths (2.6 – 3.2, 6+) propels talk cluster-mate WREC into the top ten (#12 to #9). Urban-rhythmic oldies sibling WDIA halted three consecutive downtrends in December that resulted in a cumulative -2.7, but "1070 – The Heart & Soul of Memphis" slumped by -1.3 in "Holiday." It now bounces back with a one-half share increase in January (7.8 – 6.6 – 5.5 – 5.1 – 5.4 – 4.1 – 4.6, 6+) to climb from eighth to seventh. In 7.0 – 7.8 range the past five sweeps,
Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRBO (fourth to third) registers a +.4 to 8.2. Moreover, it is the third straight increase for "Soul Classics and Today's R&B" (7.0 – 7.4 – 7.8 – 8.2, 6+) and the first time since November 2014 (8.1, 6+) that it crosses the eight-share threshold. Albeit the net gain is +.4, WGUE "Guess FM" (#15 in "Holiday" 2015) didn't have a decrease in the last six sweeps (1.3 – 1.3 – 1.5 – 1.5 – 1.5 – 1.6 – 1.7, 6+), but the
Mighty Media classic hits-oldies outlet does not appear in print in January.
12)
Hartford – For the
16th time in the last 17 sweeps – including the past eight –
CBS Radio adult contemporary WRCH leads the
way, although "Lite 100.5" (-5.7) has its string of five straight increases snapped (8.7 – 10.8 – 11.1 – 11.6 – 11.9 – 17.8 – 12.1, 6+). Posting improvements of +1.5 each are rhythmic CHR sibling WZMX "Hot 93.7" (6.7 – 8.2, 6+) and
iHeartMedia's WWYZ "Country 92-5" (6.5, eighth to seventh, 6+). "Hot" breaks out of a three-way tie at #3 to take the runner-up slot, while "Country 92.5" halts three successive downward trends that resulted in a loss of more than
three shares (8.1 – 7.5 – 6.9 – 5.0, 6+). Up or flat for the fourth straight sweep (5.7 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 6.3 – 7.1, 6+), CBS Radio talker WTIC-AM progresses from #6 to a tie at #3; the last time WTIC-AM reached the seven-share range was last April (7.0, 6+).
Connoisseur Media talker WDRC-AM (unchanged at #10) and classic rock sibling WDRC-FM "The Whale" (5.1, #8, 6+) each regress by one-half share. The decline ends the consecutive string of improvements by WDRC-AM at four (.8 – .9 – 1.1 – 1.3 – 1.4 – .9, 6+). "The Whale" was -1.2 in "Holiday" and had been at #7 the past four ratings periods. Ten (10) Hartford area stations appear in print, the lowest total of any
PPM-market. Public WNPR – in ninth-place the past
19 sweeps and with a 2.4 in "Holiday" 2015 (6+) – disappears in January.
