PPM Data – Part Four. February 2016 ratings information has
been released for Austin, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Providence, Raleigh, Norfolk, Nashville, Greensboro, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Hartford.
Nielsen Audio's February 2016 survey period covered January 28 – February 24.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all of these 12-
PPM markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Austin – Not only does
Emmis adult hits KBPA repeat at #1, "Bob," locked on 7.8 in "Holiday" and January (6+), chalks up an impressive +1.6 to 9.4, its strongest 6+-stat since August 2014
(also 9.4). Meanwhile, although steady at #3, a one-half share increase (from 5.4) takes
iHeartMedia CHR KHFI to 5.9, the best 6+ share for "Kiss-FM" since August 2015 (6.0). Conversely, a -1.1 (from 4.1, 6+) has
Crista Ministries contemporary Christian KFMK "Spirit 105.9" exiting the top ten (#10 to #12) with its lowest 6+-performance (3.0) since May 2013 (also 3.0). Relinquishing the eight-tenths it gained in January (3.6 – 4.4 – 3.6, 6+),
Entercom hot AC KAMX "Mix 94.7" slips from eighth to ninth. Also regressing by eight-tenths is
Univision regional Mexican KLQB "Que Buena 104.3" (#12 to #15), which is down or flat for the third straight time (3.9 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 2.8, 6+). Without a gain in four successive sweeps (4.9 – 4.9 – 4.8 – 4.8 – 4.4, 6+), Emmis-owned KLBJ-FM wiped out the combined -.5 in that period with a +.7 in January – but "The Rock of Austin" (unchanged at #4) returns six-tenths of that gain in February (5.1 – 4.6, 6+). As they were in January, iHeartMedia country siblings KVET-FM (flat at 5.0, 6+) and KASE "Today's Country" (4.6 – 4.8, +.2, 6+) are back-to-back at #5 and #6, respectively; KVET-FM was +.6 in January and KASE was +.9. Off by one-half share and slipping from #13 to #16 is Entercom's KKMJ-HD3 (3.1 – 2.6, 6+).
2)
Milwaukee – Bouncing back from January's huge -5.7,
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WRIT "95.7 Big FM –
Milwaukee's Greatest Hits" summons up a +1.3 (14.4 – 8.7, 6+) and occupies the market's top spot for the
10th straight sweep with an even 10.0 (6+). Recent 6+-fluctuations for "Big" include
+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+), improving by exactly five full-shares since February. Speaking of major 6+-shifts, co-owned WMIL follows January's
+1.0 with a
+.8 (5.4 – 6.4 – 7.2, 6+) and inches up from third to second. "Milwaukee's Best Country" was
+.8 in November;
-1.1 in December; and
-.5 in "Holiday" (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+). By contrast, format rival
Scripps' WKTI is up or steady for the fourth straight time, but with only a net gain of two-tenths (2.8 – 2.8 – 2.8 – 2.9 – 3.0, #14 to #13, 6+). After improving by six-tenths,
Entercom CHR WXSS "Kiss" forfeits all of it plus two-tenths (5.6 – 4.8, -.8, 6+) to drop from seventh to ninth. The string of consecutive downward sweeps for hot AC sibling WMYX reaches five for a combined loss of nearly two full-shares (7.1 – 7.0 – 6.8 – 6.0 – 5.9 – 5.2, 6+), with "99.1 The Mix" sliding from fifth to sixth.
3)
Indianapolis – Locked on 4.6 in December, "Holiday,"
and January,
iHeartMedia-owned WOLT "103.3 Indy's Alternative" busts out with a gain of nine-tenths to 5.5 (6+) as it climbs from
eighth to sixth. It is the strongest 6+-share for "Indy's Alternative" since last April (6.0). After improving by one-half share in January,
Emmis talker WIBC adds another six-tenths (3.9 – 4.4 – 5.0, 6+) and remains in ninth-place. The back-and-forth at #1 goes on with WIBC adult contemporary cluster-mate WYXB "Soft Rock B-105.7" reigning with a 7.6 (+.4, 6+). "Soft Rock" finished first in December and "Holiday," before giving way to
Entercom CHR WZPL "Indy's Hit Music Station," which was #1 from August through November; "Soft Rock" had the penthouse in July taking over from June's #1 – WZPL. Down by a combined -3.2 in December and "Holiday" (9.7 – 8.2 – 6.5, 6+), WZPL rebounded with a +1.3 in January, but is off by nine-tenths and segues to #2 (7.8 – 6.9, 6+). Especially noteworthy for the return to #1 by "Soft Rock" is the fact that – following two huge back-to-back gains (6.5 – 8.6 – 15.4, 6+) – it was
-8.2 in January. Country sibling WLHK "Hank" though returns January's one-share gain – and one-tenth more – (5.7 – 6.7 – 5.6, 6+) to stumble from third to fifth; "Hank" was off by eight-tenths in "Holiday" 2015. It has been a yoyo experience lately for
Radio One CHR WNOW "Radio Now" (#13 to #15), which followed up a
-.9 in "Holiday" with a
+.7 in January, only to be
-1.0 in February (4.1 – 3.2 – 3.9 – 2.9, 6+). This represents the weakest 6+-showing for "Radio Now" in almost two years (2.9 in April 2014). A loss of nine-tenths to 3.4 (#10 to #12, 6+) curtails seven straight up or flat performances for Emmis' WFNI "The Fan" (2.4 – 2.6 – 2.7 – 3.2 – 3.2 – 3.4 – 3.6 – 4.3, 6+), which gained nearly two full-shares in that time.
4)
Providence – On the heels of a -7.8,
Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI answers with a robust +.9 (18.6 – 10.8 – 11.7,
6+) as "Lite Rock 105" is the market leader for the fourth successive ratings period. Leading up to the January sweep, "Lite Rock" assembled three jumps in succession for a combined
+11.4 (7.2 – 8.7 – 10.7 – 18.6, 6+). With a full one-share increase in
January,
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWBB "B-101" applied the brakes to 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+). Tacking on another six-tenths (5.5 – 6.1, 6+), "B-101" remains in sixth-place. Flat at 9.1 (6+), Cumulus Media CHR WPRO-FM "Today's Hit Music" finishes in the runner-up slot for the fourth straight time. Similarly, this is the fourth consecutive sweep that
iHeartMedia rocker WHJY is at #3 (7.8 – 7.7, -.1, 6+). It is another round of ups/downs for WVEI, which, after a one-half share dip in "Holiday," countered with a +.6 only to return all of that increase in February (3.1 – 2.6 – 3.2 – 2.6, 6+); the
Entercom sports outlet is unchanged at #8.
5)
Raleigh – Posting a
+5.7 in "
Holiday," WRAL "Mix 101.5" then sputtered by
-7.2 in January. Not only does it bounce back with a +.6, the
Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary property
remains on top for the
sixth consecutive ratings period (8.6 – 14.3 – 7.1 – 7.7, 6+). The station with whom "Mix" shared top honors in January –
iHeartMedia CHR WDCG "G-105 The Hit Music Channel" – falters by seven-tenths (7.1 – 6.4, 6+) and drops to fifth. Owing to a +.7 to 6.5 (6+)
Radio One urban AC WFXC "Foxy 107.1" pulls the plug on four successive sweeps without an increase (7.1 – 7.1 – 6.9 – 6.6 – 5.8, 6+), but remains at #4. Also improving by seven-tenths (to 5.5, 6+) is urban contemporary cluster-mate WQOK "K-97.5," which applies the brakes to
three straight declines that yielded a combined -2.1 (6.9 – 5.8 – 5.7 – 4.8, 6+); "K-97.5" is unchanged at #7. After being up in four successive ratings periods and finishing second in the "Holiday" report (5.6 – 5.8 – 5.9 – 6.2 – 6.9, 6+), WUNC did not appear in print in January but the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-owned facility returns at #3 (8.3 – 7.1, -1.2, 6+). In the "
Holiday" report, Capitol Broadcasting sports outlet WCMC had its consecutive streak of up-trends snapped at four (2.5 – 2.7 – 3.6 – 3.9 – 4.0, 6+). Up by +1.1 in January, "The Fan 99.9" coughs up one full-share in February (5.1 – 4.1, 6+) and spirals out of the top ten, moving from a three-way tie at #7 in January to #13. Over and above being down or flat for the eighth consecutive time for a net loss of three full-shares (7.1 – 6.1 – 5.5 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 4.5 – 4.3 – 4.3 – 4.1, 6+),
Curtis Media Group adult hits WBBB "Radio 96.1" departs the top ten (#10 to #11).
6)
Norfolk – Unchanged from January at 12.1 (6+),
Entercom urban AC WVKL is #1 for the
45th consecutive ratings period.
The last time "Smooth R&B From Yesterday & Today" was
not in double-digits (6+) was over two years ago (9.8, January
2014). After gaining six-tenths in January, WNOR-FM adds one-half share (4.8 – 5.4 – 5.9, 6+) and is steady in fifth-place. The
Saga rocker was -.9 in both "Holiday" and November. Having regained in January the half-share it forfeited in "Holiday,"
iHeartMedia's WVSP "
ESPN 94.1″ now drops six-tenths (3.1 – 2.6 – 3.1 – 2.5, 6+), but remains at #12. In the same vein and while steady at #9 (3.7, 6+), it has been quite the rollercoaster for
Max Broadcast Group CHR WVHT "Hot 100.5" which – since May – has been
+.6;
+1.4;
-.2;
+1.2;
-.6;
+.5;
+.6;
-.6; +.6; and now
+.4. Steady at #10, Entercom hot AC WPTE "The Point" is without an increase for the fourth consecutive sweep (3.7 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 3.3, 6+), yet is only down by a combined four-tenths in that stretch. Public outlets (jazz) WHOV and (urban contemporary) WNSB are unlisted for the second straight month.
7)
Nashville – On the strength of a full-share increase (3.6 – 4.6, 6+),
Cumulus Media's WWTN "Super Talk 97" cracks the top ten (#11 to #10). The last time "Super Talk" reached the four-
share threshold (6+) was November 2013 (4.1). In the market's vibrant country battle, WWTN sibling WSM-FM "Nash Icon" (+.3 from January) is up for the third straight time (3.7 – 4.3 – 5.0 – 5.3, 6+) and remains at #8, directly in front of
iHeartMedia's WSIX-FM "The Big 98," which racks up a +.8 (4.0 – 4.8, 6+). Although flat at 3.4 (6+), Cumulus Media's WKDF "Nash-FM 103.3" backslides from #12 to #13. In January, co-owned sports outlet WGFX bounced back with a +.7 to end three consecutive downward trends resulting in a cumulative -1.6 (8.1 – 8.0 – 7.8 – 6.5, 6+), but owing to a -1.6 (7.2 – 5.6, 6+), "104.5 The Zone" slumps from third to seventh. The January gap between
Midwest Communications adult contemporary WJXA "Mix 92.9" and
iHeartMedia CHR WRVW "The River" was 2.9 shares (6+). As a result of a February -.5 by "Mix" (10.7 – 10.2, 6+) and a -1.1 by "The River" (7.8 – 6.7, 6+), the margin is now 3.5 shares and "The River" slips from second (where it was in December, "Holiday,"
and January) to third. Even though it was off by nearly five full-shares in "Holiday," "Mix" ranks first for the
48th consecutive time. This is the 26th successive sweep in which
Joule Broadcasting CHR WNFN (2.6 – 2.3, -.3, #13 to #14) is in two-share range (6+). Despite a one-tenth increase, which extends its consecutive streak of positive trends to four (2.4 – 3.1 – 3.5 – 4.2 – 4.3, 6+),
Cromwell Group alternative WBUZ "102.9 The Buzz" actually falls out of the top ten (#9 to #11).
8)
Greensboro – Coming into the January ratings period,
Entercom urban AC WQMG had not had an increase in the three
previous sweeps (8.9 – 8.2 – 7.7 – 7.7, 6+). "The Best R&B and Old School" picked up one-half share in January and now lets loose with a +.9 (8.2 – 9.1, 6+) that propels it from third to first. It is the loftiest 6+-share for WQMG since last July (9.7). Departing the top spot they shared in January are rhythmic CHR and adult hits siblings WJMH "102 Jamz" (8.3 – 8.6, +.3, first to second, 6+) and WSMW "Simon" (flat at 8.3, first to third, 6+); "Jamz" was -.7 in January. Down six-tenths in "
Holiday,"
iHeartMedia FM talker WPTI rebounded with a +.8 in January and tacks on another seven-tenths in February (3.2 – 2.6 – 3.4 – 4.1, 6+) to climb from ninth to eighth. Moreover, 4.1 is the best 6+-performance in the station's
PPM-history. The market's 6+-country share erodes by two full-shares, with iHeartMedia's WTQR "New Country Q-104.1" taking 65% of the hit (7.9 – 6.6, -1.3, 6+) as it dips from fourth to fifth, while Entercom's WPAW "The Wolf" drops seven-tenths (5.4 – 4.7, 6+) to move from sixth to seventh. "New Country" was up six-tenths in January. This is the sixth successive survey period that
Dick Broadcasting CHR WKZL "The #1 Hit Music Station" and classic rock sibling WKRR "Rock 92" do not appear in print.
9)
West Palm Beach – Having added a cumulative +1.1 in November and December,
Alpha Media urban AC WMBX "X-102.3" (unchanged at #5) returned all of it in "Holiday"; bounced
back with a +.6 in January; and piles on an additional one-half share in February (3.9- 4.3 – 5.0 – 3.9 – 4.5 – 5.0, 6+). Albeit down two-tenths, hot AC cluster-mate WRMF (9.5 – 9.3, 6+) holds down the top spot for the
19th consecutive time; WRMF was up one-half share in January. While Alpha Media adult contemporary WEAT "Sunny 107.9" picks up two-tenths (6.3, second, 6+),
iHeartMedia's similarly formatted WOLL "Today's KOOL 105.5" drops three-tenths (5.8, third, 6+); the two properties shared the runner-up slot in January. For the fourth time in the last five ratings periods, Alpha Media's WIRK registers a 5.5 (6+); "South Florida Country" is #4 for the third consecutive time. Fifth-ranked in the "
Holiday" report (4.0, 6+),
Education Media Foundation contemporary Christian WAYF did not appear in January, but returns in February with a -1.5 (5.0 – 3.5, 6+) and is in sixth-place.
10)
Jacksonville – After surrendering a whopping
10.5 shares in January (19.7 – 9.2, 6+),
Renda Broadcasting adult
contemporary WEJZ "Lite 96.1 – Today's Variety" answers with a gain of six-tenths to 9.8 (6+) and is #1 for the fourth straight time. Actually, before dropping to #2 in November, "Lite" had been on top the previous
17 sweeps. Even with back-to-back gains for a combined +.7 (1.6 – 2.0 – 2.3, 6+), its adult contemporary rival –
Cox Media Group's WEZI "Easy 106.5" – trails "Lite" by 7.5 shares (#15 to #14, 6+). Eroding by eight-tenths in "Holiday," WEZI alternative sibling WXXJ "X-102.9" rebounded with a +1.1 in January, but hands it all back and one-tenth more (4.4 – 5.5 – 4.3,
-1.2, 6+) to drop out of the top ten (#6 to #11). The situation is amazingly analogous to that of classic hits-oldies cluster-mate WJGL "The Eagle," which was off by six-tenths in "Holiday"; improved by +1.2 in January; and now sputters by -1.1 (8.2 – 7.6 – 8.8 – 7.7, 6+) to slide from second to third. Following four successive finishes at #12, public WJCT (+1.2 in
January) picks up two-tenths (4.3 – 4.5, 6+) and enters the top ten (at #10). Down three-tenths from January (6.9 – 6.6, 6+), Cox Media Group talker WOKV ranks fourth for the fourth straight sweep. Although exiting the top ten (#10 to #11),
iHeartMedia CHR WKSL "Kiss-FM is in 4.0 – 4.9 range for the tenth straight time (4.3, 6+).
11)
Memphis – Swapping places at #1 and #2, respectively, are
iHeartMedia urban contemporary and urban AC siblings WHRK "K-97.1" (8.9 – 8.6, -.3, 6+) and KJMS "V-101" (9.0 – 8.3 -.7, 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+). Entering the January sweep,
Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRBO had been in 7.0 – 7.8 range the previous five ratings periods, but with a +.4, it crossed the eight-share barrier (8.2, 6+). Not only does "Soul Classics and Today's R&B" extend its streak of consecutive progressive trends to four (7.0 – 7.4 – 7.8 – 8.2 – 8.3, 6+), it catches "V-101" at #2. January was the first time since November 2014 (8.1, 6+) that WRBO reached eight-share territory. Adding onto January's +.2, iHeartMedia gospel outlet WHAL "Hallelujah" breaks out a +1.1 to 6.9 and stays at #5. Steady at #6,
Entercom hot AC WMC-FM "FM 100 Today's Best Mix" improves by nine-tenths (5.6 – 6.5, 6+).
12)
Hartford – Notwithstanding it declines by two-tenths (12.1 – 11.9, 6+),
CBS Radio adult contemporary WRCH is the market
leader for the
17th time in the last 18 sweeps – including the past nine. In January, "Lite 100.5" had its string of five straight increases snapped (8.7 – 10.8 – 11.1 – 11.6 – 11.9 – 17.8 – 12.1, 6+). Apparently just getting warmed up by posting a +1.5 in January, rhythmic CHR sibling WZMX follows with a massive
+1.9 (6.7 – 8.2 – 10.1, 6+). Steady at #2, "Hot 93.7" enjoys its best-ever 6+-share in the
PPM-era, becoming the third station in the market to register double-digits (6+); "Lite 100.5" has done it on 40 occasions and
iHeartMedia's WWYZ "Country 92-5" has reached double-digits six times. Regarding the latter, "Country 92-5" tacks on one full-share to January's +1.5 (5.0 – 6.5 – 7.5, 6+) to zoom from seventh to third. This time last month, WWYZ halted three successive downward trends that resulted in a loss of more than three shares (8.1 – 7.5 – 6.9 – 5.0, 6+). Although without a decrease for the fifth straight sweep (5.7 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 6.3 – 7.1 – 7.1, 6+), CBS Radio talker WTIC-
AM actually backslides from third to fourth; before January, the last time WTIC-
AM reached the seven-share range was April 2015 (7.0, 6+). Hot AC sibling WTIC-
FM though stumbles by seven-tenths (6.9 – 6.2, 6+) and drops from fifth to seventh. For the second consecutive sweep,
Connoisseur Media talker WDRC-AM (flat at #10) regresses by one-half share to .4 (6+). Its January decline curtailed a consecutive string of improvements at four (.8 – .9 – 1.1 – 1.3 – 1.4 – .9, 6+).
