PPM Data – Part Three. February 2016 ratings information has been released for Portland, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, San Antonio, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Orlando, and Columbus.
Nielsen Audio's February 2016 survey period covered January 28 – February 24.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from these 12-
PPM markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Portland – Not appearing in print in January,
Oregon Public Broadcasting's KOPB returns with a +.7 (6.7 – 7.4, 6+) to place
second; prior to January, KOPB had been down or flat the previous four monthlies (6.7 – 6.4 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 5.3, 6+). The last time KOPB reached the seven-share level (6+) was last March (7.1). For the third successive sweep,
Entercom
classic rock KGON (tenth to ninth, 6+) registers an increase and is a combined +1.4 since December (3.0 – 3.6 – 3.8 – 4.4, 6+); 4.4 is its highest 6+-share since last June (4.7). After soaring with a +1.7 in January,
iHeartMedia's KLTH "The Eagle – Classic Hits" relinquishes most of that gain and drops from second to fourth (5.3 – 7.0 – 5.8, -1.2, 6+). Also registering a +1.7 in January was Entercom country facility KWJJ "The Wolf," which relinquishes eight-tenths (5.1 – 6.8 – 6.0, 6+), but continues at #3. Prior to a -2.1 in
December, "The Wolf" enjoyed four successive positive trends (7.0 – 8.2 – 8.3 – 8.7 – 9.3, 6+) for a combined +2.3. Format challenger –
Alpha Media's KUPL "The Bull" (#11 to #13) – has its fourth straight monthly without an increase (5.6 – 4.8 – 3.4 – 3.4 – 3.3, 6+) for a combined -2.3; "The Bull" had successive gains of four-tenths in October and November before December's -.8. Following a massive decline of nearly 12 full-shares (21.4 – 9.5, 6+), iHeartMedia adult contemporary KKCW drops another seven-tenths to 8.8 (6+), but "K-103" is #1 for the
20th time in the last
22 ratings periods. Tied for sixth-place (4.7, 6+) are hot AC rivals KRSK "The Buzz 105.1" (-.3, 6+) and KBFF "Live 95-5" (+.4); Entercom's "Buzz" was +.7 in January, while Alpha Media's "Live 95-5" was -.8. Handing back virtually all of January's +.6 (2.5 – 3.1 – 2.6, -.5, 6+),
Salem Media Group contemporary Christian KFIS "The Fish" tumbles from #14 to #18. Notching a .6 (6+) in January, the jazz stream of
Mount Hood Community College-owned KMHD disappears.
2)
Charlotte – While many other adult contemporary facilities that played all-Christmas music in November and December
continue a post-"Holiday" 2005 slide,
Beasley Media Group's WKQC "K-104.7" dusts itself off after a stunning -8.6 and registers a gain of eight-tenths (13.2 – 4.7 – 5.5, 6+) to zoom from seventh to fourth. Up or flat for the third straight sweep for a combined +1.2 (2.5 – 2.5 – 3.0 – 3.7, 6+),
iHeartMedia alternative WEND "The End" inches up from #13
to #12; it is the highest 6+-share for "The End" since last July's 3.8. Picking up six-tenths (3.7 – 4.3, 6+),
Greater Media hot AC WLNK "The Link" advances from a three-way logjam at #10 to a conventional tie at #8. Wild shifts continue for WSOC "Country's Greatest Hits," which was off by a combined -2.7 November-December-"Holiday" (8.8 – 7.5 – 6.1, 6+) only to recapture all but two-tenths in January (8.6, 6+). The Beasley Media Group-owned outlet is off by eight-tenths in February (7.8, 6+) but repeats at #1. While steady at #3, cross-town challenger – iHeartMedia's WKKT – continues to have its 6+-share evaporate, as "The Kat 96.9" declines for the sixth successive ratings period for a cumulative
-4.2 (9.8 – 9.6 – 8.8 – 8.5 – 5.9 – 5.7 – 5.6, 6+). Without an increase for five straight monthlies (7.0 – 6.4 – 6.3 – 6.3 – 6.1 – 5.7, 6+), co-owned classic rocker WRFX "The Fox" completely erased the combined -1.3 with a +1.4 in
January, but regresses by nine-tenths in February (7.1 – 6.2, 6+); nevertheless, "The Fox" remains in the runner-up slot. Posting identical moves of 5.1 – 4.6 (-.5, fifth to sixth, 6+) are Beasley Media Group urban contemporary WPEG "Power 98" and
Radio One urban-rhythmic oldies WOSF "Old School 105.3." They also mirror each other in that neither one has an increase in the last three sweeps. "Power" is trending 5.5 – 5.4 – 5.1 – 4.6 (6+) and "Old School 105.3" is 5.3 – 5.3 – 5.1 – 4.6 (6+). Also off by one-half share is iHeartMedia adult hits WLKO "The Lake" (3.9, eighth to tenth, 6+). In January, "The Lake" notched a +.7 to halt its string of five consecutive down or flat trends (5.6 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 4.3 – 4.3 – 3.7, 6+); WLKO was a combined -1.9 since August.
3)
Pittsburgh – A
+5.8 in "Holiday" 2015 enabled WWSW to end four straight decreases for a combined
-2.4 (10.8 – 10.1 – 9.3 – 8.9
– 8.4, 6+); however, in January, the
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies outlet regressed by
-6.3 (14.2 – 7.9, 6+). The rollercoaster ride persists as "3WS" not only roars back with a
+1.6 to 9.5 (6+) but marches from third back to
first. Rock sibling WDVE – which replaced "3WS" at #1 in January – falters by eight-tenths and segues to the runner-up slot (9.7 – 8.9, 6+). Matching September's 3.2 (6+), cluster-mate WPGB-FM "Big 104.7 #1 for New Country" (unchanged at #10) is up or flat for the fourth successive sweep (2.5 – 2.5 – 2.6 – 2.7 – 3.2, 6+). On the heels of notching a +1.1,
CBS Radio's KDKA-
FM "The Fan" forfeits all of it plus three-tenths more (6.4 – 5.0, -1.4, 6+) to slide from sixth to seventh. Similarly, talk sibling KDKA-
AM follows January's eye-popping +2.2 with a -.6 (6.6 – 8.8 – 8.2, 6+) to dip from second to third. KDKA-
AM was -1.8 in the "Holiday" report; January's +1.1 allowed KDKA-
FM "The Fan" to apply the brakes to three consecutive down monthlies (10.1 – 6.5 – 5.9 – 5.3, 6+).
4)
Sacramento – Although it is only up by one-tenth (8.9 – 9.0, 6+),
Entercom-owned classic rock KSEG "The Eagle" progresses
from second to first. Three-tenths behind "The Eagle" and inching up from third is
iHeartMedia news-talk hybrid KFBK, which chalks up a strong +1.4 (7.3 – 8.7, 6+). Curtailing a string of three straight negative trends in January by notching a
one-tenth gain (4.5 – 4.4 – 4.1 – 3.4 – 3.5, 6+), Entercom's KRXQ "98 Rock" now adds one
full-share
to 4.5 (6+) as it jumps from ninth to fifth. Having sandwiched a 4.4 ("Holiday" 2015, 6+) between two 4.5 performances (December and January, 6+),
CBS Radio hot AC KZZO posts a gain of one-half share to 5.0; "Now 100.5" is steady at #4. Dislodged by "The Eagle" from the market's top spot is KZZO adult contemporary cluster-mate KYMX "Mix 96," which nearly matches January's
-2.7 (11.7 – 9.0 – 6.6,
-2.4, first to third, 6+). Prior to January's hefty loss, "Mix" posted four successive gains that totaled a cumulative +7.2 (4.5 – 5.5 – 5.9 – 6.4 – 11.7, 6+). No sooner does sibling KHTK "Sports 1140" improve by nine-tenths, it coughs up all of it plus one-tenth (1.5 – 2.4 – 1.4, -1.0, 6+) to slip from #17 to #19. Up or flat four straight times (2.9 – 3.1 – 3.1 – 3.8 – 4.0, 6+),
Entravision rhythmic CHR KHHM "Hot 103.5" regressed by one-half share in January and now slumps by another six-tenths (3.5 – 2.9, 6+) to depart the top ten (#9 to #13).
5)
San Antonio – Duplicating January's gain of six-tenths,
Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM repeats at #1 (7.8 –
8.4 – 9.0, 6+). Prior to dropping from first to second in the "Holiday" sweep, KONO-FM was #1 in 17 of the previous 22 sweeps. Moreover, it is the first time that "San Antonio's Greatest Hits" has reached the nine-share level (6+) in nearly six years (9.2, March 2010). Locked on 3.7 in
"Holiday" 2015 and January 2016, co-owned hot AC KSMG "Magic 105.3" improves by one-half share to 4.2 and enters the top ten (#11 to #10, 6+). Dropping from fourth to sixth, co-owned KISS "Rocks San Antonio" has its third straight negative trend (6.2 – 5.8 – 5.4 – 4.7, 6+), which has yielded a combined -1.5. For the third straight time,
Alpha Media Group adult hits KJXK notches an increase (2.6 – 2.7 – 3.1 – 3.8, +.7, 6+) as "Jack-FM" climbs from #14 to #12. After racking up a +1.2 in January, regional Mexican cluster-mate KSAH returns half of it (1.7 – 2.9 – 2.3, -.6, 6+) to move from #15 to #16.
6)
Cincinnati – Four consecutive negative trends for a combined -3.6 (9.5 – 9.3 – 8.5 – 7.3 – 5.9, 6+) concluded in January when
WUBE posted an increase of two-tenths. The
Hubbard Broadcasting country outlet multiplies that gain by
nine (6.1 – 7.9, +1.8, 6+) as "B-105" advances from fifth to third. It was – and is – a somewhat similar scenario for hot AC cluster-mate WKRQ, which was
without a gain in the previous four sweeps (7.2 – 6.8 – 6.8 – 6.7 – 6.2, 6+) until it hung out a +.8 in January. Adding one-half share (7.0 – 7.5, 6+), "Q-102" holds the #4 spot for the sixth straight time and has its best 6+-showing since May 2014 (also 7.5). Unchanged at #6, their rhythmic hot AC sibling WREW "Mix 94.9" picks up one-tenth (4.7, 6+) to stifle four consecutive down or flat trends (5.4 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 4.6 – 4.6, 6+), accounting for a combined -.8. The theme of
four consecutive streaks continues, but with a different angle. After registering four straight
increases (10.1 – 10.2 – 10.7 – 11.3 – 11.7, 6+), WLW sputters by -1.3 to 10.4 (6+) – but – the
iHeartMedia heritage talker repeats at #1 and is in double-digits (6+) for the
25th successive sweep. The station WLW replaced at the top in January –
Cumulus Media adult contemporary WRRM – follows January's -4.7 with an additional loss of nine-tenths (11.9 – 7.2 – 6.3, 6+) as "Warm 98" slides from third to fifth. Classic rock cluster-mate WOFX "The Fox" extends to four its successive string without a gain for a combined -2.2 in that stretch (6.0 – 5.7 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 3.8, 6+); "The Fox" backslides from ninth to tenth.
7)
Cleveland – When they trotted out (6+) January increases of +1.3 and +.4, respectively,
Radio One cluster-mates WZAK and
WENZ each halted four straight sweeps without an increase. It was a combined -1.6 for urban AC WZAK (8.4 – 7.9 – 7.6 – 7.6 – 6.8, 6+) and a -1.1 for urban contemporary WENZ "Z-107.9" (5.4 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 4.8 – 4.3, 6+). Both outlets improve by six-tenths in February with WZAK at 8.7 (steady at #2) and "Z-107.9" at 5.3 (tenth to eighth).
Repeating what it did in January, WGAR also gains sixth-tenths (5.1 – 5.7 – 6.3, 6+); the
iHeartMedia country station stays at #6. Rock sibling WMMS improves by one-half share (4.4 – 4.9, 6+) and cracks the top ten (#12 to #10). Regressing by nine-tenths are classic hits-oldies cluster-mate WMJI "Cleveland's Greatest Hits" (11.5 – 10.6, 6+) and
CBS Radio's WKRK "The Fan" (4.9 – 4.0, 6+). "Cleveland's Greatest Hits" was -.8 in January but repeats at #1. It occupied the top spot for eight straight months before giving way in "Holiday" 2015. Dating back to last April, fluctuations for WMJI have been
-2.2;
+.1;
+1.1;
+1.0;
-.2;
+.4;
-1.3;
+1.4;
-1.8;
+1.9;
-.8; and now
-.9. The 12.3 share (6+) it recorded in "Holiday" 2015 is its best ever under
PPM methodology. By posting a +.8 in January, "The Fan" curtailed three straight downward trends (5.0 – 4.9 – 4.4 – 4.1, 6+) – it drops out of the top ten (#8 to #12). In 7.0 – 7.5 range (6+) the past seven ratings periods, iHeartMedia adult hits WHLK declines by seven-tenths to 6.6 – its lowest 6+-share since June 2012 (6.1) but "The Lake" still flows at #4. After dropping more than four full-shares in January, CBS Radio adult contemporary WDOK "Star 102" is down by another half-share (12.4 – 8.1 – 7.6, 6+) to segue from second to third. While unchanged at #13,
Ideastream noncommercial WCPN (3.5, -.3, 6+) has its consecutive string of positive trends end at three (2.4 – 2.6 – 2.7 – 3.8, 6+).
8)
Salt Lake City – One-half share separates the market's first four finishers, including
iHeartMedia CHR KZHT, which hangs
out a whopping +1.6 (5.1 – 6.7, 6+) to progress from #6 to a tie at #2. It is the best 6+-performance for "Salt Lake's #1 Hit Music Station" since last August (7.5). Also in second-place is
Capital Broadcasting hot AC KBZN "Now 97.7" (6.8 – 6.7, -.1, 6+), which recorded a +1.1 in
January to stop seven consecutive down or flat sweeps (8.1 – 7.8 – 7.6 – 7.3 – 7.0 – 6.8 – 6.6 – 5.7, 6+). Two-tenths ahead of KZHT and KBZN is
Bonneville talk outlet KSL, flat at 6.9, but repeating at #1. Following three straight sweeps without a decrease (4.2 – 4.2 – 4.8 – 4.9, 6+), co-owned KRSP surrendered
-1.2 in "Holiday" 2015 but answered in January with a
+1.7. "Utah's Classic 103.5 The Arrow" rolls on with a
+1.0 (4.9 – 3.7 – 5.4 – 6.4, 6+), advancing from fifth to fourth. This is the first time in its
PPM-history that KRSP has crossed the six-share mark (6+). Conversely, adult contemporary cluster-mate KSFI "FM 100.3" – which surrendered the top spot in January by plummeting by nearly nine full-shares – declines by -1.2 (6.7 – 5.5, 6+), tumbling from third to sixth. Entering the January sweep, "FM 100.3" trended 6.0 – 6.4 – 8.5 – 15.6 (6+). Owing to a loss of seven-tenths (4.3 – 3.6, 6+),
Cumulus Media country KUBL "K-Bull 93" slides from ninth to tenth. Without an increase over seven straight sweeps for a combined -3.4 (6.3 – 6.2 – 5.7 – 5.7 – 5.3 – 5.0 – 4.5 – 2.9, 6+),
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KODJ "Salt Lake's Greatest Hits" roared back with a +1.9 in January but regresses by six-tenths in February (2.9 – 4.8 – 4.2, 6+) to fall from seventh to eighth. Steady at #12,
Broadway Media alternative KXRK "X-96" registers a gain for the first time in the past five sweeps (4.7 – 4.4 – 4.0 – 3.4 – 3.4 – 3.5, +.1, 6+).
9)
Las Vegas – By notching a gain of one-half share to 4.3 (6+),
Beasley Media Group urban-rhythmic oldies outlet KOAS "Old
School 105.7″ pulls the plug on five straight negative trends (5.4 – 5.0 – 4.8 – 4.5 – 4.2 – 3.8, 6+) and climbs from eighth to seventh. In addition to being the fourth successive time that KPLV "93.1 The Party" (#17 to #15) is either up or flat (1.5 – 1.6 – 1.6 – 1.7 – 2.3, 6+), the
iHeartMedia CHR has its best 6+-stat since last July (2.8).
Faltering by nearly eight full-shares in January, adult contemporary sibling KSNE loses another six-tenths (15.7 – 7.8 – 7.2, 6+), however, "Sunny 106.5" is #1 for the
18th straight time. "Sunny" followed three successive down trends with back-to-back gains of +2.2 in December and +5.1 in "Holiday" 2015 (9.6 – 9.4 – 8.9 – 8.4 – 10.6 – 15.7, 6+). Also off by six-tenths is
Univision Spanish contemporary KRGT "Latino Mix 99.3" (2.4 – 1.8, #14 to #18, 6+). Trailing "Sunny" by 1.8 shares in January, Beasley Media Group's KKLZ (6.0 – 6.4, +.4, unchanged at #2, 6+) is now within eight-tenths. Frozen on 1.3 (6+) in four of the last five survey periods,
Lotus Broadcasting's KWWN "
ESPN 1100″ sputters by one-half share to .8 and falls out of the top 20 (#18 to #21). Tied at #9 in January, country foes KCYE "The Coyote" (+.2, 6+) and KWNR "The Bull" (-.4, 6+) are back-to-back at #9 and #10, respectively. Shaking off a one full-share decline in January, Beasley Media Group's "Coyote" doubled its "Holiday" 2015 stat (2.8 – 1.8 – 3.6, +1.8, 6+) catapulting from #19, while iHeartMedia's "Bull" has been down or flat the past four sweeps (4.4 – 3.7 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.2, 6+). After four straight up or flat trends for a combined +1.4 (2.9 – 3.0 – 3.3 – 3.5 – 4.3 – 4.3, 6+),
Univision regional Mexican KISF drops one-tenth to 4.2 to slip from seventh to eighth.
10)
Kansas City – In the 5.2 – 5.9 range (6+) the past seven sweeps,
Entercom hot AC KZPT explodes with a +1.2 to 6.8,
progressing from third to first. This is the strongest 6+-performance for "99.7 The Point" in approximately one year (6.9 in March 2015). Supplanted at #1 is
Cumulus Media classic rocker KCFX "The Fox," which despite a huge -1.3 (7.6 – 6.3, 6+), only falls to #2. In the CHR contest, KCFX sibling KCHZ "95.7 The Vibe" improves by one full-share (3.1 – 4.1, #16 to #11, 6+), while
Steel City Media's KMXV "Mix
93.3″ relinquishes eight-tenths of the +1.1 it recorded in January (5.3 – 6.4 – 5.8, 6+), sliding from second to third. Improving by six-tenths each are "Mix" adult contemporary cluster-mate KCKC "KC-102.1" (3.3 – 3.9, #15 to #13, 6+) and Entercom-owned KQRC "Kansas City's Rock Station" (tenth to seventh, 6+). This is the third straight sweep without a decrease for KQRC (3.8 – 3.9 – 4.0 – 4.6, 6+). Down or flat for seven straight sweeps (4.6 – 3.8 – 3.5 – 3.2 – 3.0 – 2.2 – 2.2 – 2.2, 6+), "KC-102.1" improved by a combined +5.4 in December and "Holiday" 2015, before dropping 4.3 shares in January. Taking a significant hit after the World Series ended (5.3 – 2.9, -2.4, 6+),
Union Broadcasting's WHB "Sports Radio 810" put together back-to-back up-trends (2.9 – 3.1 – 3.6, 6+), but now loses one full-share to 2.6, 6+) and spirals from #12 to #17.
11)
Orlando – Over and above repeating at #1,
iHeartMedia Spanish tropical WRUM "Rumba" now possesses Orlando's sixth-
highest 6+share since
PPM became ratings currency there (9.3 –
10.3, +1.0, 6+). The top five in that category (all in "Holiday" sweeps) range from 13.6 to 10.6 and belong to adult contemporary sibling WMGF "Magic 107.7" (8.2 – 7.0, -1.2, second to third). Recent (6+) trending for "Magic" includes
+.5 in October;
-1.0 in November;
+1.6 in December;
+5.2 in "Holiday" 2015;
-4.7 in January; and
now
-1.2 in February. Having pulled the plug in January on three successive negative trends with a +.5 (7.3 – 7.0 – 5.7 – 4.6 – 5.1, 6+),
CBS Radio classic hits-oldies WOCL "Sunny 105.9" nearly triples that gain (6.4,
+1.3, 6+) and advances from eighth to sixth. Steady at #9,
Cox Media Group rhythmic CHR WPYO "Power 95.3" adds six-tenths (4.2 – 4.8, 6+) for its best 6+showing in exactly one year (5.2 in February 2015). Off by six-tenths each are iHeartMedia CHR and rock siblings WXXL "XL-106.7" (8.0 – 7.4, third to second, 6+) and WJRR "Orlando's Rock Station" (6.0 – 5.4, sixth to eighth, 6+). "XL-106.7" rebounded from a -1.1 in "Holiday" with a whopping +2.3, while "Orlando's Rock Station" is coming off a +1.6. After five straight downward trends resulting in a net loss of -2.3 (5.1 – 4.8 – 4.6 – 4.3 – 3.3 – 2.8, 6+), co-owned talker WTKS "Real Radio 104.1" posted a +1.2 in January, but sputters by seven-tenths in February moving from #11 to #13. Meanwhile, its supplemental channel – urban contemporary WTKS-HD2 – gains one-half share (1.3 – 1.8, 6+) and bumps up from #17 to #16. Unlisted for the second consecutive sweep is contemporary Christian WPOZ "Z-88.3 Safe for the Little Ears," which finished third in "Holiday" 2015.
12)
Columbus – Even though it relinquishes just over one share of January's massive +2.9,
iHeartMedia CHR WNCI repeats at
#1 (9.3 – 12.2 – 11.1, -1.1, 6+). Country sibling WCOL – 2.7 in January – is flat at 10.7 and remains at #2. Boasting a +.8 (1.7 – 2.5, 6+),
iHeartMedia alternative WXZX "105.7 The X" climbs from #12 to #11. Contemporary Christian WCVO improves by one-half share (3.9 – 4.4, 6+) as it inches up
from sixth to fifth; "104.9 The River" enjoys its strongest 6+-performance since last May (4.7). After improving by one-half share,
RadiOhio-owned sports outlet WBNS-FM "The Fan" regresses by eight-tenths (5.1 – 4.3, 6+) to dip from fifth to sixth. Prior to a -1.9 in the "Holiday" report (6.5 – 4.6, 6+), "The Fan" registered positive trends for five consecutive monthlies producing a combined +2.9 (3.6 – 4.1 – 4.9 – 6.3 – 6.4 – 6.5, 6+). Locked on .5 for the third successive sweep,
Radio One gospel WJYD "Joy 107.1" (unchanged at #14) is without a gain for the fourth consecutive time (1.2 – .6 – .5 – .5 – .5, 6+). Among the stations not appearing in print for the second straight month are
Saga classic rocker WLVQ "Q-96" (4.8, #6, "Holiday" 2015, 6+) and
Ohio State University-owned WOSU-FM (3.6, #10, "Holiday" 2015, 6+).
