PPM Data – Round Two. February 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 February 2016 survey period covered January 28 – February 24.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all of these
PPM-markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Washington, DC – Not only does
Hubbard-owned WTOP (+.2, 6+) repeat at #1, the all-news outlet registers a 10.1, its most
potent 6+share since September 2011 (also 10.1); WTOP was +2.4 (6+) in January. Before dropping from first to second in the "Holiday" 2015 sweep, WTOP occupied the top spot the previous
12 successive ratings periods. Rebounding from January's one-half share decline,
Cumulus Media CHR-turned-hot AC WRQX hangs out an eight-tenths increase (2.6 –
2.1 – 2.9, 6+) as "Mix 107.3" inches up from #17 to #16; 2.9 is its strongest 6+-stat in nearly three years (3.0, May 2013). Down or flat in
eight straight sweeps,
iHeartMedia CHR WIHT applies the brakes with a +.4 to 5.3 (6+). At #4 the past four monthlies, "Hot 99.5" advances to a tie at #3. Four consecutive 5.9 showings were included in that "Hot 99.5" streak, which 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+). Unlisted in January, public classical WETA (#7 in the "Holiday" 2015 report) shows a gain of six-tenths (4.2 – 4.8, 6+) and ranks fifth. Before being unlisted, WETA had four straight up-trends (3.3 – 3.5 – 3.7 – 4.2 – 4.6, 6+). Frozen at 1.8 (6+) in December and "Holiday,"
Radio One gospel WPRS "Praise 104.1" notched a +1.1 in January and now adds one-half share (2.9 – 3.4, 6+), marching from #14 to a three-way tie at #11. Co-owned urban contemporary WKYS, however, sputters by nine-tenths (4.2 – 3.3, 6+) to freefall from #7 to #14. After gaining one-half share, WMAL returns all of it and one-tenth more (3.3 – 3.8 – 3.3, -.6, 6+) as the Cumulus Media talker departs the top ten (#10 to #15).
2)
Boston – It remains tight at the top as
Greater Media-owned WROR (flat at 7.2, 6+) repeats at #1, where "Boston's Greatest
Hits" is two-tenths ahead of
iHeartMedia CHR WXKS-FM "Kiss 108" (7.1 – 7.0, -.1, 6+). The two in January were +1.7 and +1.3, respectively (6+). Advancing by one-half share each are
CBS Radio siblings WZLX "Classic Rock 100.7" (3.9 – 4.4, #7 to #8, 6+) and hot AC WBMX "Mix 104.1" (3.8 – 4.3, steady at #9, 6+). Before registering a +1.1 in
January,
"Mix" had been without an increase the previous four sweeps (4.2 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.5 – 2.7, 6+). Likewise, with a +.7 in
January, "Classic Rock 100.7" halted four straight downward trends (4.7 – 4.1 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 3.2, 6+). Public WGBH, which ranked #12 in the "Holiday" 2015 report, was unlisted in January, but returns with a +.7 (3.1 – 3.8, 6+) and checks in at #11. This time last month, we hinted the failure of the
New England Patriots to make it to this year's
Super Bowl would most likely have a negative February 2016 ratings impact on Boston's two powerful FM sports outlets. Such is certainly the case as Patriots flagship –
CBS Radio's WBZ-FM – endures the most significant (6+) January – February erosion of
any station in the 24
PPM-markets whose information has been released thus far (6.8 – 4.7,
-2.1, 6+); "The Sports Hub" slips from third to sixth. Meanwhile,
Entercom's WEEI-FM, the flagship of the
Boston Red Sox, falters by one full-share (5.9 – 4.9, 6+) yet actually climbs from sixth to fifth, overtaking the "Sports Hub" for the first time since last June when WEEI-FM held a 4.7 – 3.6 advantage (6+). The combined -3.1 (6+) in February for these two sports facilities compares to a +2.1 in January (+1.2 by WEEI-FM and +.9 by WBZ-FM). Both were down eight-tenths in "Holiday" and flat in December. The market's other rated sports outlet – Entercom's WEEI-AM – drops from .2 to .1 (#20 to #27).
3)
Detroit – After a one-month hiatus,
University of Michigan-owned WUOM returns with a +.6 (1.7 – 2.3, 6+) and
enters the top 20 at #18. Tacking on one-half share to the +.8 it notched in January (4.0 – 4.8 – 5.3, 6+),
iHeartMedia CHR WKQI "Channel 95-5" reaches the five-share level for the first time since last March and continues at #7. Rebounding from a -1.2 in "Holiday" with a +.9 in January,
Cumulus Media hot AC WDVD "Today's Best Hits" regresses by one-half share (5.0 – 3.8 – 4.7 – 4.2, 6+)
and exits the top ten (#8 to #11). Prior to the "Holiday' -1.2, WDVD had been up or flat the previous four sweeps (4.2 – 4.2 – 4.3 – 4.7 – 5.0, 6+). Following January's loss of more than 60% of its 6+-share (14.6 – 5.7, -8.9), iHeartMedia adult contemporary WNIC regresses by another one-half share to 5.2 to tumble from fourth to eighth (6+). The market's two major urban AC facilities are knotted at #9 (4.5, 6+), as
Radio One's WDMK "105.9 Kiss-FM" (#10 in January) gains four-tenths just as it did this time last month, while iHeartMedia's WMXD "Mix 92.3" (#9 in January) is off by one-tenth. The +.4 "Kiss" recorded in
January curtailed four successive negative sweeps which yielded a combined -1.3 (5.0 – 4.6 – 4.5 – 4.1 – 3.7, 6+). A stunning January increase of two full-shares by WWJ is followed by a modest -.2 (5.8 – 7.8 – 7.6, 6+), but the
CBS Radio all-newser repeats at #1. This is the 13th successive time that
Greater Media-owned WCSX "Detroit's Classic Rock" (6.6, -.2, unchanged in the runner-up slot) is in the 6.0 – 6.8 range (6+), including a 6.7 in September, October,
and November.
4)
Miami – On the heels of chalking up a +.9 and taking over at #1, the first time there since last April,
Cox Media Group urban
AC WHQT "Hot 105" not only forfeits the entire gain, it falls back to #2 (7.6 – 8.5 – 7.6, 6+). Although off by one-tenth (8.0 – 7.9, 6+),
Entercom adult contemporary WLYF "Lite FM" returns to #1, the position it occupied the previous
nine sweeps. Progressing by
eight-tenths each are Cox Media Group adult contemporary WFEZ "Easy 93.1" (fourth to third, 6+) and
iHeartMedia Spanish contemporary WMGE "Mega 94.9" (#12 to #9, 6+). It is the third straight increase for both stations. Dating back to December, "Easy" is trending 5.1 – 5.5 – 5.8 – 6.6 (6+), with 6.6 its best 6+-stat since last August (also 6.6); WFEZ had been #4 the past five sweeps. Meanwhile, "Mega" is 3.0 – 3.1 – 3.2 – 4.0 (6+) in the same stretch. Absent from print in January,
WAY Media contemporary Christian WAYF reappears with a +.9 to 1.5 (#21, 6+). It is the first time WAYF has been in the one-share range since December 2014, when it reached 1.2 (6+). Owing to a gain of one-tenth to 2.1 (6+),
Univision Spanish talker WAQI (steady at #20) curtails four successive downtrends that yielded a combined -1.6 (3.6 – 3.3 – 3.2 – 2.6 – 2.0, 6+).
5)
Seattle – Interesting month-to-month shifts here for stations with the same call letters, differentiated only by the "AM" and
"FM" designations. For example, while
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KJR-
FM racks up a strong +.9 to 5.7 (6+), enabling "The Jet" to soar from fifth to second, co-owned KJR-
AM falters by one full-share (2.8 – 1.8, 6+), dropping "Seattle Sports Radio" (+.8 in January) out of the top 20 (#16 to #21). Before January's +.8, KJR-AM had been
down or flat the previous three sweeps (2.5 – 2.5 – 2.3 – 2.0, 6+). The sports format takes a further hit as well (
Seahawks not in the Super Bowl) over in the
Bonneville cluster where KIRO
-AM "710
ESPN Seattle" plummets from #9 to #20 as it erodes by nearly two full-shares (3.7 – 1.9, -1.8, 6+); KIRO-AM was +.5 in January. While the decline for sibling KIRO-FM is not as pronounced, the talker drops one-half share, dipping from second to fifth. This is the fifth successive sweep that KIRO-FM is either down or flat (6.8 – 6.8 – 6.1 – 5.6 – 5.6 – 5.1, 6+) for a combined -1.7. Despite picking up one-half share (1.3 – 1.8, 6+), conservative talk sibling KTTH backslides from #20 to #21. Following 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" gained four-tenths in January and now piles on another half-share (2.9 – 3.4, 6+), progressing from #15 to #11. Notwithstanding a -.1 (7.7 – 7.6, 6+),
Hubbard Broadcasting CHR KQMV "MOViN 92.5 – All The Hits" repeats at #1; January's 7.7 is its highest 6+-share in the
PPM-era in both its present format and when it was rhythmic hot AC.
6)
Phoenix – Apparently just getting warmed up with January's +.6,
CBS Radio classic hits-oldies KOOL rolls out a +1.1 in
February (4.5 – 5.1 – 6.2, 6+), as it zooms from fourth to second. This is the best 6+-stat for "The Valley's Greatest Hits" since last May (also 6.2). Simultaneously, KESZ (-8.6 in January) falters by eight-tenths to 7.1. The
iHeartMedia adult contemporary is #1 for the
17th successive ratings period, but the (6+) 2.8-share lead it held over KOOL in
January is whittled to nine-tenths. Up six-tenths in January,
The Yucaipa Companies' KOAI "The Oasis" sputters by exactly twice that (1.8 – .6, -1.2, 6+), spiraling from #22 to #28. In advance of January's +.6, adult contemporary "The Oasis" had been off the previous three sweeps for a combined -.9 (2.1 – 2.0 – 1.4 – 1.2, 6+). Although steady at #6, iHeartMedia hot AC KMXP "Mix 96.9" hangs out a +.8 (4.4 – 5.2, 6+), while CHR sibling KZZP "Kiss-FM" improves by seven-tenths (4.4 – 5.1, 6+), yet backslides from sixth to seventh; "Kiss" was +.8 in January. Also in that iHeartMedia cluster, adult hits KYOT "The Mountain" adds one-half share to the six-tenths it gained in January (4.2 – 4.8 – 5.3) and continues at #5. After posting a +.7 in January,
Bonneville's KMVP "Arizona Sports 98.7" relinquishes all of it plus three-tenths more (2.9 – 3.6 – 2.6, -1.0, 6+) to depart the top ten (#10 to #15). Down or flat for the fifth successive sweep for a cumulative -1.1 (3.1 – 2.9 – 2.9 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 2.0, 6+), The Yucaipa Companies' hot AC KMVA "Hot 97.5" slips from #16 to #20. Failing to notch an increase for the seventh consecutive ratings period, iHeartMedia talker KFYI drops from eighth to ninth (5.7 – 5.4 – 5.1 – 4.8 – 4.7 – 4.0 – 4.0 – 4.0, 6+).
7)
Minneapolis – This time last month,
Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC KSTP-FM claimed bragging rights for
meatiest (6+) "Holiday" 2015 – January 2016 increase in the 24
PPM-markets whose data had been released at that time – a massive +3.4 (6.3 – 9.7, 6+) that made the station #1. While a +.5 in January is obviously nowhere near that magnitude, "KS-95" achieves another benchmark – this one more market-specific. The one-half share
increase elevates "KS-95" to 10.2, the best-ever 6+share in its PPM-history and the eleventh time any Twin Cities outlet has hit double-digits (6+) in electronic measurement methodology. Incidentally, that whopping +3.4 in January halted 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+). Simultaneous with recording that +3.4 in January, the market was also home to the largest "Holiday" 2015 – January 2016
decrease at that time, as
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KQQL "Kool 108" spiraled by nearly 10 full-shares (16.5 – 6.6, -9.9, 6+), creating the vacancy at #1. "Kool" rebounds by matching the one-half share gain of "KS-95" (6.6 – 7.1, 6+) and inches up from fourth to a second-place tie. Co-owned KFXN "Sports Radio 100.3 K-Fan," however, is off by -1.7 (6.7 – 5.0, 6+), slumping from third to eighth; 5.0 is the lowest 6+ share for "The Fan" since last August (4.6). Down the past three sweeps by a combined -1.4 (7.2 – 6.9 – 5.9 – 5.8, 6+),
Cumulus Media-owned KQRS recoups nearly all of it with a +1.1 to 6.9, lifting "Minnesota's Classic Rock" from seventh to fourth. Regressing by six-tenths each are noncommercial contemporary Christian KTIS-FM (5.8, steady at #6, 6+) and
CBS Radio talker WCCO (4.6, #9 to #11, 6+). The -.6 for KTIS ends four consecutive up trends (4.7 – 4.9 – 5.5 – 5.6 – 6.4, 6+) that yielded a cumulative +1.7. After five straight increases (3.8 – 4.1 – 4.2 – 4.7 – 5.2 – 5.3, 6+), WCCO slipped by one-tenth in December, lost one-half share in "Holiday," and regained it in January (5.2 – 4.7 – 5.2, 6+); WCCO had been at #9 the past three sweeps.
8)
San Diego – Powered by a +1.1 (5.2 – 6.3, 6+),
Entercom adult contemporary KIFM "Easy 98.1" advances from the runner-
up slot to #1. It displaces
Univision regional Mexican KLNV (5.3 – 5.2, -.1), which is now part of a three-way tie at #2. In January, KLNV posted a +1.6, enabling it to rocket to #1 from #11. Down (modestly) or flat the past three sweeps (5.1 – 4.9 – 4.6 – 4.6, 6+),
iHeartMedia CHR KHTS-FM wipes out the deficit with a +.6 to 5.2 as "Channel 93-3" (#4 in January) is part of that logjam at #2.
Meanwhile, format rival –
CBS Radio's KEGY "Energy 103.7" – declines by one-half share (3.7 – 3.2, 6+) and falls out of the top ten (#9 to #14). Following a gain of four-tenths, iHeartMedia's KLSD "Fox Sports Xtra 1360" regresses by more than twice that (1.2 – 1.6 – .7, -.9, #25, 6+). More than two months ago (1/4),
Midwest TV transitioned KFMB-FM "Jack" from hot AC to rock. Registering a one-half share gain in January and following it up with a +.4 in February (2.9 – 3.4 – 3.8, 6+), "100.7 KFM-BFM" is already in the top ten (#12 to #9); KFMB-FM was #16 in "Holiday. Meanwhile, in what could be a result of the KFMB-FM format switch, this marks the fourth straight down or flat trend for KIOZ "Rock 105.3" (4.3 – 4.2 – 4.0 – 3.5 – 3.5, 6+), which drops from #11 to #12.
9)
Tampa – Off in three successive sweeps (5.1 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.2, 6+),
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WBTP "The Beat"
registered a +.6 in January and tacks on an additional full-share in February to progress from a three-way tie at #5 to #2 (4.8 – 5.8, 6+). It is the strongest 6+performance for "The Beat" in approximately four years (6.4, March 2012). Having eroded by -2.8 in January,
Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV sputters by another
full-share (14.9 – 12.1 – 11.1, 6+) but "Lite Favorites" is #1 (6+) for the
41st successive sweep. Even though "The Beat" closes the gap to WDUV by two full-shares since January, "Lite Favorites" still has nearly a two to one advantage. 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 Media Group rhythmic CHR WLLD "Wild 94.1 The Bay's Party Station" is now
down for the
fourth straight time (5.8 – 5.5 – 5.0 – 4.7 – 4.2, 6+) for a cumulative
-1.6, moving from eighth to ninth. Although flat at 5.6 (6+), co-owned classic hits-oldies WRBQ falls to third; "Q-105" had been second the previous six sweeps. Owing to a +.2 (6+), the drought concludes for noncommercial contemporary Christian WBVM, which did not have an increase in the last 13 sweeps (1.0 – .9 – .7- .7 – .6 – .5 – .5 – .4 – .4 – .4 – .4, – .4 -.4 – .3, 6+), but "Spirit 90.5 Tampa Bay's Hit Christian Music" actually slips from #20 to #22.
10)
Denver – Rebounding from three straight downward trends (6.3 – 6.2 – 5.5 – 4.9, 6+)
Entercom classic rocker KQMT "The
Mountain" trots out a +1.5 to 6.4 (6+) to vault from fourth to first. Gone from the top spot after two sweeps (and taking over at #2) is
Bonneville adult contemporary KOSI "Continuous Lite Rock" (6.4 – 5.8, -.6, 6+). January's -5.3 halted three successive gains for "Continuous
Lite Rock" that produced a cumulative +8.4 (3.3 – 4.2 – 6.1 – 11.7, 6+). Without an increase in the previous three monthlies (4.5 – 4.5 – 4.3 – 3.9, 6+),
KSE Ventures classic hits-oldies KXKL "Kool 105" dialed up a +.6 in January and adds seven-tenths in February (4.5 – 5.2, 6+) catapulting from #11 to #3. Owing to January's -1.2, KXPK "La Tricolor 96.5" plummeted from #9 to #17; however, the
Entravision regional Mexican outlet bounces back with a one-half share increase (4.0 – 2.8 – 3.3, 6+) and climbs to #15. In the market's hot AC battle, Entercom's KALC "Alice" forfeits the nine-tenths it gained in January (3.9 – 4.8 – 3.9, 6+), while KSE Ventures' KIMN "Mix 100" – which added six-tenths in January – is +.3 (2.6 – 3.2 – 3.5, 6+). "Alice," down or flat the previous five times before January's +.9 (5.4 – 5.0 – 5.0 – 4.7 – 4.2 – 3.9, 6+), drops out of the top ten (#5 to #12) and "Mix" is now right behind at #13 (up from #16 in January). Having relinquished January's +.7 (4.9 – 5.6 – 4.9, 6+), public outlet KCFR slides from second to fourth. Part of a
four-way tie at #7 in January,
iHeartMedia's KBCO is in a conventional tie there – but "World Class Rock" is without an increase for the sixth successive sweep (6.1 – 4.9 – 4.8 – 4.4 – 4.1 – 3.6 – 3.6, 6+). Up by one-tenth to .4 (6+), Entercom classic hits-oldies KRWZ (#26 to #27) halts three straight declines (1.6 – 1.4 – 1.3 – .3, 6+).
11)
Baltimore – Dusting itself off after 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" doubles January's +.4 with a +.8 (3.2 – 4.0, 6+) and moves from #12 to #11. Notching increases of six-tenths each are talk WCBM (4.4 – 5.0, tenth to sixth and +.8 in January); public WYPR (2.1 – 2.7, unlisted in January, #14, 6+); and
Peter & John Radio Fellowship-owned religious WRBS-AM "Positive
Talk 1230″ (.2 – .8, #18, 6+). Pulling the plug on three straight downward trends (5.1 – 4.5 – 4.1 – 3.9, 6+),
CBS Radio's WJZ-FM registered a +1.4 in January, but "The Fan" coughs up one full-share (3.9 – 5.3 – 4.3, 6+) and slumps from sixth to tenth. In a similar vein,
Hearst Television's WIYY improved by one-half share in January to curtail three straight downward trends (5.2 – 5.1 – 4.6 – 4.4, 6+), but "98 Rock" forfeits all of it (4.4 – 4.9 – 4.4, 6+) to drop from seventh to ninth. A gain of four-tenths (to 3.1, 6+) enables
iHeartMedia adult hits WQSR "Jack-FM" (unchanged at #13) to end five straight sweeps without an increase that yielded a combined -1.4 (4.1 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 3.5 – 3.2 – 2.7, 6+). Following a massive +1.8, co-owned WPOC "Baltimore's Country Station" adds three-tenths (7.4 – 7.7, 6+) and repeats at #1. Trailing by three-tenths is CBS Radio adult contemporary WLIF "Today's 101.9," up two-tenths to 7.4 (6+), after January's massive -7.8.
12)
St. Louis – Seven consecutive downward trends (11.2 – 9.6 – 8.9 – 7.9 – 7.8 – 7.1 – 6.7 – 5.5, 6+) concluded in January when
KLOU posted a +.3. Now, the
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies outlet piles on an additional nine-tenths (5.8 – 6.7, 6+) to propel from fifth to second. Co-owned CHR KSLZ "Z-107.7" though follows January's +.7 with a loss of one-half share (3.9 – 4.6 – 4.1, 6+) and drops out of the top ten (#10 to #11). The market's two FM country facilities continue to stay on
similar paths. Specifically, after six straight negative trends for a combined -2.6 (5.6 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 4.0 – 3.1 – 3.0, 6+), KLOU sibling KSD-FM "The Bull" posted a +.5 in January and now tacks on six-tenths (3.5 – 4.1, 6+) to lunge from #14 to #11. Meanwhile, without an increase in five successive sweeps (5.8 – 5.5 – 4.9 – 4.9 – 4.4 – 4.1, 6+),
Hubbard Broadcasting's similarly formatted WIL-FM emerged with a +.4 in January and matches KSD-FM's February +.6 (4.5 – 5.1, 6+) to crack the top ten (#12 to #8). Also gaining six-tenths – and repeating at #1 – is
Emmis rocker KSHE, which has not had a decrease in the past seven sweeps (6.2 – 6.2 – 6.7 – 6.9 – 7.1 – 7.7 – 7.9 – 8.5, 6+). Alternative cluster-mate KPNT "The Point" duplicates January's +.5 (4.8 – 5.3 – 5.8, 6+) to advance from seventh to fourth. Whether or not it is related to the announcement that the
NFL's
Rams are returning to Los Angeles, it is another wild fluctuation for Hubbard Broadcasting's WXOS. Recent (6+) moves for "101 Sports" are
+.6 in September;
+1.4 in October;
+.8 in November;
-.5 in December;
-.7 in "Holiday";
+.8 in January; and now
-1.3 in February (2.8, #13 to #18, 6+). Somewhat along the same line, adult hits sibling WARH "The Arch" eroded by
-1.1 in "Holiday"; was
+.9 in January; and is
-.8 in February (4.9 – 3.8 – 4.7 – 3.9, 6+); "The Arch" departs the top ten (#9 to #14). Prior to January's -8.9 to 5.9 (6+), KEZK 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; however, the CBS Radio adult contemporary facility drops six-tenths to 5.3 as it tumbles from third to sixth.
