PPM Data – Part Three. March 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 March 2016 survey period covered February 25 – March 23.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from these 12-
PPM markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Portland – Based on stats from Portland's "Holiday" 2015 report,
iHeartMedia adult contemporary KKCW "K-103"
flaunted one of the greatest leads a #1 station could have over the runner-up,
16.1 shares: 21.4 versus 5.3 for KOPB, 6+. Suddenly though, "The Rose City" is the site for an actual race for the top as "K-103" has its third straight downward trend (21.4 – 9.5 – 8.8, 6+) while
Oregon Public Broadcasting's KOPB is up-trending for the third successive sweep (5.3 – 6.7 – 7.4 – 8.0, 6+). That means the 16.1-share lead is down to eight-tenths. Nonetheless, "K-103" is #1 for the
21st time in the last
23 ratings periods. In advance of the January sweep, KOPB had been down or flat the previous four monthlies (6.7 – 6.4 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 5.3, 6+). This is KOPB's strongest 6+-performance in exactly two years (8.0, March 2014, 6+). Over and above logging a whopping +1.2 to apply the brakes to four consecutive monthlies without an increase that produced a combined -2.3 (5.6 – 4.8 – 3.4 – 3.4 – 3.3, 6+),
Alpha Media's KUPL "The Bull" catapults from #13 all the way to #6 (3.3 – 4.5, 6+). Meanwhile, format rival –
Entercom's KWJJ "The Wolf" – falters by one-half share to 5.5 (6+), but remains at #3 for the third straight sweep. In February, "The Wolf" relinquished eight-tenths of the +1.7 it registered the previous month. 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. While "The Bull" improves by +1.2, talk sibling KXL-FM sputters by nine-tenths to 3.7 – its lowest 6+-share since 3.5 in March
2015 – and it falls out of the top ten (#8 to #12, 6+). Co-owned KBFF "Live 95-5" is off by six-tenths (4.7 – 4.1, 6+), segueing from sixth to ninth. The
+1.7 iHeartMedia's KLTH "The Eagle – Classic Hits" registered in January now vanishes with a
-1.2 in February and a
-.6 in March (5.3 – 7.0 – 5.8 – 5.2, 6+); "The Eagle" drops from fourth to fifth. Registering an increase the past three monthlies for a combined +1.4 since December (3.0 – 3.6 – 3.8 – 4.4, 6+), Entercom classic rock KGON drops two-tenths to 4.2, yet actually climbs from ninth to eighth; 4.4 is its highest 6+-share since last June (4.7). Notching a .6 (6+) in January, the jazz stream of
Mount Hood Community College-owned KMHD disappeared in February but returns in March with a .5 (#26).
2)
Charlotte – Off by a combined -2.7 November-December-"Holiday,"
Beasley Media Group-owned WSOC recaptured all
but two-tenths in January only to drop eight-tenths in February. "Country's Greatest Hits" has yet another wild shift, a -.9 (8.8 – 7.5 – 6.1 – 8.6 – 7.8 – 6.9, 6+), yet is #1 for the third straight time. This is the fourth successive sweep that cross-town challenger –
iHeartMedia's WKKT – is in
third-place. By remaining flat (at 5.6, 6+) though, "The Kat" curtails six consecutive negative trends that yielded a cumulative
-4.2 (9.8 – 9.6 – 8.8 – 8.5 – 5.9 – 5.7 – 5.6, 6+). Regaining the one-half share it lost in February (and one-tenth more), adult hits cluster-mate WLKO "The Lake" (4.4 – 3.9 – 4.5, 6+) returns to #8 (from #10). 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. Mainstream CHR sibling WHQC "Channel 96-1" declines by one-half share (4.3 – 3.8, 6+) and departs the top ten (#8 to #11). Also in that cluster, after being up or flat the past three sweeps for a combined +1.2 (2.5 – 2.5 – 3.0 – 3.7, 6+), alternative WEND "The End" falters by four-tenths to 3.3 (6+), sliding from #12 to #13; February's 3.7 is the highest 6+-share for "The End" since last July's 3.8. Steady at #6,
Radio One urban-rhythmic oldies WOSF "Old School 105.3" improves by three-tenths to 4.9 (6+), thus ending a consecutive trio of negative trends (5.3 – 5.3 – 5.1 – 4.6, 6+). Without an increase for the fourth straight sweep (5.5 – 5.4 – 5.1 – 4.6 – 4.2, 6+), Beasley Media Group urban contemporary WPEG "Power 98" stumbles from sixth to ninth.
3)
Pittsburgh – An oversimplification would be that
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies outlet WWSW repeats at #1, but
there's so much more to the story than that. For instance, "3WS" was
+5.8 in "Holiday" 2015, halting four straight decreases for a combined
-2.4 (10.8 – 10.1 – 9.3 – 8.9 – 8.4, 6+). In January, it regressed by
-6.3 (14.2 – 7.9, 6+); rebounded with a
+1.6 in February; and now tacks on another
+1.2 (9.5 – 10.7, 6+). The (6+) country share in "The Steel City" registers a +1.6 spike. Nine-tenths of that +1.6 comes from
CBS Radio's WDSY "Y-108," which extends its progressive streak to three (3.9 – 4.5 – 4.9 – 5.8, 6+) and climbs from eighth to sixth. This is the highest 6+-share for "Y-108" since September 2014 (6.0). Meanwhile, iHeartMedia's WPGB (+.7, steady at #10, 6+) is without a decrease for the fifth successive sweep (2.5 – 2.5 – 2.6 – 2.7 – 3.2 – 3.9, 6+) and registers its best 6+-stat since November 2013 (4.1). Faltering by nine-tenths each are
Steel City Media adult hits WRRK "Bob" (7.3 – 6.4, fourth to fifth, 6+) and CBS Radio hot AC WBZZ "Star 100.7" (5.3 – 4.4, sixth to eighth, 6+). The 6.4 (6+) for "Bob" is its weakest since "Holiday" 2013 (6.3). Most of KDKA-AM's robust January +2.2 vanishes as the CBS Radio talker was -.6 in February and now posts a -1.3 (6.6 – 8.8 – 8.2 – 6.9, 6+) to slide from third to fourth. KDKA-AM was -1.8 in the "Holiday" report.
4)
Sacramento – Inching up from sixth to fifth,
Capital Public Radio's KXJZ notches its fourth straight increase (3.0 – 3.3 – 3.8 –
4.1 – 4.8, 6+) and is +1.8 since December. Without an increase for the past four sweeps – including being locked on .9 (6+) in "Holiday" 2015, January,
and February – classical sibling KXPR adds one-tenth to 1.0 (6+) and checks in at #21. Up by one-half share,
Entercom-owned classic
rock KSEG "The Eagle" not only repeats at #1, it matches the 9.5 (6+) it registered in December. Four-tenths behind at #2 is
iHeartMedia news-talk hybrid KFBK, which has its third straight progressive trend and is up more than two full-shares since "Holiday" 2015 (7.0 – 7.3 – 8.7 – 9.1, 6+). Without a decrease four straight times (2.9 – 3.1 – 3.1 – 3.8 – 4.0, 6+),
Entravision rhythmic CHR KHHM "Hot 103.5" (#13 to #14) has since regressed by one-half share in January; six-tenths in February; and another one-tenth in March (3.5 – 2.9 – 2.8, 6+). Ever since "Holiday" 2015, cross-town competitor,
CBS Radio's KSFM, has been alternating between 3.5 and 3.2 (3.5 – 3.2 – 3.5 – 3.2, 6+) and is steady at #11. Flat or (modestly) up the past five sweeps (.8 – .9 – .9 – .9 – .9 – 1.2, 6+), "Hot 103.5" regional Mexican cluster-mate KRCX "La Tricolor 99.9" drops three-tenths and is back to .9 (#22). Model of consistently KQEI, .2 (6+) in nine of the last ten sweeps, improves to .5 (#24, 6+).
5)
San Antonio – Bragging rights for highest (6+) February – March gain in the 36
PPM-markets released thus far go to KROM
"Que Buena 92.9" for its
two-share improvement (4.7 – 6.7, 6+). Not only does the
Univision regional Mexican station rocket from sixth to second, it is the first time "Que Buena 92.9" crosses the six-share threshold since December 2012 when it reached 6.0 (6+). Sibling KXTN "Tejano & Proud" though is off by
one-half share (3.8 – 3.3, 6+) to slip from #12 to #13. Duplicating February's 9.0 (6+),
Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM is again #1. 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 "San Antonio's Greatest Hits" has reached the nine-share level (6+) in six years (9.2, March 2010). Dialing up a +.8 (3.9 – 4.7, 6+), classic rock sibling KTKX "The Eagle 106.7" cracks the top ten (#11 to #7). With a +.7 to 5.4 (6+), co-owned KISS "Rocks San Antonio" puts an end to three straight negative trends which yielded a -1.5 (6.2 – 5.8 – 5.4 – 4.7, 6+); KISS climbs from sixth to fourth. For the fourth straight sweep,
Alpha Media Group adult hits KJXK notches an increase (2.6 – 2.7 – 3.1 – 3.8 – 4.1, +.7, 6+) as "Jack-FM" moves from #12 to #11 and has its best 6+-stat since May 2014 (also 4.1). Latest results in the market's country tussle find Cox Media Group's KCYY "Y-00" (frozen on 7.0 in January and February) off by a whopping -1.3 to 5.7 (second to third, 6+), while
iHeartMedia's KAJA "KJ-97" is right behind trending 5.2 – 5.4 (third to fourth, 6+). The March +.2 by "KJ-97" curtails five successive sweeps without an increase (7.4 – 6.1 – 5.9 – 5.5 – 5.5 – 5.2, 6+) that produced a -2.2. While the two stations are typically within close 6+-share/rank proximity, "Y-100" has won 11 of the last 12 head-to-head battles. A loss of seven-tenths forces iHeartMedia CHR KXXM "Mix 96.1" out of the top ten (4.4 – 3.7, #8 to #12, 6+). Adult contemporary sibling KQXT "Q-101.9" is off by six-tenths (4.8 – 4.2, 6+) to spiral from fifth to ninth, while its supplemental HD3 channel sputters by one full-share (3.2 – 2.2, #14 to #15, 6+).
6)
Cincinnati – The third straight increase for WGRR is a +.8 (6.8 – 8.5 – 8.8 – 9.6, 6+) and the
Cumulus Media classic hits-
oldies outlet is +2.8 since "Holiday" 2015. The last time "103.5 WGRR" was in nine-share territory was nearly three years ago (9.2, 6+, April 2013). It trails market pacesetter –
iHeartMedia heritage talker WLW (10.4 – 10.1, -.3, 6+) – by just one-half share. After registering four straight
increases (10.1 – 10.2 – 10.7 – 11.3 – 11.7, 6+), WLW was -1.3 in February but "The Big One" is in double-
digits (6+) for the
26th successive sweep. Two streaks continue for
Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC WKRQ: "Q-102" holds the #4 spot for the seventh straight time and posts a positive trend for the third successive sweep (6.2 – 7.0 – 7.5 – 7.8, 6+). Until a +.8 in January, "Q-102" was without a gain in the previous four sweeps (7.2 – 6.8 – 6.8 – 6.7 – 6.2, 6+). Similarly, four consecutive negative trends by cluster-mate WUBE "B-105" for a combined -3.6 (9.5 – 9.3 – 8.5 – 7.3 – 5.9, 6+) concluded in January when the country outlet posted an increase of two-tenths. WUBE multiplied that gain by
nine in February and tacks on two-tenths in March (6.1 – 7.9 – 8.1, 6+) as "B-105" remains at #3. Unchanged at #5, Cumulus Media adult contemporary WRRM "Warm 98" has its third successive decline (11.9 – 7.2 – 6.3 – 6.1, 6+), producing a -5.8 and roughly 49% loss of its 6+-share. Meanwhile, classic rock cluster-mate WOFX "The Fox" (steady at #10) is without a gain for the fifth straight time (6.0 – 5.7 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 3.8 – 3.8, 6+) for a -2.2 in that stretch. Flat at #8, iHeartMedia rocker WEBN has its fourth consecutive down or flat sweep (4.9 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.1 – 4.1, 6+).
7)
Cleveland – Stymied at
6.6 (
6+) in January and February,
CBS Radio-owned WNCX "98.5 Cleveland's Classic Rock" rolls
out – appropriately enough – a
+.6 (to 7.2, 6+) and advances from a tie at #4 to a deadlock at #3. This is the strongest 6+-performance for "Cleveland's Classic Rock" since July 2014 (also 7.2). Following back-to-back January and February gains totaling a combined
+1.9 (6.8 –
8.1 – 8.7, 6+),
Radio One urban AC WZAK forfeits the bulk of it (7.2,
-1.5, 6+) as it slips from second to third. January's +1.3 halted four straight sweeps without an increase (8.4 – 7.9 – 7.6 – 7.6 – 6.8, 6+). Steady at #8, co-owned urban contemporary WENZ also had four straight down or flat trends (5.4 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 4.8 – 4.3, 6+); however, "Z-107.9" turns it around with a trio of progressive sweeps (4.3 – 4.7 – 5.3 – 5.8, 6+) and is four-tenths ahead of where it was when these streaks began in September. Unchanged at #10,
iHeartMedia CHR WAKS "96.5 Kiss FM" hasn't had a decrease in the last six sweeps yet is only up a total of four-tenths (4.5 – 4.5 – 4.5 – 4.6 – 4.6 – 4.9 – 4.9, 6+). While it doesn't make it three straight gains of six-tenths, country cluster-mate WGAR adds two-tenths to January's +.6 and February's +.6 (5.1 – 5.7 – 6.3 – 6.5, 6+), remaining anchored at #6. Up two-tenths to 6.8 (6+), co-owned WHLK "106.5 The Lake" halts three straight sweeps without an increase (7.4 – 7.4 – 7.3 – 6.6, 6+), yet actually backslides from fourth to fifth. This marks the third consecutive slip for classic hits-oldies sibling WMJI (12.3 – 11.5 – 10.6 – 10.3, 6+), but "Cleveland's Greatest Hits" is #1 – just as it was in January and February. In fact, WMJI occupied the top spot for eight straight months before giving way in "Holiday" 2015. The -.3 in March is very tame, as 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;
-.9; and now
-.3. The 12.3 share (6+) it recorded in "Holiday" 2015 is its best ever under
PPM methodology. Co-owned talker WTAM is at 5.6 (6+) for the third straight time and remains in seventh-place.
8)
Salt Lake City – A change at the top finds KZHT (+1.6 in February) gaining four-tenths to progress from second to first. It
is the third straight progressive trend for the
iHeartMedia CHR (4.7 – 5.1 – 6.7 – 7.1, 6+) and best 6+-performance for "Salt Lake's #1 Hit Music Station" since last August (7.5). Displaced at #1 is
Bonneville talk outlet KSL (6.9 – 6.5, -.4, 6+), which drops to a second-place tie with
Capital Broadcasting hot AC KBZN "Now 97.7" (6.7 – 6.5,
-.2, 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+). Rebounding from February's -.7,
Cumulus Media country KUBL "K-Bull 93" posts a one-half share increase (4.3 – 3.6 – 4.1, 6+) to climb from tenth to eighth. It is in a tie there with similarly formatted independent KSOP "Utah's #1 Country Z-104," which is off by six-tenths and falls from seventh in February; 4.1 is the lowest 6+-share for "Z-104" since 3.9 in "Holiday" 2014. Right behind the two country outlets and improving by one-half share (3.3 – 3.8, 6+) is iHeartMedia hot AC KJMY "My 99.5," which enters the top ten (#13 to #10). Off by seven-tenths and one-half share, respectively, are
Broadway Media siblings KUDD "Mix 105.1 – All The Hits" (3.9 – 3.2, #9 to #12, 6+) and adult hits KYMV "Rewind 100.7" (2.7 – 2.2, #14 to #17, 6+).
9)
Las Vegas – While not nearly as pronounced as the situation in Portland (see above),
iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE
"Sunny 106.5" enjoyed a commanding
10.7-share "Holiday" 2015 advantage over
Beasley Media Group's KKLZ (then in third-place). In tandem with the third straight decline by "Sunny" (15.7 – 7.8 – 7.2 – 7.1, 6+) and three successive gains by KKLZ (5.0 – 6.0 – 6.4 – 6.6, 6+), the lead shrinks to one-half share. Even so, "Sunny 106.5" is #1 for the
19th straight time. Having pulled the plug on five straight negative trends (5.4 – 5.0 – 4.8 – 4.5 – 4.2 – 3.8, 6+) with a one-half share gain in February, Beasley Media Group urban-rhythmic oldies outlet KOAS "Old School 105.7" tacks on an additional seven-tenths to zoom from seventh to fourth (4.3 – 5.0, 6+). Posting gains of six-tenths each but remaining unchanged at #11 and #10, respectively, are hot AC cluster-mate KVGS "Star 107.9" (2.9 – 3.5, 6+) and iHeartMedia
's KWNR "New Country – The Bull" (3.8, 6+). "The Bull" had been down or flat the past four sweeps (4.4 – 3.7 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.2, 6+); 3.5 is the highest 6+-share for "Star" since it transitioned from adult hits to hot AC in January 2015. Gaining three-tenths and finishing third for the third straight monthly is KVGS' format rival,
CBS Radio-owned KMXB "Mix 94.1" (5.5 – 5.8, 6+). Tied with "Star" at #11 in February,
Faith Communications contemporary Christian KSOS "Radio for Life" is up one-half share (2.9 – 3.4, 6+), yet backslides to #12. Stuck on 5.2 (6+) in January and February, CBS Radio's KLUC "Las Vegas' #1 Hit Music Station" sputters by six-tenths to 4.6 and slides from fourth to sixth. Meanwhile, up or flat for the fifth successive time (1.5 – 1.6 – 1.6 – 1.7 – 2.3 – 2.3, 6+), iHeartMedia CHR KPLV "93.1 The Party" (#15 to #16) has its best 6+-stat since last July (2.8).
10)
Kansas City – Registering gains of six-tenths each are
Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies and adult hits siblings KCMO
"Kansas City's Greatest Hits" (5.4 – 6.0, fourth to second, 6+) and KCJK "Jack FM" (3.2 – 3.8, #14 to #12, 6+). As far as "Jack" is concerned, 3.8 is its strongest since the 3.9 it recorded in August 2010. Prior to February, KZPT was in the 5.2 – 5.9 range (6+) the previous
seven sweeps but "99.7 The Point" exploded with a +1.2 to progress from third to first. Albeit that it is down three-tenths in March (6.8 – 6.5, 6+), the
Entercom hot AC repeats at #1. With a loss of four-tenths to 4.2 (6+), cluster-mate KQRC though has its consecutive string of up or flat trends stopped at three (3.8 – 3.9 – 4.0 – 4.6, 6+) and "Kansas City's Rock Station" dips from seventh to ninth. There isn't much activity among the market's three country FM facilities.
Steel City Media's "Country 94.1" is unchanged in both 6+-share (4.4) and rank (#8); co-owned KBEQ "Q-104 #1 for New Country" (4.1, -.3, 6+) drops from eighth to tenth; and Entercom's WDAF "106.5 The Wolf" (3.3, +.1, 6+) slides from #14 to #16. "Q-104" had been up or flat the past four sweeps (3.3 – 3.8 – 4.1 – 4.4 – 4.4, 6+), while "The Wolf" had not had an increase in the last four ratings periods (4.4 – 4.3 – 3.7 – 3.6 – 3.2, 6+). Regressing by one-half share each are Cumulus Media's KCHZ "The Vibe – All the Hits" (4.1 – 3.6, #11 to #15, 6+); Entercom talker KMBZ-AM (3.0 – 2.5, #16 to #18, 6+); and
Carter Broadcasting's KPRT "Gospel 1590" (1.1 – .6, #23). "The Vibe" was +1.0 in February.
11)
Orlando – Dusting itself off from February's
-1.2,
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMGF gains all of it back (and
one-tenth more) with a hefty
+1.3 (8.2 – 7.0 – 8.3, 6+) as "Magic 107.7" inches up from third to second. Recent (wild 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;
-1.2 in February; and now
+1.3 in March.
It is two full-shares behind co-owned Spanish tropical WRUM "Rumba" (flat at 10.3, 6+), which is #1 for the third straight sweep. Breaking out of a fourth-place tie and climbing to third is
CBS Radio hot AC WOMX "Mix 105.1," which registers its third straight gain for an overall +2.1 (5.4 – 6.4 – 6.8 – 7.5, 6+). This is the most potent 6+-share for "Mix" since its 8.6 in May 2013. Faltering by -1.2 and -.9, respectively, are
Cox Media Group urban AC and rhythmic CHR cluster-mates WCFB "Star 94.5" (6.2 – 5.0, seventh to eighth, 6+) and WPYO "Power 95.3" (4.8 – 3.9, #9 to #12, 6+). "Power" was +.6 in February; 4.8 was its best 6+showing since a 5.2 in February
2015. Unlisted for the third consecutive sweep is contemporary Christian WPOZ "Z-88.3 Safe for the Little Ears," which finished third in "Holiday" 2015.
12)
Columbus – Improving by six-tenths and one-half share, respectively are
Saga Communications hot AC and adult
contemporary siblings WVMX "Mix 107.9" (3.0 – 3.6, unchanged at #10, 6+) and WSNY "Sunny 95" (6.8 – 7.3, fourth to third, 6+). The 3.6 (6+) by "Mix" is its best since returning as a
Nielsen Audio
subscriber 18 sweeps ago in December 2014. Notwithstanding that it is flat at 11.1 (following a -1.1 in February),
iHeartMedia CHR WNCI holds down the top spot for the third straight month. Plummeting by eight-tenths each are co-owned talker WTVN (7.3 – 6.5, third to fourth, 6+) and
One Connection Media Group contemporary Christian WCVO "The River – Uplifting & Encouraging" (4.4 – 3.6, fifth to tenth, 6+). "The River" improved by one-half share in February to 4.4, its strongest 6+-performance since last May (4.7). Back in print after a two-month absence are Saga Communications classic rocker WLVQ "Q-96" (4.7 – 4.3, -.4, #6, 6+) and
Ohio State University-owned WOSU-FM (3.5 – 3.8, +.3, #8, 6+). Frozen on .5 (6+) the past three sweeps,
Radio One gospel WJYD (#14 to #17) nudges up one-tenth to .6; "Joy 107.1" was without a gain the previous four ratings periods (1.2 – .6 – .5 – .5 – .5, 6+).
