PPM Data – Round Two. March 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 March 2016 survey period covered February 25 – March 23.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all of these
PPM-markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Washington, DC – Two urban AC outlets in the nation's capital account for a combined
+2.1, while a pair of spoken-word
stations there are off by
-2.1. On the plus side,
Howard University's WHUR racks up a +1.3 (4.8 – 6.1, 6+) to march from fifth to third. It is the strongest 6+-performance for the urban AC since last August (6.4). Without an increase in the last five ratings periods (4.7 – 4.7 – 4.3 – 4.1 – 4.1
– 3.9, 6+), similarly programmed WMMJ adds eight-tenths (to 4.7, 6+), as
Radio One-owned "Majic 102.3" climbs from eighth to sixth. On the other hand though,
American University's WAMU "The Mind is our Medium" is off by -1.2 (9.2 – 8.0, 6+) but is #2 for the third straight time. Despite a -.9 (10.1 – 9.2, 6+),
Hubbard-owned all-news WTOP is the market's pacesetter for the third successive sweep. The 10.1 it recorded in February was the station's best 6+share since September 2011 (also 10.1). Before dropping from first to second in the "Holiday" 2015 sweep, WTOP occupied the top spot the previous
12 successive ratings periods. Gaining one-half share each are WGTS and
Red Zebra Broadcasting's WTEM "
ESPN 980″ (1.4 – 1.9, #20 to #19, 6+). It is WGTS' fourth consecutive gain for a combined +1.0 (2.9 – 3.1 – 3.3 – 3.4 – 3.9, 6+) and it moves the
Columbia Union College contemporary Christian into the top ten (#11 to #9); "ESPN 980" is now tied with
CBS Radio's WJFK-FM "The Fan" (2.0 – 1.9, -.1, steady at #19).
2)
Boston – Flat at 7.2 in February,
Greater Media-owned WROR "Boston's Classic Hits" improves by one-half share to 7.7
(6+) and is on top for the third successive monthly. Sibling WKLB also gains one-half share to climb from tenth to eighth; it is the third straight increase for "Country 102.5" (3.3 – 3.7 – 4.0 – 4.5, 6+) yielding
a cumulative +1.2. In 3.3 – 3.7 territory the past 11 sweeps, rhythmic hot AC cluster-mate WBQT posts a +.3 to 4.0, its strongest 6+-share since last April (also 4.0); "Hot 96.9" moves from #13 to #11. After advancing by one-half share in February,
CBS Radio hot AC WBMX "Mix 104.1" coughs up eight-tenths (3.8 – 4.3 – 3.5, 6+) and departs the top ten (#9 to #13). Before registering back-to-back gains of +1.1 and +.5 (in January and February), "Mix" had been without an increase the previous four sweeps (4.2 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.5 – 2.7, 6+). Inching up from sixth to fifth,
Boston University's WBUR notches its third straight increase (4.1 – 4.4 – 4.7 – 5.1, 6+); meanwhile, this is the fifth consecutive sweep without a decrease for public WGBH (2.2 – 2.5 – 2.9 – 3.1 – 3.8 – 3.8, #11 to #12, 6+). The two Beantown FM sports outlets are now tied in sixth-place, as
Entercom's WEEI-FM, the flagship of the
Boston Red Sox, regresses by two-tenths to 4.7 (down from #5 in February), while CBS Radio's WBZ-FM "The Sports Hub" is unchanged in both 6+-share (4.7) and rank (#6). WEEI-FM was off by one full-share in February (6+) and "The Sports Hub" evens off after a monumental -2.1 (6+). Owing to a -.2 in March, the number of successive ratings periods without an increase for Entercom rocker WAAF extends to
eight (3.3 – 2.9 – 2.8 – 2.6 – 2.4 – 2.4 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 2.1, 6+); WAAF is -1.2 in that stretch and has fallen from #12 (August 2015) to #17 (March).
3)
Detroit – Particularly if the sports format is excluded from the equation, spoken-word
AM stations holding the top two rankers
in a
PPM-market is a rarity these days. It happens with Detroit's March numbers though as WJR hangs out a +.9 to 6.7 (6+) to leap from a fourth-place tie to first. Not only is 6.7 the
best-ever 6+-stat in
WJR's PPM-history, it marks the first time that the
Cumulus Media talker even crosses the six-share threshold; WJR had notched a 5.8 (6+) in three of the last five ratings periods. Dislodged from the penthouse after back-to-back sweeps there and segueing to #2 is
CBS Radio all-news WWJ, which sputters by -1.1 (7.6 – 6.5, 6+). Enjoying its fourth successive positive trend for a combined +1.2 (3.4 – 3.7 – 3.9 – 4.0 – 4.6, 6+),
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WJLB "FM 98" enters the top ten (#12 to #10); it is the most potent 6+-share for "FM 98" since June's 4.8. Advancing from seventh to sixth, CHR sibling WKQI "Channel 95-5" registers its fourth successive up-trend (3.9 – 4.0 – 4.8 – 5.3 – 5.4, 6+). Ever since it trended 4.5 – 8.0 – 14.6 (6+), adult contemporary cluster-mate WNIC is 5.7 – 5.2- 4.8 (6+); it is steady at #8. While its net gain is just six-tenths, co-owned classic rock WDTW "106.7 The D" (unchanged at #15) has its fourth straight trend without a decrease (2.6 – 3.1 – 3.2 – 3.2 – 3.2, 6+). Up a cumulative eight-tenths as a result of a successive trio of positive monthlies (1.9 – 2.3 – 2.4 – 2.7, 6+), Cumulus Media's WDRQ "Detroit's Hottest Country Hits" is steady at #17. Following 13 successive showings in the 6.0 – 6.8 range – including a 6.7 (6+) in September, October,
and November –
Greater Media-owned WCSX "Detroit's Classic Rock" declines by nine-tenths to 5.7 to drift from second to fifth.
4)
Miami – Locked on 4.5 (6+) in January and February,
Cox Media Group urban contemporary WEDR "99 Jamz" busts out a
gain of seven-tenths to 5.2 to inch up from sixth to fifth. Improving by one-half share each are
Spanish Broadcasting System Spanish tropical WXDJ "El Zol 106.7" (4.1 – 4.6, eighth to seventh, 6+);
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WMIB "103.5 The Beat" (3.1 – 3.6, #13 to #10, 6+); and
Entercom alternative WSFS "104.3 The
Shark" (1.9, #21, 6+). "The Shark" was stuck on 1.4 (6+) in "Holiday" 2015, January,
and February. Up a combined full-share following a trio of successive positive trends including a +.8 in February (3.0 – 3.1 – 3.2 – 4.0, 6+), iHeartMedia Spanish contemporary WMGE "Mega 94.9" forfeits six-tenths to 3.4 and falls out of the top ten (#9 to #12, 6+). Up two-tenths to 8.1 (6+),
Entercom adult contemporary WLYF "Lite FM" repeats at #1. After three straight increases (5.1 – 5.5 – 5.8 – 6.6 6+), Cox Media Group adult contemporary WFEZ "Easy 93.1" (unchanged at #3) is off three-tenths to 6.3 (6+). Prior to February, "Easy" had been #4 the previous five sweeps. Unlisted in January,
WAY Media contemporary Christian WAYF reappeared in February with a +.9 but returns one-half share in March (.6 – 1.5 – 1.0, 6+) as it falls from #21 to #24. While its string of four straight up or flat trends (1.9 – 1.9 – 2.0 – 2.4 – 2.4, 6+) is curtailed by a -.1 to 2.3 (6+), iHeartMedia talker WIOD remains at #17.
5)
Seattle – Formerly using "Seattle's #1 Hit Music Station" as its handle,
iHeartMedia's KBKS now touts "More Music, More
Variety" as its slogan. The CHR-turned-hot AC gains six-tenths (2.8 – 3.4, 6+) to leap from #18 to #12. Despite being off in consecutive sweeps for a combined -.8 (7.7 – 7.6 – 6.9, 6+),
Hubbard Broadcasting CHR KQMV "MOViN 92.5 – All The Hits" remains 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. Also declining by seven-tenths (February – March, 6+) is
CBS Radio classic rocker KZOK (5.4 – 4.7), which slips from third to fifth. Applying the brakes to five successive sweeps in which it was either down or flat accounting for a combined -1.7 (6.8 – 6.8 – 6.1 – 5.6 – 5.6 – 5.1, 6+),
Bonneville talker KIRO-FM is +.2 to 5.3 (6+), advancing from fifth to third. After trending 4.4 – 4.4 – 4.8 – 6.5 – 13.4 (6+), the latest line-scores for Hubbard Broadcasting adult contemporary KRWM "Warm" are 5.5 – 5.4 – 5.0 (6+); "Warm" moves from a third-place tie in February to fourth.
6)
Phoenix – This time last month, the lead
iHeartMedia adult contemporary KESZ held over runner-up
CBS Radio classic hits-
oldies KOOL "The Valley's Greatest Hits" was reduced to nine-tenths, as KOOL had racked up a combined +1.7 in January and February, while KESZ faltered by eight-tenths in February. It is a different story now as KESZ rebounds with a +.6 (7.9 – 7.1 – 7.7,
6+) and is #1 for the
18th successive ratings period. Meanwhile, "The Valley's Greatest Hits" suffers a -1.2 (5.1 – 6.2 – 5.0, 6+), falling from second to fifth – 2.7 shares behind KESZ. Gaining one-half share each are
The Yucaipa Companies' rhythmic CHR KKFR "Power" (3.3 – 3.8, 6+) and
CBS Radio's KMLE "
Country@107.9" (3.1 – 3.6, #13 in February, 6+). "Power" cracks the top ten (#12 to #9), while KMLE catches its format rival – iHeartMedia's KNIX "#1 For New Country" (flat at 3.6) – at #11. Having improved by seven-tenths in February, iHeartMedia CHR KZZP "Kiss-FM" returns all of it (4.4 – 5.1 – 4.4, 6+), but remains at #7; "Kiss" was +.8 in January. Stymied at 2.5 (6+) in January and February, public KJZZ regresses by six-tenths to 1.9 as it downshifts from #16 to #20. Although unchanged at #9, iHeartMedia talker KFYI has not registered an increase in eight consecutive ratings periods (5.7 – 5.4 – 5.1 – 4.8 – 4.7 – 4.0 – 4.0 – 4.0 – 3.8, 6+) and is a cumulative -1.9 in that period. Likewise, The Yucaipa Companies' hot AC KMVA "Hot 97.5" is down or flat for the sixth successive sweep for a combined -1.2 (3.1 – 2.9 – 2.9 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 2.0 – 1.9, 6+), but remains at #20.
7)
Minneapolis – Wild fluctuations are nothing new for
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KQQL. Rewinding to last July,
"Kool 108" has been
+.9;
-1.0; flat;
-1.0;
+1.2;
+8.0;
-9.9; and
+.5 (8.4 – 9.3 – 8.3 – 8.3 – 7.3 – 8.5 – 16.5 – 6.6 – 7.1, 6+). The rollercoaster ride continues as "Kool" is
+.9 in March (8.0, 6+), breaking out of a second-place tie to take sole possession of the runner-up slot. It trails KSTP-FM (10.2 – 9.8, -.4, 6+) by 1.8 shares. Prior to March's -.4, "KS-95" amassed a gargantuan +3.4
in January and a +.5 in February, which guided the
Hubbard Broadcasting hot AC to 10.2, the best-ever 6+share in its
PPM-history. January's +3.4 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+). Meanwhile, while steady at #10, its hot AC rival – iHeartMedia's KTCZ "Cities 97" – enjoys its third straight increase (3.9 – 4.8 – 4.9 – 5.0, 6+). Climbing from #13 to #12, public KNOW boasts its sixth successive sweep without a decrease (3.5 – 3.6 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 4.0 – 4.4 – 4.6, 6+). Following back-to-back gains (6.0 – 6.9 – 7.1, 6+), iHeartMedia CHR KDWB "The Twin Cities' #1 Hit Music Station" relinquishes six-tenths to 6.5 (6+), falling from second to fourth. This is the fourth straight down or flat trend (1.3 – 1.3 – 1.1 – 1.0 -.9, 6+) for
Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WGVX "105 The Vibe," which is flat at #20.
8)
San Diego – Notwithstanding that the net gain is one-half share, rhythmic CHR XHTZ "Z-90.3 Today's Hit Music"
(unchanged at #6) is up or flat for the fourth consecutive ratings period (3.9 – 3.9 – 4.0 – 4.4 – 4.4, 6+). The third successive increase by urban-rhythmic oldies sibling XHRM is a whopping
+1.1 (3.9 – 4.1 – 4.4 – 5.5, 6+) as "Magic 92.5 The Beat of San Diego" vaults from sixth to second; 5.5 is the station's strongest 6+-performance since July's
5.6. Ironically, a
+1.1 in February (5.2 – 6.3, 6+) advanced
Entercom adult contemporary KIFM "Easy 98.1" from the runner-up slot to #1. Off by one-tenth to 6.2 (6+), "Easy" nonetheless remains on top. Jumping into the top ten (#13 to #9)
iHeartMedia-owned KGB "San Diego's Classic Rock" registers its fourth consecutive gain (2.9 – 3.0 – 3.2 – 3.4 – 3.8, 6+). Conversely, this marks the fifth straight down or flat trend for co-owned KIOZ "Rock 105.3" (4.3 – 4.2 – 4.0 – 3.5 – 3.5 – 3.3, 6+), which slips from #12 to #14. Even though hot AC cluster-mate KMYI "Star 94.1" picks up two-tenths (5.2 – 5.4, 6+), it actually drops from a three-way tie at #2 to #3. The market's other hot AC –
CBS Radio's KYXY – improves by three-tenths (3.1 – 3.4, 6+) to progress from #15 to #13. Exiting the top ten (#9 to #11),
Univision Spanish adult hits KLQV "102.9 Mas Variedad" is without an increase for the fourth straight time (4.5 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.8 – 3.6, 6+), while independent classic hits-oldies XPRS-FM "Max 105.7" (#16 to #18) is down or flat for the fifth successive sweep (3.6 – 3.2 – 3.2 – 3.2 – 2.8 – 2.5, 6+).
9)
Tampa – Soaring from fifth to third,
Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WXGL "The Eagle" racks up a gain of six-tenths
to 5.7, its strongest 6+-showing since last August (6.1). In the process, it overtakes
Beasley Media Group's similarly formatted WRBQ "Q-105" (5.6 – 5.3, -.3, 6+), which slides from third to fourth. It is a battle of streaks for WBTP "The Beat," which was off in three successive sweeps (5.1 – 4.5 – 4.4 – 4.2, 6+)
only to rebound with a +.6 in January; an additional full-share in February; and another one-half share in March (4.8 – 5.8 – 6.3, 6+). It is the strongest 6+performance for "The Beat" in approximately four years (6.4, March 2012). The
iHeartMedia urban contemporary outlet remains in second-place behind Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV, which is streaky in reverse. After back-to-back gains (8.5 – 9.3 – 14.9, 6+), WDUV has now regressed 14.9 – 12.1 – 11.1 – 10.7 (6+). Even so, "Lite Favorites" is #1 (6+) for the
42nd successive sweep. Adult contemporary sibling WWRM "Magic 94.9" has another modest gain (4.8 – 4.9 – 5.2, 6+) and climbs from sixth to fifth. There isn't much movement regarding the market's two country FMs: Beasley Media Group's WQYK is up two-tenths to 5.1 yet actually slips from fourth to sixth, while iHeartMedia's WFUS "US-103.5" is flat at 4.6 and remains at #7. Mainstream CHR in Tampa Bay is off by six-tenths, with iHeartMedia's WFLZ "93-3 The Hit Music Channel" down two-tenths (4.6 – 4.4, seventh to eighth, 6+) and Cox Media Group-owned WPOI "Hot 101.5" declining by four-tenths (4.2 – 3.8, 6+), dropping out of the top ten (#9 to #12). 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
fifth straight time (5.8 – 5.5 – 5.0 – 4.7 – 4.2 – 3.9, 6+) for a cumulative
-1.9, moving from ninth to tenth.
10)
Denver – A wacky yoyo effect continues for
Colorado Public Radio's KCFR (fourth to second), which was
+.7 in
January,
-.7 in February, and is now
+.7 in March (4.9 – 5.6 – 4.9 – 5.6, 6+). Making a more conventional gain of seven-tenths is
Entercom rhythmic CHR KQKS "KS-107.5," which rockets from ninth to third and has its highest 6+-share (5.2) since October 2014 (also
5.2). Following three straight downward trends (6.3 – 6.2 – 5.5 – 4.9, 6+), classic rock cluster-mate KQMT "The Mountain" dialed up a +1.5 in February and adds another one-half share (6.4 – 6.9, 6+) to repeat at #1. The station KQMT displaced in the driver's seat in February –
Bonneville adult contemporary KOSI – follows three up trends (3.3 – 4.2 – 6.1 – 11.7, 6+) for a combined
+8.4 with three negative ones (11.7 – 6.4 – 5.8 – 5.0, 6+) which is yielding a cumulative
-6.7; "Continuous Lite Rock" slips from second to fifth. Without an increase for the seventh successive sweep and off by approximately 50% in that time period (6.1 – 4.9 – 4.8 – 4.4 – 4.1 – 3.6 – 3.6 – 3.0, 6+),
iHeartMedia's KBCO drops from seventh in February to ninth. This particular streak began in September when "World Class Rock" was #1 (6.1, 6+).
11)
Baltimore – Having posted a +1.8 in January,
iHeartMedia-owned WPOC added three-tenths in February but "Baltimore's
Country Station" falters by nine-tenths (7.4 – 7.7 – 6.8, 6+) and – after two months at #1 – drops to #3. Taking over in the lead is
CBS Radio adult contemporary WLIF "Today's 101.9," up two-tenths for the second straight sweep (7.2 – 7.4 – 7.6, 6+). The last time "Today's 101.9"
was at #1 was "Holiday" 2015 (15.0, 6+). Ups and downs continue at
Hearst Television's WIYY, which improved by one-half share in January to curtail three straight downward trends (5.2 – 5.1 – 4.6 – 4.4, 6+); forfeited all of it in February; but "98 Rock" roars back in March with a +.9 (4.4 – 4.9 – 4.4 – 5.3, 6+) to jump from ninth to a fifth-place tie. It is connected at #5 with iHeartMedia CHR WZFT "Z-104.3," which was locked on 4.7 in January and February before breaking out a +.6 in March; "Z-104.3" leaps from eighth to that fifth-place tie with "98 Rock." Dating back to October,
Peter & John Radio Fellowship-owned contemporary Christian WRBS-FM has been
+.8;
+.8;
-.9;
+.9; -.1; and now
-1.2 (4.1 – 4.9 – 5.7 – 4.8 – 5.7 – 5.6 – 4.4, 6+). After the dust settles, "95.1 Shine FM" (fifth to ninth) is actually three-tenths ahead of where it was in October. Unlisted in January, public WYPR notched a +.6 in February only to return all of it (2.1 – 2.7 – 2.1, 6+); however, it remains at #14. Following 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" has now cobbled together a trio of up trends (2.8 – 3.2 – 4.0 – 4.4, 6+) and ties "Shine FM" at #9; "The Bay" was #11 in February.
12)
St. Louis – Not only is KSHE up or flat for the
eighth successive ratings period (6.2 – 6.2 – 6.7 – 6.9 – 7.1 – 7.7 – 7.9 – 8.5 –
8.5, 6+), the
Emmis rocker is #1 for the third straight time. Improving by one-half share each are FM talk sibling KFTK (3.0 – 3.5, unchanged at #16, 6+) and
Radio One urban contemporary WHHL "Hot 104.1" (5.3 – 5.8, sixth to fifth, 6+). Tied at #5 with "Hot" is
CBS Radio talker KMOX, which is down seven-tenths and slips from #3 in
February. In addition to KMOX, Radio One urban-rhythmic oldies WFUN "Old School 95.5" also declines by seven-tenths and dips from ninth to tenth (4.9 – 4.2, 6+). Repeating in the runner-up slot,
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies KLOU posts its third straight positive trend (5.5 – 5.8 – 6.7 – 7.0, 6+), as do Emmis cluster-mates KPNT "The Point – Everything Alternative" (4.8 – 5.3 – 5.8 – 6.1, fourth to third, 6+) and CHR KNOU "Now 96.3" (3.1 – 3.3 – 3.6 – 3.7, flat at #15, 6+). The market's two FM country facilities continue to mirror each other. Specifically, following six straight downward trends for a combined -2.6 (5.6 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 4.1 – 4.0 – 3.1 – 3.0, 6+), iHeartMedia's KSD-FM "The Bull" posted a +.5 in January; was +.6 in February; but drops three tenths in March (3.5 – 4.1 – 3.8, 6+) to backslide from #11 to #13. 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 posted a +.4 in January; matched KSD-FM's February +.6; but is off two-tenths in March (4.5 – 5.1 – 4.9, 6+); WIL-FM remains at #8. Owing to a -.2 (to 3.8, 6+), the string of successive progressive trends for public KWMU (steady at #13) ends at five (2.5 – 2.6 – 3.2 – 3.3 – 3.9 – 4.0, 6+).
