PPM Data – Part Four. May 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 May 2016 survey period covered April 21 – May 18.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all of these 12-
PPM markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Austin – Stuck on 5.0 (6+) in January
and February,
iHeartMedia's KVET-FM then became locked on 4.6 (6+) in
March
and April. With a gain of six-tenths in May (5.2, 6+), "All-Time Country Favorites" jumps from a three-way logjam at #7 to #5. Tied with KVET-FM in April, similarly formatted cluster-mate KASE "Today's Country" improves by four-tenths to 5.0 (6+) and advances to #6. To make
it a clean sweep for the market's three FM country outlets,
Genuine Austin Radio's KOKE "Austin's Country Alternative" notches its third straight gain for a combined +1.1 (1.7 – 2.6 – 2.7 – 2.8, 6+) but remains at #15. Frozen on 3.8 (6+) in March and April, KLBJ-AM (#12 to #11) – like KVET-FM – also improves by six-tenths. The
Emmis talker reaches 4.4, its best 6+-stat since November 2014 (4.6). Having picked up four-tenths in April to curtail four straight down or flat trends that yielded a -1.7 (3.9 – 3.9 – 3.6 – 2.8 – 2.2, 6+),
Univision regional Mexican KLQB "Que Buena 104.3" adds another one-half share (2.2 – 2.6 – 3.1, 6+) to cruise from #16 to #13. Co-owned fellow regional Mexican KLJA "Mas Variedad 107.7" (3.1 – 2.3, 6+) though sputters by eight-tenths to spiral from #13 to #17. Off by a combined -1.3 as a result of three successive downward trends (9.4 – 9.1 – 8.6 – 8.1, 6+), Emmis adult hits KBPA "Bob" is nonetheless #1 for the fifth consecutive time; February's 9.4 was its strongest 6+-stat since August 2014 (also 9.4). After posting a +.7 in April to 6.5 – its best 6+-performance since last July's 6.6 – iHeartMedia CHR KHFI "96.7 Kiss FM" surrenders all of it plus three-tenths more (5.8 – 6.5 – 5.5,
-1.0, 6+) to slip back to third from second.
2)
Milwaukee – For the past 13 sweeps, WLUM has been in the 4.0 – 4.9 range (6+), but the
Milwaukee Radio Alliance 
alternative outlet busts out a +.9, elevating "102.1 Sounds Different" from eighth to fifth. Moreover, it is the station's fifth consecutive increase (4.0 – 4.1 – 4.2 – 4.5 – 4.7 – 5.6, 6+). Chalking up gains of one-half share each are
Saga Communications' urban AC WJMR "Jammin' 98.3 Today's R&B and Old School" (4.5 – 5.0, tenth to
eighth, 6+) and
Entercom CHR WXSS "103.7 Kiss-FM" (4.8, #11 to #10, 6+). Off six-tenths in March, "Jammin'" was +.7 in April. As far as "Kiss" is concerned, the increase applies the brakes to three straight downward trends which yielded a -1.3 (5.6 – 4.8 – 4.5 – 4.3, 6+). Despite a loss of six-tenths to 10.2 (6+),
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WRIT "95.7 Big FM – Milwaukee's Greatest Hits" occupies the market's top spot for the
13th straight sweep. Recent 6+-fluctuations for WRIT include
+1.7 (October);
-.7 (November); flat (December);
+5.6 ("Holiday");
-5.7 (January);
+1.3 (February); -.3 (March);
+1.1 (April); and now
-.6 (May). Prior to October's -1.7, 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. No sooner does co-owned WKKV "V-100.7 Jams" add eight-tenths than the urban contemporary property forfeits all of it plus one-tenth (4.8 – 5.6 – 4.7,
-.9, 6+) as it plummets from the top ten (#7 to #11); April's 5.6 was the best 6+-showing for "V-100.7" since last August (6.1). Down roughly 50% since January, public WHAD has its fourth straight decrease (2.1 – 1.9 – 1.8 – 1.3 – 1.0, 6+) and slumps from #17 to #20.
3)
Indianapolis – Down or flat the past six ratings periods for a cumulative loss of two full-shares (8.2 – 6.8 – 6.6 – 6.4 – 6.4 – 6.2 –
6.2, 6+),
Radio One-owned WTLC-FM breaks out of the funk with a +.6 to 6.8 (6+). "Indy's R&B Leader" jumps from fifth to the runner-up slot, where it is tied with
Entercom CHR WZPL (6.7 – 6.8, +.1, 6+), which was #4 in April. Boosting the market's (6+) country share by
+1.1 are
Emmis-owned WLHK "Country 97.1 Hank" (6.3,
+.6, sixth to fifth, 6+) and
Cumulus Media's WFMS "95.5 The Country Station" (5.0 – 5.5,
+.5, ninth to seventh, 6+). "Hank" was stymied on 5.7 (6+) in March and April. Following four successive gains for a cumulative +2.4 since the "Holiday" report (5.4 – 5.8 – 6.2 – 6.8 – 7.8, 6+), Cumulus Media's WJJK "Classic Hits 104.5" regresses by seven-tenths to 7.1 (6+) but stays at #1 for the third straight sweep. Prior to April, the last time WJJK reached the seven-share level (6+) was October 2014 (7.5). Dialing up a massive
+1.7 this time last month,
iHeartMedia-owned WOLT "Alt 103.3 Indy's Alternative" coughs up roughly half of it (5.3 – 7.0 – 6.2,
-.8, 6+) to skid from third to sixth. Not only was the 7.0 that "Alt 103.3" recorded in April the highest 6+-share in the station's
PPM-history, the next closest (happening three times) for WOLT (and previous calls WRZX) was 6.0. Before being off by two-tenths in March, "Alt 103.3" gained a combined +1.6 in four up or flat trends (3.9 – 4.6 – 4.6 – 4.6 – 5.5, 6+). Owing to a May loss of six-tenths (to 4.6, seventh to ninth, 6+), Radio One rhythmic CHR WHHH "Hot 96.3" has its string of positive trends – which netted a combined full-share – end at four (4.2 – 4.3 – 4.7 – 4.8 – 5.2, 6+). March's co-occupant (with WJJK) at #1, Emmis adult contemporary WYXB "Soft Rock B-105.7," is off by one-half share (7.1 – 6.6, 6+) to slip from second (in April) to fourth.
4)
Providence – Flaunting its most potent 6+-share since last June's 9.3,
iHeartMedia rocker WHJY "94 HJY" flashes a +1.2
(8.0 – 9.2, 6+) to inch up from third to second. Although unchanged at #8,
Entercom sports outlet (and
Red Sox Radio Network affiliate) WVEI trots out a gain of seven-tenths to 3.5, its strongest 6+-performance since February 2015's 4.1. Notwithstanding that it is
off in back-to-back sweeps by a combined -1.8 (12.1 – 10.6 – 10.3, 6+),
Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI "Lite Rock 105" is #1 for the seventh successive ratings period and has been in double-digits (6+) each time; 10.3 though is its lowest 6+-share since November's 8.7. After improving by one-half share in April for its best 6+-performance since October's 7.0, iHeartMedia-owned classic hits-oldies WWBB "B-101" surrenders nine-tenths (5.9 – 6.4 – 5.5, 6+) but continues at #5. Five of the 13 Providence stations listed with at least a .1 (6+) in the May 2016 report are talk outlets; Cumulus Media's WPRO-AM (5.4, +.3, seventh to sixth, 6+) accounts for 69% of the market's 7.8 (6+) total talk shares. Although 38% of the rated outlets are talk, they account for 13% of the market's total 6+-shares.
5)
Raleigh – April's tie at #1 is broken, but neither of April's penthouse residents repeats at the top spot. Instead, a potent +1.5
(6.4 – 7.9, 6+) by
Radio One's WFXC "Foxy" propels the urban AC from fourth to first. The last time "Foxy" crossed the seven-share level (6+) was November and October with a 7.1 each time. Ironically, April's co-leaders –
iHeartMedia CHR WDCG "G-105" and
Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL "Mix 101.5" remain tied, although each
decline by one-half share (7.7 – 7.2, 6+) and share the runner-up position. Locked on 6.4 in February and March, 6+, "G-105" caught WRAL in April with a +1.3. On top the past eight ratings periods, "Mix 101.5" posted a
+5.7 in the "
Holiday" report;
-7.2 in January;
+.6 in February;
+.6 in March;
-.6 in April; and now
-.5 in May. The fourth straight gain by
Radio Training Network contemporary Christian WRTP is by a lofty nine-tenths (.9 – 1.0 – 1.2 – 1.3 – 2.2, 6+) lifting "His Radio" from #18 to #16. Improving by six-tenths (to 4.3, 6+) is
Curtis Media Group adult hits WBBB, cracking the top ten (#13 to #9). A one-tenth gain in April halted nine straight down or flat trends for "Radio 96.1," which had a net loss of -3.5 and roughly 50% of its 6+-share (7.1 – 6.1 – 5.5 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 4.5 – 4.3 – 4.3 – 4.1 – 3.6, 6+). After back-to-back dips of seven-tenths each (7.3 – 6.6 – 5.9, 6+), co-owned WQDR picks up one-tenth to 6.0 – "Today's Best Country" remains at #6. Two public facilities,
University of North Carolina –
Chapel Hill's WUNC (7.3 – 6.2, third to fifth, 6+) and
Educational Information's WCPE (3.3, #10 to #14, 6+), erode by -1.1. Classical WCPE had been up or flat the past six monthlies doubling its 6+share since November (2.2 – 2.5 – 2.5 – 2.6 – 3.5 – 3.6 – 4.4, 6+). When WCPE registered a 4.4 in April, it was the first time the station reached the four-share level (6+) since October 2012 (4.0). After declining by one-half share in April, Capitol Broadcasting sports outlet WCMC "The Fan" further regresses by seven-tenths tenth and falls out of the top ten (#10 to #12). The five most recent fluctuations for "The Fan" are
+1.1 ("Holiday" 2015 – January 2016);
-1.0 (January – February);
+1.1 (February – March);
-.5 (March – April) and now
-.7 (April – May). While steady at #8, this is the third straight downward trend for iHeartMedia FM talker WTKK for a cumulative -1.2 (5.8 – 5.3 – 4.8 – 4.6, 6+).
6)
Norfolk – Without an increase the past three sweeps (4.6 – 4.5 – 4.5 – 4.3, 6+),
Saga Communications' classic rock WAFX
"106.9 The Fox" explodes with a +1.2 (5.5, 6+), marching from eighth to fifth; the most recent time "The Fox" was in five-share territory (6+) was November (5.2). After progressing by eight-tenths in March,
Entercom adult contemporary WWDE sputtered by twice that
amount in April (-1.6), but rebounds in May with a +.7 (6.1 – 6.9 – 5.3, 6.0, 6+); "2WD" is unchanged at #4. Up six-tenths to 12.2 (6+), urban AC sibling WVKL ends three straight down or flat trends (12.1 – 12.1 – 11.7 – 11.6, 6+) and is #1 for the
48th consecutive ratings period. The last time "Smooth R&B From Yesterday & Today" was
not in double-digits (6+) was when it registered a 9.8 in January
2014. Owing to a loss of seven–tenths (4.9 – 4.2, 6+), rhythmic CHR cluster-mate WNVZ "Z-104" though falls from sixth to eighth. This is the fifth successive sweep without a decrease for Saga Communications' WJOI "Great Songs, Great Memories" (.5 – .7 – .7 – .7 – 1.5 – 1.8, 6+), which inches up from #16 to #15. After each station gained seven-tenths in April,
Max Broadcast Group classic hits-oldies WVBW "92.9 The Wave" (7.2 – 6.1, flat at #3, 6+) and
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WOWI "Jamz 103" (8.3 – 7.6, steady at #2, 6+) falter by -1.1 and seven-tenths, respectively. Up or flat the past four sweeps (2.0 – 2.1 – 2.1 – 2.6 – 2.8, 6+), iHeartMedia CHR WNOH "Now 105" stumbles by one-half share to 2.3 (6+), slipping from #11 to #12. Without an increase for the seventh consecutive sweep and down one full-share in that stretch (3.7 – 3.7 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 3.3 – 2.9 – 2.9 – 2.7, 6+), Entercom hot AC WPTE "The Point" finishes at #10 for the fifth straight time.
7)
Nashville – In previous 6+ ratings breakouts, it was not uncommon to see the three "Music City USA" FM country
properties finish all in a row. There is a little bit of a distance now among them as
Cumulus Media's WSM-FM "95.5 Nash Icon" (off four-tenths in April following four straight monthlies without a decrease for a combined +1.6) posts a rousing +.9 to 5.8 (6+) to zoom from ninth to fifth. It is a milestone for "Nash Icon" as 5.8 is its strongest-ever 6+-
PPM stat. With back-to-back gains of one-tenth (4.4 – 4.5 – 4.6, 6+,),
iHeartMedia's WSIX "The Big 98 #1 For New Country" moves up from tenth to ninth. Down or flat for the fourth straight sweep (3.4 – 3.4 – 3.1 – 2.9 – 2.9, 6+), the market's other country FM – Cumulus Media's WKDF "Nash-FM 103.3" – remains at #13. Following three straight downward trends for a combined -2.2 (7.2 – 5.6 – 5.2 – 5.0, 6+), Cumulus Media sports outlet WGFX "104.5 The Zone" rebounds with a +.7 to 5.7 (6+), climbing from eighth to sixth. This marks the fifth straight downward trend for
Midwest Communications adult contemporary WJXA "Mix 92.9" (15.6 – 10.7 – 10.2 – 9.7 – 9.6 – 9.1, 6+), which has declined more than six full-shares since the "Holiday" 2015 report. Nonetheless, "Mix" is #1 for the
51st consecutive ratings period. For the third time since November – and the fourth occurrence since August – "Mix" has
not been in double-digits (6+). The AC property has a 1.4-share advantage over iHeartMedia CHR WRVW "The River," which is up or flat for the third time in a row (6.7 – 7.5 – 7.5 – 7.7, 6+) and at #2 for the sixth time in the last seven sweeps. With a -.1 in April, co-owned WWTN had its string of successive up-trends (for a combined +1.9) end at three (3.3 – 3.6 – 4.6 – 5.2, 6+). "Super Talk 97" now erodes further by one full-share to 4.1 (6+) and spirals out of the top ten (#6 to #11). After four successive gains totaling a combined +1.0 (6.0 – 6.1 – 6.2 – 6.6 – 7.0, 6+), iHeartMedia's WNRQ "105.9 The Rock" falters by six-tenths but remains at #4 (6.4, 6+). A string of four consecutive progressive trends which tripled its 6+share (.8 – 1.4 – 1.6 – 2.1 – 2.4) concludes for
Ryman Hospitality Properties classic country WSM-AM which is off three-tenths to 2.1 (unchanged at #16, 6+). Without an increase for the sixth successive monthly and -1.9 since December (7.6 – 7.1 – 7.1 – 6.8 – 6.3 – 6.0 – 5.7, 6+), Midwest Communications adult hits WCJK "Jack FM" falls from fifth to sixth.
8)
Greensboro – It is once again a one-two-three (6+) finish for
Entercom, but there are changes at #1 and #2. Powered by a full-
share gain, urban AC WQMG advances from second to first. Moreover, "The Best R&B and Old School" continues a streak of being up or flat for the sixth straight sweep for a whopping cumulative increase of three shares (7.7 – 7.7 – 8.2 – 9.1 – 9.3 – 9.7 – 10.7, 6+); 10.7 is its strongest 6+-showing since November 2014
(10.7). WQMQ trades places with rhythmic CHR sibling WJMH "102 Jamz" (9.6, -.2, 6+), which had been up the previous three ratings periods (8.3 – 8.6 – 9.4 – 9.8, 6+). Improving by six-tenths (8.6 – 9.2, 6+) – and remaining in third-place – is adult hits cluster-mate WSMW "Simon," which was up one-half share in April. It is the strongest 6+-performance for "Simon" since April 2015 (9.3). Somewhat similarly,
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMAG "The Triad's Best Mix" (steady at #4) adds nine-tenths to April's one-half share increase (6.9 – 7.4 – 8.3, 6+). Prior to April's +.5, WMAG was down or flat the previous three sweeps for a combined -8.3 or an approximately 55% erosion (15.2 – 7.8 – 7.8 – 6.9, 6+). Although steady at #6, co-owned CHR WMKS "100.3 Kiss FM" sputters by eight-tenths (5.5 – 4.7, 6+).
9)
West Palm Beach – The third successive gain by
iHeartMedia classic rock WKGR is by nine-tenths (3.3 – 3.8 – 4.1
– 5.0, 6+) as "98.7 The Gater" advances from seventh to fifth. The last time "The Gater" crossed the five-share threshold was September 2014 with a 5.3. Finishing at #8 for the fourth straight sweep, CHR cluster-mate WLDI "WiLD 95.5" adds six-tenths to April's one-half share increase (2.8 – 3.3 – 3.9, 6+). In a bit of a similar scenario, Spanish contemporary
cluster-mate WRLX adds one-half share to April's +.6 (1.4 – 2.0 – 2.5, 6+) and enters the top ten (#11 to #10). Prior to April's +.6, WRLX was down or flat five straight times (2.5 – 1.9 – 1.6 – 1.5 – 1.4 – 1.4, 6+). Registering a decrease for the fourth successive sweep yielding a cumulative -2.2 (9.5 – 9.3 – 8.2 – 8.1 – 7.3, 6+),
Alpha Media hot AC WRMF nonetheless holds down the top spot for the
22nd consecutive time. This is, however, the lowest 6+-share for WRMF since July 2014 (7.1). Following four successive progressive trends in which it doubled its 6+-share since the "Holiday" 2015 ratings period (1.3 – 1.6 – 1.9 – 2.4 – 2.6, 6+), iHeartMedia talker WJNO is off by four-tenths to 2.2 (6+) and departs the top ten (#9 to #11). Prior to reaching 2.4 in March, WJNO had been in 1.3 – 1.9 (6+) range the previous 13 sweeps.
10)
Jacksonville – In a ratings game of "crazy eights,"
Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary WEJZ "Lite 96.1 – Today's
Variety" (10.7, 6+); cluster-mate WGNE "99.9 Gator Country" (4.9 – 5.7, ninth to seventh, 6+); and Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WJGL "Eagle 96.9" (8.2, 6+) all improve by eight-tenths. "Lite 96.1" is #1 for the seventh straight time and back in double-digits (6+) after
four consecutive sweeps between 9.2 – 9.9 (6+). Prior to dropping to #2 in November, "Lite" had been on top the previous
17 sweeps. Advancing from fourth to third, "Eagle" curtails three consecutive downward trends (8.8 – 7.5 – 7.5 – 7.4, 6+). This marks back-to-back sweeps that
iHeartMedia urban-rhythmic oldies WSOL adds one-half share (5.3 – 5.8 – 6.3, 6+); "V-101.5" climbs from sixth to a fifth-place tie. Conversely, after improving by one-half share in March and then piling on seven-tenths in April (4.3 – 4.8 – 5.5, 6+), co-owned CHR WKSL "Kiss FM" relinquishes all of it (plus three-tenths) to 4.0 (
-1.5, 6+) as it plummets from the top ten (#7 to #11).
11)
Memphis – Over and above being #1 for the third straight time,
iHeartMedia urban AC KJMS "V-101" notches its third
successive increase for a whopping +4.2 in that stretch (8.3 – 10.2 – 11.2 – 12.5, 6+) –
and – has its strongest 6+-share since December 2012's 13.5. 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+). Down or flat the past four
ratings periods for a roughly 52% erosion (14.0 – 7.3 – 7.3 – 7.1 – 6.7, 6+),
Entercom adult contemporary WRVR "The River Continuous Soft Rock" roars back in a significant way with a +1.2 to 7.9 (6+) and inches up from fourth to third. On the strength of a +.6 (2.8 – 3.4, 6+),
Cumulus Media's WXMX "Maximum Rock 98.1 The Max" advances from tenth to ninth and has its best 6+-performance in over one year (3.6, April 2015). Back in
February, cluster-mate WRBO extended its streak of consecutive progressive trends to four (7.0 – 7.4 – 7.8 – 8.2 – 8.3, 6+), but "Soul Classics and Today's R&B" was off four-tenths in March; gained three-tenths in April; and now regresses by seven-tenths in May (7.9 – 8.2 – 7.5, third to fourth, 6+). Declining by six-tenths each are Entercom hot AC WMC-FM "FM 100 Today's Best Mix" (6.2 – 5.6, unchanged at #5, 6+) and public urban AC WQOX (1.3 – .7, #16 to #17). After six successive ratings periods at #6, "FM 100" advanced to #5 to April. Co-owned sports outlet WMC-
AM is at .1 for the seventh straight sweep and remains at #18. Within 8.3 – 8.9 range (6+) for the seventh consecutive sweep, iHeartMedia urban contemporary WHRK "K-97.1" sputters by one-half share (8.8 – 8.3, 6+) but remains in the runner-up slot; "K-97.1" finished first in February.
12)
Hartford – Boasting the greatest (6+) April 2016 – May 2016 increase of any station in the 48-
PPM markets,
CBS Radio 
talker WTIC-AM (6.5 – 8.8,
+2.3, 6+) rockets from seventh to second. As a result of being down in April (by -1.1), WTIC-AM ended a string of six straight up or flat ratings periods for a
+1.9 (5.7 – 5.9 – 5.9 – 6.3 – 7.1 – 7.1 – 7.6, 6+). Following three straight gains (2.4 – 2.7 – 2.9 – 3.3, 6+), public WNPR regressed by one-half share in April but gains it all
back (2.8 – 3.3, +.5, 6+); WNPR though stays at #9. Owing to a +.3 in April, CBS Radio adult contemporary WRCH halted a three-month slide that resulted in a combined decline of nearly seven shares (17.8 – 12.1 – 11.9 – 11.0, 6+). Flat in May at 11.3 (6+), "Lite 100.5" is the market leader for the
20th time in the last 21 sweeps – including the past 12. Snapped in
January was its string of five straight increases (8.7 – 10.8 – 11.1 – 11.6 – 11.9 – 17.8 – 12.1, 6+). Faltering by eight-tenths each are rhythmic CHR sibling WZMX "Hot 93.7" (second to fourth, 6+) and
iHeartMedia CHR WKSS "Kiss 95.7" (sixth to seventh, 6+). Over the last three monthlies (which now includes back-to-back declines of -.8), "Hot" is a combined -2.3 (10.1 – 9.4 – 8.6 – 7.8, 6+); February's 10.1 was its best-ever 6+-share in the
PPM-era. This is the fourth successive time "Kiss" is without an increase (7.1 – 6.8 – 6.8 – 6.8 – 6.0, 6+).
