PPM Data – Part Four. July 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 July 2016 survey period covered June 16 – July 13.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all 12 of these
PPM-markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Austin – Not only does
Entercom hot AC KAMX "Mix 94.7" improve for the fifth successive sweep to climb from ninth to eighth, it does so with a meaty +.7 (3.6 – 4.1 – 4.2 – 4.3 – 4.4 – 5.1, 6+). Moreover, 5.1 is the best 6+-stat for "Mix" since February
2012 (5.3). Also notching a +.7 is public KUT (6.7 – 7.4, 6+), which holds the runner-up position for the third straight time. Bolstering their June 2016 shares by six-tenths each are
Emmis regional Mexican KLZT "107.1 La Z" (sixth to fifth, 6+) and Entercom's KKMJ-HD3 (2.0 – 2.6, #17 to #14, 6+). Over the course of five straight gains (2.9 – 3.2 – 4.6 – 4.7 – 5.0 – 5.6, 6+), "107.1 La Z" has nearly doubled its 6+-share (+2.7); KKMJ-HD3 declined by one-half share in June. Displaying a one-half share gain to 5.6, its best 6+-stat since September's 6.0,
iHeartMedia's KVET advances from #5 to #3; this is the fourth straight time that "98.1 All-Time Country Favorites" is up or flat for a combined full-share gain (4.6 – 4.6 – 5.2 – 5.4 – 5.6, 6+). After shaking off three successive downward trends that produced a combined -1.3 (9.4 – 9.1 – 8.6 – 8.1, 6+), Emmis adult hits KBPA "Bob" was +.4 in June but it regresses by one-half share (8.1 – 8.5 – 8.0, 6+). Even so, "Bob" is #1 for the seventh consecutive time. In addition to KBPA, Spanish contemporary sibling KLZT-HD2 is off by one-half share (1.8 – 1.3, #18 to #20, 6+). Owing to a -.9 (3.3 – 2.4, 6+),
Crista Media contemporary Christian KFMK "Spirit 105.9" slips from #13 to #15. Locked on 2.3 (6+) in May, June, and now in July, Emmis triple A KGSR "93.3 Radio Austin" (#15 to #16) is without an increase for the sixth consecutive time for a net loss of eight-tenths (3.1 – 3.1 – 2.6 – 2.5 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 2.3, 6+).
2)
Milwaukee – Trending 3.0 – 3.2 – 3.0 (6+) in April, May, and June,
iHeartMedia CHR WRNW "97-3 Now" busts out with a
+.6 to 3.6 (#13 to #12, 6+), its best 6+-performance since April 2014 (3.8). With a +.3 to 4.9 (tenth to eighth, 6+), talk sibling WISN curtails four straight declines that accounted for a combined -2.1 (6.7 – 6.0 – 5.7 – 5.5 – 4.6, 6+). Unchanged at 10.4 (6+), co-owned classic hits-oldies WRIT "95.7 Big FM – Milwaukee's Greatest Hits" occupies the market's top spot for the
15th straight sweep. Recent 6+-fluctuations for WRIT include
+1.7 (October);
-.7 (November);
+5.6 ("Holiday" 2015);
-5.7 (January);
+1.3 (February);
+1.1 (April); and
-.6 (May). After chalking up a gain of one-half share in
May,
Saga Communications' urban AC WJMR "Jammin' 98.3 Today's R&B and Old School" was
-.6 in June and further falters by eight-tenths (4.5 – 5.0 – 4.4 – 3.6, 6+), dropping from #11 to #12. Off six-tenths in March, "Jammin'" was
+.7 in April. Sputtering by six-tenths (5.2 – 4.6, 6+), sibling WHQG "102.9 The Hog Everything That Rocks" tumbles from a three-way tie at #7 to #10. After five straight increases which produced a +1.6 (4.0 – 4.1 – 4.2 – 4.5 – 4.7 – 5.6, 6+),
Milwaukee Radio Alliance-owned alternative WLUM "102.1 Sounds Different" dips for the second straight time (5.6 – 5.3 – 4.8, sixth to ninth, 6+), returning half of the +1.6.
3)
Indianapolis – The top two outlets here repeat their June 2016 stats:
Entercom CHR WZPL "99-5 ZPL" is unchanged at 7.9 (6+), while
Cumulus Media's WJJK "Classic Hits 104.5" is
steady at 7.6 (6+). It is the fourth straight up or flat trend for "99-5 ZPL" for a combined +1.5 with most of that gain coming with June's +1.1 (6.4 – 6.7 – 6.8 – 7.9 – 7.9, 6+); WJJK was up one-half share this time last month. Without an increase in April, May, or June (4.8 – 4.6 – 4.6 – 4.5, 6+), Entercom hot AC WNTR "107.9 The Mix" picks up one-tenth to 4.6 (6+), progressing from ninth to eighth. In June, WHHH "Hot 96.3" registered a robust +1.3 to 5.9, its strongest 6+-share since April 2014 (6.6); however, the
Radio One rhythmic CHR now relinquishes all of it (plus two-tenths more – a whopping
-1.5), slumping from sixth to tenth (4.6 – 5.9 – 4.4, 6+). Down or flat the fourth successive sweep (3.5 – 3.4 – 3.4 – 3.3 – 3.1, 6+), Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRWM "93.9 The Beat" remains at #13. While steady at #4, this is the third straight decline for
Emmis adult contemporary WYXB "Soft Rock B-105.7" (7.1 – 6.6 – 6.5 – 6.4, 6+) resulting in a cumulative -.7. Off by one-half share (2.6 – 2.1, 6+), sports sibling WFNI "The Fan" slides from #14 to #15; 2.1 is its weakest 6+-stat since April 2015 (2.1 as well). Meanwhile, after seven straight .1 showings (6+), Entercom-owned WXNT "
CBS Sports 1430″ notches a .2 (#22).
4)
Providence – The third successive gain by
Hall Communications' WCTK is by seven-tenths (7.0 – 7.2 – 7.5 –
8.2, 6+), lifting "Cat Country 98.1" from fourth to third. This is the best 6+-performance for "Cat Country" since last September's 8.9. In four straight up or flat trends (.3 – .4 – .5 – .5 – .6, 6+) public WELH (#11 to #12) doubles its 6+-stat. After three consecutive downward trends totaling a -2.7 (12.1 – 10.6 – 10.3 – 9.4, 6+),
Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI "Lite Rock 105" posts a +.2 to 9.6 and is #1 for the ninth successive ratings period; 9.4 in June was its lowest 6+-share since November's 8.7. Co-owned mainstream CHR WPRO-FM falters by nine-tenths, following June's seven-tenths' improvement (8.3 – 9.0 – 8.1, 6+); "Today's Hit Music" segues from second to fourth. Unchanged at #8,
Entercom sports outlet WVEI sputters by one-half share (3.1 – 2.6, 6+).
5)
Raleigh – The top four stations in this North Carolina market are separated by a scant three-tenths of a share. There have been some large monthly (6+) swings recently for
Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL. Specifically, "Mix
101.5″ was
+.5 October – November;
+.6 November – December;
+5.7 December – Holiday;
-7.2 "Holiday" – January;
+.6 January – February;
+.6 February – March;
-.6 March – April; and
+.5 April – May. May – June produced a very tame +.2 (7.2 – 7.4, 6+). "Mix" though is back at it with a
+.5 (7.4 – 7.9, June – July, 6+), elevating from second to a first-place tie, catching
Radio One urban AC WFXC "Foxy" (7.7 – 7.9, +.2, 6+). A +1.5 in
May propelled "Foxy" from fourth to first. Prior to May, the last time "Foxy" crossed the seven-share level (6+) was November and October with a 7.1 each time. Having already improved by six-tenths in June,
University of North Carolina –
Chapel Hill's WUNC piles on an additional full-share (6.2 – 6.8 – 7.8, 6+), inching up from fourth to third; WUNC was -1.1 in May. Despite a gain of six-tenths (7.0 – 7.6, 6+),
iHeartMedia CHR WDCG "G-105" actually backslides from third to fourth. In back-to-back sweeps (April-May-June), G-105 was off by a combined seven-tenths (7.7 – 7.2 – 7.0, 6+). By adding four-tenths in June, cluster-mate WTKK curtailed three straight downward trends which yielded a cumulative -1.2 (5.8 – 5.3 – 4.8 – 4.6, 6+). Steady at #7, the FM talker chalks up another half-share to 5.5 (6+). Conversely, a -.1 in June by WRTP "His Radio" ended four straight gains (.9 – 1.0 – 1.2 – 1.3 – 2.2, 6+), but the
Radio Training Network contemporary Christian facility now regresses by -1.2 (2.1 – .9, 6+) to tumble from #16 to #19. Just as WUNC did in June –
Curtis Media Group CHR WPLW notched a +.6, but "Pulse FM" surrenders nine-tenths (4.3 – 4.9 – 4.0, 6+), dropping from eighth to tenth. The seven most recent fluctuations for Capitol Broadcasting sports outlet WCMC "The Fan" – down for the fourth straight sweep – are
+1.1 ("Holiday" 2015 – January 2016);
-1.0 (January – February);
+1.1 (February – March);
-.5 (March – April);
-.7 (April – May); -.2 (May – June) and
-.7 (June – July, 3.5 – 2.8, unchanged at #15, 6+). It is the lowest 6+-share for "The Fan" since September's 2.7. Without a decrease in the last five ratings periods for a combined +1.5 (4.8 – 5.5 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 6.3 – 6.3, 6+), Radio One urban contemporary WQOK "K-97.5" declines by six-tenths to 5.7 (6+) but continues at #5. Faltering by one-half share (1.1 – .6, 6+), Curtis Media Group talker WPTF dips below a one-share for the first time since the "Holiday" 2015 report (.8), but remains at #20.
6)
Norfolk – Perhaps most notable in this market's July 2016 report is the absence of five (5) stations from the previous sweep.
With their June 2016 6+-rank and 6+-share in parentheses, the missing stations – all
Max Broadcast Group outlets – are classic hits-oldies WVBW (#3, 6.0); country WGH-FM (5.0, #7); CHR WVHT (#9, 3.8); sports WVSP (#12, 2.3); and gospel WGH-AM (#15, 1.9). Over and above registering a one-half share increase (5.4 – 5.9, 6+) lifting it from fourth to third,
Saga classic rocker WAFX "106.9 The Fox" has its highest 6+-share since May 2014 (5.9, as well). By recording a +.6 in
May, WVKL ended three straight down or flat trends (12.1 – 12.1 – 11.7 – 11.6, 6+). Off by two-tenths (each) in June and July, the
Entercom urban AC (12.2 – 12.0 – 11.8, 6+) is #1 for the (benchmark)
50th 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. Up four-tenths to 6.7 (6+),
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WOWI is in the runner-up slot for the seventh straight time. In June, "Jamz 103" was -1.3 to 6.3, the first time it had been below a seven-share (6+) since April 2014 (6.8). CHR sibling WNOH "Now 105" (#13 to #9) is down or flat for the third successive sweep (2.8 – 2.3 – 2.1 – 2.1, 6+), while urban-rhythmic oldies cluster-mate WHBT "92.1 The Beat" (#14 to #10) is without an increase for the fifth straight time (2.5 – 2.4 – 2.2 – 2.0 – 2.0 – 1.9, 6+). As noted above, improved rankers for "Now" and "The Beat" (particularly) are influenced by a reduced number of stations from June.
7)
Nashville – On the heels of registering its strongest-ever 6+-
PPM stat (5.9 in June),
Cumulus Media country outlet WSM-FM "Nash Icon" quickly obliterates it with July's mammoth +1.4
to 7.3 (6+). Moreover, "Nash Icon" rockets from sixth to second. It is nine-tenths behind
Midwest Communications' WJXA "Mix 92.9," which records its seventh straight downward trend (15.6 – 10.7 – 10.2 – 9.7 – 9.6 – 9.1 – 8.3 – 8.2, 6+) for a net loss since the "Holiday" 2015 report of
-7.4. While this marks the fifth time since November – and sixth occurrence since last August – that "Mix" has
not been in double-digits (6+), the adult contemporary outlet is nonetheless #1 for the
53rd consecutive ratings period. Backing up to the market's country skirmish,
iHeartMedia's WSIX-FM "The Big 98 #1 For New Country" is flat at 4.0 (unchanged at #10, 6+), while Cumulus Media-owned WKDF "Nash FM 103.3" drops two-tenths to 3.7, but actually moves up from #13 to #12 (6+). Following consecutive gains of one-tenth each (4.4 – 4.5 – 4.6, 6+), "The Big 98" was -.6 in June. Down or flat for four straight sweeps for a cumulative -.5 (3.4 – 3.4 – 3.1 – 2.9 – 2.9, 6+), "Nash-FM" responded with a +1.0 in June to 3.9, its best 6+-share since December's 4.1. Following four successive downward trends for a combined -.6 (1.7 – 1.5 – 1.4 – 1.4 – 1.1, 6+),
Cromwell Group gospel WPRT-HD2 (#18 to #17) improves by seven-tenths to 1.8, its best-ever 6+-showing in the
PPM-era. After recording 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" posted a
+.7 in May; then a hefty
-1.2 in June; and now sputters by
-.8 in July (5.7 – 4.5 – 3.7, 6+) to depart the top ten (#9 to #12). Entering the July sweep, WRVW "The River" was within eight-tenths of first place and had finished second seven times in the previous eight monthlies, but the iHeartMedia CHR flounders by seven-tenths (7.5 – 6.8, 6+), slipping from second to third.
8)
Greensboro – Having regressed by a combined
-1.2 in May and June (9.8 – 9.6 – 8.6, 6+),
Entercom rhythmic CHR WJMH
"102 Jamz" recaptures all of it in July with a
+1.2 (9.8, 6+) and moves from third to second. Preceding May's decline, "102 Jamz" had three straight up-trends (8.3 – 8.6 – 9.4 – 9.8, 6+). Owing to a +.2 to 3.7 (6+), WPTI ends three straight negative trends that resulted in a -1.2 (4.7 – 4.5 – 4.2 – 3.5, 6+); the
iHeartMedia FM talker remains at #9. Locked on 6.6 (6+) in February and March and then stymied at 6.7 (6+) in April and May, co-owned WTQR "Q-104.1 New Country" dropped three-tenths in June only to rebound with a +.8 in July (6.4 – 7.2, 6+) as it carries on at #5. It has a 2.4-share advantage over Entercom's similarly programmed WPAW "93.1 The Wolf," flat at #6 with a 4.8 (6+) for the third time in the last four sweeps. In addition to boasting its fourth straight gain for a cumulative +2.8 – roughly half of which came via June's +1.5 – adult hits sibling WSMW "Simon" repeats at #1 (8.1 – 8.6 – 9.2 – 10.7 – 10.9, 6+). "Simon" achieved double-digits three times previously (10.7, 10.5, and 10.1), but 10.9 is the best-ever 6+-stat in its
PPM-history. After posting a full-share gain in May, urban AC cluster-mate WQMG was off by seven-tenths in June and now falters by an additional six-tenths (9.7 – 10.7 – 10.0 – 9.4, 6+), sliding from second to third. In advance of June's
decrease, "The Best R&B and Old School" had a cumulative
increase of three full-shares via six straight up or flat monthlies (7.7 – 7.7 – 8.2 – 9.1 – 9.3 – 9.7 – 10.7, 6+); 10.7 was its strongest 6+-showing since November 2014 (10.7). Although steady at #4, iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMAG erodes by seven-tenths (8.0 – 7.3, 6+). Despite not having an increase for the fifth straight time (2.6 – 2.6 – 2.4 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 2.3, 6+),
Curtis Media Group regional Mexican WYMY "La Ley 101" continues at #11.
9)
West Palm Beach – Previous "Takeaway" overviews this week have cited several longstanding (6+) #1 performers being overtaken in the July 2016 sweep. Another can be added to the list
as
Alpha Media hot AC WRMF – which held the top spot the past
23 ratings periods – drops four-tenths to 7.2 and falls to second. In June, it gained three-tenths to end four successive decreases yielding a cumulative -2.2 (9.5 – 9.3 – 8.2 – 8.1 – 7.3, 6+). Dislodging WRMF – and doing so in a big way – is
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WOLL "Today's Kool 105.5," which powers from third to first with a
+1.5 to 7.5, its loftiest 6+-share since 7.7 in April 2015. "Kool" was down three-tenths in both April and May, before notching a +.5 in June (6.1 – 5.8 – 5.5 – 6.0, 6+). Elsewhere in the adult contemporary format, Alpha Media's WEAT "Sunny 107.9" is off by one-tenth (6.9 – 6.8, 6+) and segues from second to third, while
JVC Media soft AC WSVU "South Florida's 95.9 The Palm" (unchanged at #14) loses two-tenths (1.6 – 1.4, 6+). An increase of one-half share (4.2 – 4.7, 6+) enables Alpha Media urban AC WMBX "X-102.3" to advance from sixth to fifth. This is the fourth successive up or flat monthly for iHeartMedia CHR WLDI "WiLD 95.5" (2.8 – 3.3 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.9, 6+), which stays at #7, and fifth consecutive sweep without a decrease for public WLRN (1.8 – 1.9 – 1.9 – 2.0 – 2.2 – 2.2, 6+), unchanged at #9.
10)
Jacksonville – Flashing a +.7,
Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WJGL is not only without a decrease for the third
consecutive time for a +1.5 (7.4 – 8.2 – 8.2 – 8.9, 6+), July's 8.9 is the best-ever (6+)
PPM-era stat for "96.9 The Eagle." After back-to-back #2 performances, co-owned WAPE "Jacksonville's #1 Hot Music Station" regressed by eight-tenths in June to fall to fourth, but the mainstream CHR recaptures all of the loss (and one-tenth more for good measure) as it climbs to third (8.6 – 7.9 – 8.8,
+.9, 6+). Dusting itself off from June's lofty -1.3,
Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary WEJZ "Lite 96.1 – Today's Variety" answers with a +.8 (10.7 – 9.4 – 10.2, 6+) and is #1 for the ninth straight time. Its 9.4 in June was its lowest 6+-share since December's 9.2. Prior to dropping to #2 in November, "Lite" had been on top the previous
17 sweeps. In 5.2 – 5.5 range (6+) the past four sweeps,
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WJBT "93.3 The Beat" breaks out a +.6 to 6.1 (6+), zooming from ninth to fifth. Exploding with a
+1.2 in June, co-owned adult hits WWJK "Jack-FM" forfeits all of it – and then some (4.5 – 5.7 – 4.1,
– 1.6, 6+) to slide from eighth to tenth. It has been an active few monthlies for CHR sibling WKSL "Kiss FM," which was
+.5 in March;
+.7 in April;
-1.5 in May;
+.9 in June; and now
-.7 in July (4.3 – 4.8 – 5.5 – 4.0 – 4.9 – 4.2, 6+) 6+). Despite dropping seven-tenths, "Kiss" moves up from tenth to ninth. Following consecutive sweeps in which it added one-half share increases, urban-rhythmic oldies cluster-mate WSOL "V-101.5" (sixth to eighth) is -.9 in June and July (5.3 – 5.8 – 6.3 – 5.9 – 5.4, 6+). A cumulative -1.3 in four straight negative trends (6.8 – 6.4 – 6.3 – 6.2 – 5.5, 6+), Cox Media Group talk WOKV tumbles from fifth to seventh.
11)
Memphis – Continuing in fifth-place,
iHeartMedia's WDIA "1070 The Heart & Soul of Memphis" improves for the fifth straight time for a combined +1.8 (4.4 – 4.6 – 4.8 – 5.2 – 6.0 – 6.2, 6+); 6.2 is its strongest 6+-share since September's 6.6. Steady in
the runner-up position,
Cumulus Media urban-rhythmic oldies WRBO "Soul Classics and Today's R&B" delivers a +.7 to 8.5, its strongest ever
PPM-era 6+-performance. Rock sibling WXMX is up for the third straight sweep (2.8 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 4.0, 6+), crossing the four-share threshold (6+) for the first time since March 2015 (4.2); "98.1 The Max" continues in ninth-place. After four successive downward trends yielding a -1.8 (6.9 – 6.6 – 5.6 – 5.5 – 5.1, 6+), iHeartMedia gospel WHAL "Halleluiah" recovers one-third of it with a +.6 to 5.7 and it remains in sixth-place. Following three straight increases for a whopping
+4.2 (8.3 – 10.2 – 11.2 – 12.5, 6+) – and – its strongest 6+-share since December 2012's 13.5, urban AC sibling KJMS "V-101" falters by nine-tenths in
back-to-back sweeps but is #1 for the fifth straight time (12.5 – 11.6 – 10.7, 6+). Prior to a -1.4 in "Holiday" 2015, "V-101" had not had a decline in the previous four ratings periods (8.9 – 9.2 – 9.3 – 9.3 – 10.0, 6+). Still in that iHeartMedia cluster, urban contemporary and classic rock siblings WHRK "K-97.1" (6.8, unchanged at #4, 6+) and WEGR "Rock 103" (2.8, #10 to #11, 6+) each decline by six-tenths. It is the third consecutive loss for "K-97.1" (8.8 – 8.3 – 7.4, 6+), while "Rock 103" had been up in back-to-back sweeps (2.7 – 2.9 – 3.4, 6+) and 3.4 represented its most potent 6+-share since February 2014 (4.0). Entercom sports outlet WMC-AM is at .1 for the ninth straight sweep and remains at #18.
12)
Hartford – Pulling the plug on four straight negative trends that produced a -1.9 (7.9 – 7.1 – 6.7 – 6.0, 6+),
iHeartMedia 
classic hits-oldies WHCN "The River 105.9" trots out a +.8 to 6.8 (6+) to climb from seventh to fifth. Stuck on 7.9 (6+) in April and May, co-owned WWYZ "Country 92-5" dialed up a +1.1 in June and follows up with another one-half share increase (7.9 – 9.0 – 9.5, 6+) to continue in the runner-up slot. On top for the
22nd time in the last 23 sweeps – including the past 14 –
CBS Radio adult contemporary WRCH "Lite 100.5" shakes off June's -1.0 with a +.3 (11.3 – 10.3 – 10.6, 6+). Owing to a +.3 in
April, "Lite 100.5" halted a three-month slide that resulted in a combined decline of nearly seven shares (17.8 – 12.1 – 11.9 – 11.0, 6+). After back-to-back gains that netted a
+2.4 (6.5 – 8.8 – 8.9, 6+), talk sibling WTIC-AM turns over most of it with a whopping -1.9 to 7.0 (6+), slipping from third to fourth. Off five straight times dating back to February, rhythmic CHR cluster-mate WZMX "Hot 93.7" has a net loss of nearly three full-shares (10.1 – 9.4 – 8.6 – 7.8 – 7.7 – 7.2, 6+) yet manages to improve from fourth to third; February's 10.1 was its best-ever 6+-share in the
PPM-era. Up the past three monthlies (.3 – .6 – .7 – 1.3, 6+) and notching its highest 6+share since February 2015 (1.5),
University of Massachusetts-owned WFCR (steady at #10) drops three-tenths to 1.0 (6+).
