PPM Data – Part Four. October 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 October 2016 survey period covered September 8 – October 5.
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 KUT bounce back from September's -.9 with a potent
+1.3 (8.7 – 7.8 – 9.1, 6+), the
University of Texas 
at Austin-owned facility progresses to first from the runner-up slot where it had been the past five ratings periods. Significant month-to-month swings are not unusual for KUT, which was
+1.2 in December 2015;
-.1.0 in April;
+.7 in July;
+1.3 in August;
-.9 in September; and now
+1.3 in October. Prior to August, the last
time KUT crossed the eight-share barrier (6+) was February 2011 when it reached 8.5. On top each month this calendar year,
Emmis adult hits KBPA "Bob" (8.3 – 8.0, -.3, 6+) segues to second. By gaining four-tenths in
June, "Bob" halted three successive downward trends that produced a combined -1.3 (9.4 – 9.1 – 8.6 – 8.1, 6+). "Bob" regressed by
-.5 in July; rebounded with a
+1.1 in August; and declined
-.8 in September. Gaining eight-tenths in
back-to-back sweeps (2.9 – 3.7 – 4.5, 6+),
Univision Radio regional Mexican KLQB "Que Buena 104.3" enters the top ten (#11 to #9). "Que Buena" last reached the four-share level exactly one year ago (4.0, October 2015). Also improving by eight-tenths (2.5 – 3.3, 6+) is
Crista Media contemporary Christian KFMK "Spirit 105.9," which inches up from #15 to #14. Improving by six-tenths each are Emmis regional Mexican KLZT (5.5 – 6.1, fourth to third, 6+) and the HD-3 channel of
Entercom-owned KKMJ, which posts its fourth straight gain (2.0 – 2.6 – 2.8 – 2.9 – 3.5, 6+) to climb from #14 to #12. It was exactly three years ago when KLZT "107.1 La Z" last crossed the six-share level (6.1, 6+, October 2013). Sputtering by one-half share each are
iHeartMedia-owned KASE "Today's Country" (4.6, fifth to eighth, 6+) and format rival
Genuine Austin Radio's KOKE "Austin's Country Alternative" (2.5 – 2.0, #15 to #18, 6+). "Today's Country" was locked on 5.1 (6+) in August and September; co-owned KVET-FM "All Time Country Favorites" is up one-tenth (5.8 – 5.9, 6+), but backslides from third to fourth. After recording three successive negative trends that yielded a -.8 (4.5 – 4.0 – 3.9 – 3.7, 6+), rhythmic CHR cluster-mate WPEZ "102.3 The Beat" dialed up a +.7 in September but forfeits one full-share in October (3.7 – 4.4 – 3.4, 6+) and departs the top ten (#10 to #13).
2)
Milwaukee – Bettering their September 6+-stats by one-half share each are
Scripps-owned talker WTMJ (6.3 – 6.8, third to
second, 6+);
Saga's WHQG "102.9 The Hog Everything That Rocks" (5.6, steady at #7, 6+); and
iHeartMedia sports outlet WOKY "The Big 920" (.8, #20, 6+). With a +.5 in
August, WTMJ pulled the plug on three straight (modest) dips (6.8 – 6.7 – 6.6 – 6.4, 6+); the flagship of the
Milwaukee Brewers and
Green Bay Packers
was -.6 in September. "The Hog" was frozen on 5.1 (6+) in August and September, while "The Big 920" was stuck on .3 in July, August
and September. On top for the
19th straight sweep is WOKY classic hits-oldies sibling WRIT "95.7 Big FM – Milwaukee's Greatest Hits," although it is without an increase for the fourth straight sweep (10.4 – 10.4 – 9.3 – 8.7 – 8.4, 6+) for a cumulative loss of two full-shares since June. Recent (hefty) fluctuations for "Milwaukee's Greatest Hits" include
+1.7 (October 2015);
-.7 (November 2015);
+5.6 ("Holiday" 2015);
-5.7 (January);
+1.3 (February);
+1.1 (April);
-.6 (May);
-1.1 (August) and
-.6 (September). Forfeiting the eight-tenths it gained in September (3.1 – 3.9 – 3.1, 6+), CHR sibling WRNW "97-3 Now" slides from #12 to #13; "Now" was -.6 in August. Unchanged at #14, WUWM is without a loss for the fifth straight time and is +1.2 since May (1.8 – 1.8 – 2.1 – 2.5 – 3.0 – 3.0, 6+). The
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee station crosses the three-share level (6+) for the first time since May 2014 when it hit 3.2. Following three successive positive trends that netted a
+.6 (5.9 – 6.0 – 6.2 – 6.5, 6+),
Entercom hot AC WMYX "99.1 The Mix" relinquishes all of it (5.9,
-.6, 6+) and falls from #2 to a three-way logjam at #4. On the heels of a six-tenths loss, Scripps' WKTI "94.5 KTI Country" falters by another half-share (2.8 – 2.3, 6+) but remains at #15. It is, however, the lowest 6+-share for WKTI since it transitioned from adult hits WLWK "The Lake" to country in late-May 2015. Prior to September's -.6, "KTI Country" had been positive or flat the previous four sweeps (2.6 – 2.9 – 3.0 – 3.0 – 3.4, 6+).
3)
Indianapolis – Down or flat the past three ratings periods including a -1.5 in July (5.9 – 4.4 – 4.3 – 4.3, 6+),
Radio One 
rhythmic CHR WHHH "Hot 96.3" registers a +.9 to 5.2, jumping from tenth to seventh. Recapturing one-half of September's -1.2, co-owned urban AC WTLC-FM "Indy's R&B Leader" carries on at #4 (7.7 – 6.5 – 7.1,
+.6, 6+). Also improving by six-tenths is
Emmis-owned sports outlet WFNI "The Fan" (2.1 – 2.7, 6+), which inches up from #15 to #14.
Without an increase in the past four sweeps for a combined -1.6 since May (6.3 – 5.3 – 5.1 – 4.7 – 4.7, 6+), country cluster-mate WLHK "97.1 Hank" (eighth to seventh) picks up one-half share to 5.2 (6+). One full-share ahead of "Hank" is
Cumulus Media's WFMS "95.5 The Country Station," which notches its fourth successive positive trend (5.3 – 5.6 – 5.7 – 6.0 – 6.2, 6+). In September, "The Country Station" (steady at #5) reached the six-share level (6+) for the first time since January 2015 (6.3). One-half share separated the top
three finishers in
September and now the top
four are within one-half share of each other. Adding two-tenths to September's +.3, Cumulus Media's WJJK "Classic Hits 104.5" (7.1 – 7.4 – 7.6, 6+) advances from second to first, succeeding
Entercom CHR WZPL (7.8 – 7.3, -.5, 6+), which falls to third. Up or flat for a combined +1.5 in four straight sweeps (6.4 – 6.7 – 6.8 – 7.9 – 7.9, 6+), WZPL lost three-tenths in
August, slipping to second from first (where it was in June and July). WZPL regained the top spot in September from WTLC-FM "Indy's R&B Leader." With a +.2 in
August, WYXB "Soft Rock B-105.7" ended three straight
declines (7.1 – 6.6 – 6.5 – 6.4, 6+). The Emmis AC is now
up for the third successive time (6.4 – 6.6 – 7.3 – 7.5, 6+) and moves from third to second. It is the strongest 6+-share for "B-105.7" since February (7.6). Up a combined +1.2 since June via three straight increases (4.4 – 4.5 – 5.4 – 5.6, 6+),
iHeartMedia alternative WOLT surrenders nine-tenths and skids from sixth to ninth (4.7, 6+).
4)
Providence – Nine-tenths is a mixed bag in October for
Cumulus Media stations with the WPRO calls. After a loss of
one-half share in September, talk WPRO-
AM improves by nine-tenths and progresses from seventh to sixth (4.6 – 4.1 – 5.0, 6+). On the other hand, co-owned CHR WPRO-
FM "Today's Hit Music," up six-tenths in September,
drops nine-tenths (8.5 – 9.1 – 8.2, steady at #2, 6+). While September's 9.1 was the best 6+-stat
for WPRO-FM since February (also 9.1), October's 8.2 is the lowest 6+-showing for "Today's Hit Music" since the "Holiday" 2015 report (7.4). The 4.1 by WPRO-
AM in September was its weakest 6+-showing since "Holiday" 2013 (4.0). A member of the
Boston Red Sox radio network,
Entercom sports outlet WVEI trots out a gain of eight-tenths (2.7 – 3.5, 6+) and carries on at #8; 3.5 (6+) matches what WVEI registered in May. With a +.3 in September, WVEI halted three straight declines that yielded a -1.1 (3.5 – 3.1 – 2.6 – 2.4, 6+). Down a combined -1.1 since July (6.1 – 5.4 – 5.0, 6+),
iHeartMedia hot AC WSNE "Coast 93.3" gains one-half share to 5.5 (6+), climbing from sixth to fifth. Stymied at 2.6 (6+) the past four sweeps, Cumulus Media rhythmic CHR sibling WWKX "Hot 106.3" gains four-tenths to 3.0 (6+) but remains at #9. Over the course of seven straight up or flat trends (.3 – .4 – .5 – .5 – .6 – .8 – .8 – .8, 6+) public WELH (steady at #11) nearly triples its 6+-stat. After three straight progressive trends for a combined gain of one-half share (9.4 – 9.6 – 9.7 – 9.9, 6+), Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI "Lite Rock 105" dips one-tenth to 9.8 (6+), but is #1 for the twelfth successive ratings period. A +.2 in
July put an end to three consecutive downward stats totaling -2.7 (12.1 – 10.6 – 10.3 – 9.4, 6+); June's 9.4 was the lowest 6+-share for "Lite Rock" since November's 8.7. Unchanged at #3, iHeartMedia rocker WHJY "94-HJY Providence's Home of Rock and Roll" falters by one-half share (8.5 – 8.0, 6+). Following three successive declines (9.2 – 8.9 – 8.7 – 8.4, 6+), WHJY added one-tenth in September. Owing to a -.1 to .6 (6+), Cumulus Media talker WPRV (#12 to #13) curtails four straight positive trends which more than tripled its 6+-share (.2 – .3 – .4 – .5 – .7, 6+).
5)
Raleigh – Over the course of Raleigh's October 2015 – September 2016 ratings reports,
Capitol Broadcasting adult
contemporary WRAL "Mix 101.5" has been in sole possession of first-place seven times and shared it three times;
Radio One urban AC WFXC "Foxy" was #1 on three occasions and shared top honors once (in July with WRAL). In tandem with "Mix" dropping one
full-share (8.6 – 7.6, first to third, 6+) and "Foxy" improving by seven-tenths (7.5 – 8.2, 6+), WFXY returns to #1 (from #4). "Foxy" was -.6 in September. Recent sweeping monthly (6+) swings for "Mix" include
+.5 November 2015;
+.6 December 2015;
+5.7 Holiday 2015;
-7.2 January 2016;
+.6 February;
+.6 March;
-.6 April;
+.5 May;
+.5 July;
+.9 September and
+1.0 October. Co-owned sports outlet WCMC "The Fan" adds seven-tenths to September's one-half share gain (2.6 – 3.1 – 3.8, 6+) to improve from #14 to #12. The September increase ended five straight downward trends accounting for -2.3 or roughly -47% of its 6+-share (4.9 – 4.4 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 2.8 – 2.6, 6+). Following three consecutive declines totaling -1.6 (6.3 – 5.7 – 5.2 – 4.7, 6+), Radio One urban contemporary WQOK "K-97.5" bounces back with a +.6 to 5.3 (ninth to seventh, 6+). Entering the
July sweep, "K-97.5" was without a decrease in five straight ratings periods for a cumulative +1.5 (4.8 – 5.5 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 6.3 – 6.3, 6+). Similarly,
iHeartMedia FM talker WTKK, -1.2 in September, answers with a one-half share gain (6.3 – 5.1 – 5.6, steady at #6, 6+). By adding four-tenths in
June, WTKK curtailed three straight downward trends which yielded a cumulative -1.2 (5.8 – 5.3 – 4.8 – 4.6, 6+). Despite flashing a positive trend for the fourth time in a row netting a +1.6 (3.6 – 3.7 – 4.1 – 4.8 – 5.2, 6+),
Curtis Media Group adult hits WBBB "Radio 96.1" must settle for a move of seventh to eighth; 5.2 (6+) matches what it recorded in November 2015. It is still a wild rollercoaster ride for CHR sibling WDCG, which was
+.6 in July;
-.6 in August;
+1.3 in September; and now
-.9 in October (7.0 – 7.6 – 7.0 – 8.3 – 7.4, 6+), as "G-105" slips from second to fourth. Prior to September, "G-105" last reached the eight-share level (6+) more than four years ago (8.4, July 2012).
6)
Norfolk – On the heels of a
+.6 in August and then a
-.7 in September,
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WOWI responds
with an impressive
+1.1 (6.7 – 7.3 – 6.6 – 7.7, 6+) and "Jamz 103" is in the runner-up slot for the tenth straight time. Back in June, WOWI was -1.3 to 6.3, the first time it had been below a seven-share (6+) since April 2014 (6.8). Once again ahead of "Jamz 103" – and #1 for the
53rd consecutive ratings period – is
Entercom urban AC WVKL "Smooth R&B From Yesterday & Today," which
falters by one-half share (12.7 – 12.2, 6+). The last time WVKL was
not in double-digits (6+) was when it registered a 9.8 in January
2014. Stuck on 4.0 (6+) in August and September, rhythmic CHR sibling WNVZ "Z-104" (unchanged at #6) picks up one-tenth to 4.1and is in four-share range (6+) for the tenth straight time. Albeit steady in fifth-place, this marks the third successive decline for
Saga Communications' WAFX "106.9 The Fox" (5.9 – 5.3 – 5.1 – 4.4), which is -1.5 since July. After four modest gains (.8 – .9 – 1.1 – 1.2 – 1.3, 6),
Norfolk State University-owned urban contemporary WNSB "Hot 91.1" is off two-tenths to 1.1 (#12 to #13, 6+). Thirteen (13) stations appear in print, as for the third straight sweep,
Max Broadcast Group Norfolk stations are no longer
Nielsen Audio subscribers. With data cited from the
June 2016 ratings period, they 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).
7)
Nashville – Over and above displaying its third consecutive improvement resulting in
more than doubling its 6+ share since
July (3.7 – 4.0 – 5.4 – 7.8, 6+),
Cumulus Media sports outlet WGFX "104.5 The Zone" boasts the largest (6+) September 2016 – October 2016 increase (
+2.4) by any station in the 48
PPM-markets. Leaping from sixth to second, "The Zone" boasts its most potent 6+share share since December (also 7.8). Moreover, the
Tennessee Titans flagship now trails market pacesetter –
Midwest Communications' adult contemporary WJXA – by just six-tenths. Notwithstanding that it is #1 for the
56th consecutive ratings period, "Mix 92.9" erodes by
-1.3 to 8.4 (6+), following September's
+1.3. A gain of two-tenths in
August by "Mix" pulled the plug on seven straight downward trends (15.6 – 10.7 – 10.2 – 9.7 – 9.6 – 9.1 – 8.3 – 8.2, 6+) that yielded a net loss since the "Holiday" 2015 report of
-7.4. Dating back to April, WQQK "92-Q" has been trending 5.1 – 5.2 – 5.3 – 5.2 – 5.2 – 5.3 (6+), but the Cumulus Media urban AC advances from eighth to sixth by rolling out a one-half share gain to 5.8, its best 6+-performance since December 2014 (also 5.8). Drifting from third to ninth,
iHeartMedia's WNRQ "105.9 The Rock" is without an increase for the sixth straight sweep for a combined -1.7 (7.0 – 6.4 – 6.4 – 6.2 – 6.2 – 6.0 – 5.3, 6+). This is the lowest 6+-share for "The Rock" since February 2015 (also 5.3). Cumulus Media country siblings WSM-FM "Nash Icon" (6.0, fourth to fifth, 6+) and WKDF "Nash 103.3" (3.6, #13 to #12, 6+) improve by one-tenth and three-tenths, respectively. Meanwhile, stuck on 4.0 (6+) in June and July and then on 4.5 (6+) in August and September, iHeartMedia's "The Big 98 – Nashville's #1 for New Country" slips by one-tenth to 4.4 but stays at #10. Having registered its strongest-ever 6+-
PPM stat (5.9) in June, "Nash Icon" had been a combined -1.4 since July.
8)
Greensboro – Among the market's several major (6+) month-to-month shifts is the
second straight +1.1 by
Entercom-owned
urban AC WQMG, which repeats in the runner-up slot. Recent ratings history for "The Best R&B and Old School" includes
three straight increases totaling
+2.5; followed by
three successive decreases yielding a
-2.6; and back-to-back gains of +1.1 in September and October (8.1 – 9.2 – 10.3, 6+). Whereas 10.7 (May)
was its strongest 6+-showing since November 2014 (10.7), 8.1 (August) was its weakest since "Holiday" 2015 (7.7). Owing to four straight gains, rhythmic CHR sibling WJMH "102 Jamz" (#1 in September and October) improves by two full-shares since June (8.6 – 9.8 – 10.0 – 10.1 – 10.6, 6+). Dusting itself off from a massive -1.8 in September, co-owned adult hits WSMW "Simon" regains one-third of that loss (8.7 – 9.3,
+.6, 6+) and remains at #3, giving Entercom a #1 – #2 – #3 (6+) finish for the tenth successive sweep. In September, "Simon" departed the top spot it held in June, July, and August; it has achieved double-digits (6+) four times with July's 10.9 the best-ever in its
PPM-history. A one-half share gain (3.9 – 4.4, 6+) advances
iHeartMedia talker WPTI from ninth to eighth. Although remaining at #5, CHR sibling WMKS "100.3 Kiss FM The Triad's Hit Music Station" falters by -1.2 following a +.8 in September and a +1.0 in August (4.7 – 5.7 – 6.5 – 5.3, 6+). The 1.9-share September advantage co-owned WTQR "New Country Q-104.1" enjoyed over its rival – Entercom-owned WPAW "93.1 The Wolf" – is reduced to just one-tenth as "Q-104.1" erodes by -1.4 (#5 to #6, 6+) and "The Wolf" picks up four-tenths (4.6 – 5.0, unchanged at #7, 6+). Down for the third successive monthly (7.2 – 7.0 – 6.5 – 5.1, 6+), "Q-104.1" is -2.1 since July. Meanwhile, "The Wolf" had been in 4.2 – 4.8 range (6+) the past eight sweeps. With a +.3 to 2.3 (6+),
Curtis Media Group regional Mexican WYMY applies the brakes to seven successive sweeps in which it was either down or flat (2.6 – 2.6 – 2.4 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 2.3 – 2.0, 6+). As in each of those situations, "La Ley 101" stays at #11. Recent (6+) movement for iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMAG (7.5 – 6.9, flat at #4, 6+) is
-.9 (March);
+.5 (April);
+.9 (May); -.3 (June);
-.7 (July);
-.5 (August);
+.7 (September); and
-.6 (October).
9)
West Palm Beach – Progressing from fifth to third,
iHeartMedia CHR WLDI flaunts its seventh successive up or flat
monthly (2.8 – 3.3 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 4.5 – 5.2, 6+) for a net gain of +2.4. It is the first time that "WiLD 95.5" has reached the five-share level (6+) since the "Holiday" 2013 report (5.3). Off by a combined nine-tenths since July (4.7 – 4.0 – 3.8, 6+),
Alpha Media urban AC
WMBX "X-102.3" gains back one-half share to 4.3 and stays at #8 (6+). Following back-to-back increases of +.8 (August) and +1.1 (September), hot AC sibling WRMF stumbles by eight-tenths (7.2 – 8.0 – 9.1 – 8.3, 6+) but is #1 for the third straight time. WRMF fell to second in
July, after
23 successive sweeps at #1. In
June, WRMF gained three-tenths to end four successive decreases yielding a cumulative -2.2 (9.5 – 9.3 – 8.2 – 8.1 – 7.3, 6+); 9.1 in September was its strongest 6+-stat since February's 9.3. It is a rough sweep for the market's two adult contemporary FM outlets, as WRMF sibling WEAT "Sunny 107.9" regresses by -1.3 (7.6 – 6.3, unchanged at #2) while iHeartMedia-owned WOLL "Today's Kool 105.5" drops nine-tenths (third to fourth, 6+). The last four fluctuations for "Kool" have been by
+1.5 (July);
-1.0 (August);
-.8 (September); and
-.9 in October (6.0 – 7.5 – 6.5 – 5.7 – 4.8, 6+). The 7.5 in July was its highest 6+-stat since 7.7 in April 2015. After having wiped out a -.7 in August with a +.7 in September, classic rock cluster-mate WKGR "Gater 98.7" now flounders by one-half share (4.9 – 4.2 – 4.9 – 4.4, 6+) and dips from fourth to sixth.
10)
Jacksonville – Three consecutive improvements (May – June – July) gave
Renda Broadcasting's WGNE "99 Gator Country" a
combined
+1.2 (4.9 – 5.7 – 5.9 – 6.1, 6+). It, however, surrendered virtually all that gain in August (
-1.1, 6+) only to post a
+.7 in September and
+.9 in October (5.0 – 4.3 – 5.2, 6+); "99 Gator Country" advances from eighth to seventh. In addition to notching its fifth consecutive improvement for a cumulative
+1.8 (5.2 – 5.5 – 6.1 – 6.3 – 6.4 – 7.0, 6+),
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WJBT
"93.3 The Beat" (sixth to fifth) has its strongest 6+-stat in exactly three years (also 7.0, October 2013). Powered by a gain of seven-tenths (6.5 – 7.2, 6+),
Cox Media Group talker WOKV progresses from fifth to fourth. It is the best 6+-stat for WOKV since December's 7.7. The third consecutive increase by co-owned WFXJ is one-half share (.1 – .2 -.3 – .8) with "Sports Radio 930" climbing from #17 to #15. Also improving by one-half share are Cox Media Group-owned CHR WAPE "Jacksonville's #1 Hit Music Station" (8.6 – 9.1, third to second, 6+) and its format rival – iHeartMedia's WKSL "97.9 Kiss-FM" (tenth to ninth, 6+) – which was without an increase since June (4.9 – 4.2 – 4.1 – 4.1, 6+). Bouncing back from a -.7 in September, WAPE had a one-month stay at #1 in August and now trails Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary WEJZ "Lite 96.1 – Today's Variety" by just one-tenth. Repeating at #1, "Lite 96" (9.4 – 9.2, -.2, 6+) rebounded from a -1.3 in August with a +.5 in September. Prior to August, "Lite" had been #1 the previous nine sweeps and in fact, before dropping to #2 in November 2015, it was on top the previous
17 sweeps; 9.2 is its lowest 6+-share since December (also 9.2). The one-half share Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies WJGL "96.9 The Eagle" gained in September is more than wiped out in October by a -1.2 (8.8 – 9.3 – 8.1, 6+). Within one-tenth of "Lite 96.1" in September, "The Eagle" slides from second to third; September's 9.3 marked the first time in its
PPM-history that "The Eagle" crossed the nine-share threshold (6+). Stuck on 3.2 (6+) in July, August, and September, its urban contemporary HD-2 channel (WJGL-HD2) drops six-tenths to 2.6 but remains at #14. Also eroding by six-tenths are iHeartMedia's WQIK "99.1 Jacksonville's Country (fourth to sixth, 6+) and public WJCT (4.2 – 3.6, 6+). Without an increase since February, "Jacksonville's Country" is down two full-shares in that period (8.7 – 8.7 – 8.4 – 8.2 – 8.1 – 7.7 – 7.7 – 7.3 – 6.7, 6+). WJCT departs the top ten (#9 to #11). By way of four consecutive declines (5.7 – 4.1 – 3.8 – 3.3 – 3.0, 6+), iHeartMedia adult hits WWJK "107.3 Jack-FM" erodes by -2.7 and falls from #12 to #13.
11)
Memphis – Back-to-back modest declines in August and September by
Cumulus Media's WRBO produced a combined
loss of six-tenths (8.5 – 8.2 – 7.8, 6+), but "Soul Classics & Today's R&B" wipes out virtually all of it with a one-half share gain to 8.3 and finishes second for the fifth straight survey period. It is 1.6 shares behind
iHeartMedia urban AC KJMS "V-101," which is #1 for the eighth consecutive monthly –
but –
-2.6 in five
successive downtrends (12.5 – 11.6 – 10.7 – 10.5 – 10.2 – 9.9, 6+). This is the first time since February (8.3) that "V-101" is
not in double-digits (6+). Progressing from fifth to fourth,
Entercom hot AC WMC-FM "FM 100 Today's Best Mix" records its fourth successive improvement for a net gain of +1.4 (5.0 – 5.4 – 5.7 – 6.0 – 6.4, 6+) and has its best 6+-showing since May 2015 (also 6.4). Unchanged at #8, Cumulus Media rocker WXMX "98.1 The Max" is nonetheless up for the sixth straight time and has netted +2.4 since April (2.8 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 4.0 – 4.7 – 4.9 – 5.2, 6+). Although sibling WGKX is flat at #9, a +.3 to 4.3 (6+) curtails three successive negative trends that produced a -.7 for "Kix 106 Today's Best Country" (4.7 – 4.6 – 4.4 – 4.0, 6+). May through September (6+) trends for WRVR "Continuous Soft Rock The River" are 7.9 – 7.7 – 7.4 – 7.7 – 7.1 (6+). The Entercom adult contemporary follows up September's -.6 with a -.8 to 6.3 to dip from fourth to fifth. This is the lowest 6+-stat for "The River" since August 2015's 6.0.
12)
Hartford – The market's (6+) spoken-word share gets a boost from
Connecticut Public Broadcasting's WNPR (up one full-
share, ninth to eighth, 6+) and
CBS Radio-owned talker WTIC-AM (up six-tenths, steady at #3, 6+). This is the fourth straight gain for WNPR (3.1 – 3.3 – 3.9 – 4.0 – 5.0, 6+) for a net +1.9 and the third consecutive improvement for WTIC-AM (7.0 – 8.0 – 8.3 – 8.9, 6+)
– also yielding a +1.9. WTIC-AM's 8.9 matches what it registered in June. The four-tenths lead
iHeartMedia-owned WWYZ "Country 92-5" had over CBS Radio adult contemporary WRCH "Lite 100.5" in September is reversed as "Lite" gains three-tenths (9.3 – 9.6, second to first, 6+) while "Country 92.5" sputters by one-half share (9.7 – 9.2, first to second, 6+). Entering the September sweep, "Lite" had been on top for
23 of the previous 24 sweeps – including the past 15 – but it declined by
-1.1 and dropped to second-place. "Lite" had been in double-digits (6+) for 13 straight ratings periods; 9.3 was its lowest 6+-showing since August 2015, when it recorded an 8.7. Ironically, WWYZ took over the top spot with a -.4, which halted five straight positive or flat monthlies (7.2 – 7.9 – 7.9 – 9.0 – 9.5 – 10.1, 6+). "Country 92-5" was up nearly three full-shares since March and had been in the runner-up slot the past three sweeps. Within 7.2 – 7.8 range (6+) the past five ratings periods, CBS Radio rhythmic CHR WZMX "Hot 93.7" falters by -1.2 to 6.2 (6+) and slips from fourth to sixth. This is the softest 6+-showing for "Hot" since July 2015's 6.1. Without an increase for the fourth successive time (6.5 – 6.3 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 5.3, 6+), iHeartMedia mainstream CHR WKSS "Kiss 95.7 – All the Hits" remains at #7. This is also the fourth consecutive time that
Connoisseur Media classic rocker WDRC-FM (eighth to ninth) hasn't had positive movement (6.0 – 5.9 – 5.6 – 5.2 – 4.7, 6+); 4.7 is its lowest 6+-share since May 2015 (also 4.7). Returning in print for the first time since February 2012 when it registered a 4.1(#9, 6+) is
Red Wolf alternative WMRQ (2.5, #10, October 2016, 6+); co-owned Spanish tropical WMRQ-HD2 (2.4, 6+) is right behind it, debuting at #11.
