PPM Data – Part Four. November 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 November 2016 survey period covered October 6 – November 2.
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from all 12 of these
PPM-markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
Austin – Among all stations in
Nielsen Audio's 48-
PPM markets, only
iHeartMedia talker/
Cleveland Indians flagship WTAM can claim a greater (6+) October 2016 – November 2016 increase
(+2.7) than KBPA
"Bob," which flexes its muscle with a
+2.5 (8.0 – 10.5, 6+) and is back in first-place after a one-month hiatus. In addition to 10.5 being the highest-ever 6+-share for "Bob" under PPM-methodology, it is the seventh-best 6+ share by any Austin station in the PPM-era.
The Emmis adult hits outlet had been #1 each month this calendar year before seguing to second in October. It succeeds the station that replaced it this time last month –
University of Texas at Austin-owned KUT – down one-tenth (9.1 – 9.0, 6+) and returning to the runner-up slot it occupied the previous five ratings periods before advancing to #1 in October. 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. Similarly, 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
+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. Progressing by one-half share to 5.6 (6+) and jumping from sixth to fourth is
Entercom adult contemporary KKMJ "Majic 95.5," still boasting Austin's highest 6+ PPM stat (11.4). "Majic" was locked on 5.1 (6+) in September and October. Having
gained eight-tenths (each) in
back-to-back sweeps (2.9 – 3.7 – 4.5, 6+),
Univision Radio regional Mexican KLQB "Que Buena 104.3"
falters by that amount and is back to 3.7 (6+), dipping from ninth to tenth. "Que Buena" last reached the four-share level one year ago (4.0, October 2015). Declining by eight-tenths as well is
iHeartMedia mainstream CHR KHFI "96.7 Kiss-FM" (5.4 – 4.6, seventh, 6+), which had been in 5.1 – 5.5 range (6+) the past six ratings periods. Ironically, the last time "Kiss-FM" fell below a four-share (6+) was one year ago – November
2015 – when it recorded a 4.6 as well. Off by one-half share – following a +.6 in October – Emmis regional Mexican KLZT "107.1 La Z" (6.1 – 5.6, 6+) shifts from third to fourth. It was three years ago when "La Z" last crossed the six-share level (6.1, 6+, October 2013). Up or flat the past four sweeps for a gain of four-tenths (.7 – .7 – 1.0 – 1.1 – 1.1, 6+), iHeartMedia's KVET-AM "1300 The Zone – Austin's Sports Talk" loses all of it plus one-tenth (.6,
-.5, #24, 6+). After four straight gains, which netted a +1.5 (2.0 – 2.6 – 2.8 – 2.9 – 3.5, 6+), the HD3 channel of Entercom-owned KKMJ slips by two-tenths to 3.3 (6+), falling from #12 to #13.
2)
Milwaukee – Although out of double-digits (6+) for the fourth straight time,
iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies
WRIT "95.7 Big FM – Milwaukee's Greatest Hits" rolls out a massive +1.2 to 9.6 (6+), halting four consecutive down or flat trends (10.4 – 10.4 – 9.3 – 8.7 – 8.4, 6+) that yielded a cumulative loss of two full-shares since June. Robust recent fluctuations for "Milwaukee's Greatest Hits," which is #1 for the
19th successive time, 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);
-.6 (September) and
+1.2 (November). In a slightly less pronounced way, the three latest trends for
Scripps' WKTI "94.5 KTI Country" have been
-.6 (September);
-.5 (October; and now
+.7 in November (2.8 – 2.3 – 3.0, 6+). October's 2.3 was 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+). Advancing from #15 to #13, "KTI Country" trails iHeartMedia's WMIL "FM 106.1 Milwaukee's Best Country" (5.6, fourth to seventh, 6+) by 2.6 shares. Following October's one-half share gain, Scripps-owned talker WTMJ surrenders eight-tenths (6.3 – 6.8 – 6.0, 6+), tumbling from second to third. With a +.5 in
August, WTMJ pulled the plug on three straight dips (6.8 – 6.7 – 6.6 – 6.4, 6+). The
Green Bay Packers flagship posts a 6+-share between 6.1 – 6.9 for the twelfth straight time. Without a decrease the past three ratings periods (3.6 – 4.1 – 4.8 – 4.8, 6+),
Saga Communications' urban AC WJMR "Jammin' 98.3" sputters by one-half share to 4.3 (6+) but remains at #11. Although steady at #14, WUWM dips by one-tenth to 2.9 (6+), curtailing five straight up or flat trends that netted +1.2 since May (1.8 – 1.8 – 2.1 – 2.5 – 3.0 – 3.0, 6+). In October, the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee station crossed the three-share level (6+) for the first time since May 2014 when it hit 3.2.
3)
Indianapolis – There is good news and not so good news this sweep for Indy outlets with the WTLC calls. On the positive side,
Radio One gospel WTLC-
AM "1310 The Light" dials up an impressive +1.3 to climb from #16 to
#14. "The Light" doubles October's 1.3 (to 2.6, 6+) and nearly triples September's .9 (6+). In fact, "The Light" is without a loss for the fifth straight time for a collective gain of two full-shares (6.- .7 – .7 – .9 – 1.3 – 2.6, 6+). The seesaw though continues for co-owned urban AC WTLC-
FM "Indy's R&B Leader," which was
-1.2 in September;
+.6 in October; and now
-.7 in November (7.7 – 6.5 – 7.1 – 6.4, 6+). This is the lowest 6+-share for WTLC-FM (fourth to fifth) since April's 6.2. Progressing from fifth to fourth,
Cumulus Media's WFMS "95.5 The Country Station" boasts its fifth successive positive trend for a collective +1.2 (5.3 – 5.6 – 5.7 – 6.0 – 6.2 – 6.5, 6+). Without an increase in four successive sweeps for a combined May through September -1.6 (6.3 – 5.3 – 5.1 – 4.7 – 4.7, 6+), crosstown format rival –
Emmis' WLHK "97.1 Hank" – adds one-tenth to October's +.5 (4.7 – 5.2 – 5.3, 6+), but actually backslides from a seventh-place tie to eighth. As a result of three straight June through September increases for a combined +1.2 (4.4 – 4.5 – 5.4 – 5.6, 6+),
iHeartMedia's WOLT forfeited three-quarters of that gain in October (
-.9). "Alt 103.3 Indy's Alternative" roars back though with a
+.8 (4.7 – 5.6, 6+), inching up from ninth to seventh. Notching its third consecutive gain for a combined +.7 (7.1 – 7.4 – 7.6 – 7.8, 6+), Cumulus Media's WJJK "Classic Hits 104.5" repeats at #1. It has a one-tenth advantage over
Entercom CHR WZPL (7.3 – 7.7, +.4, 6+), which elevates from third to second. 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. Declining by one-half share each are its hot AC cluster-mate WNTR "107.9 The Mix" – Better Variety for a Better Workday" (4.7 – 4.2, 6+) and Emmis adult contemporary WYXB "Soft Rock B-105.7" (7.0, second to third, 6+). This marks the 19
th straight time that "The Mix" – transitioning from ninth to tenth – has registered a 6+-share between 4.0 – 4.9. "B-105.7" had been up in each of the three previous sweeps for a cumulative +1.1 (6.4 – 6.6 – 7.3 – 7.5, 6+). With a +.2 in
August, "Soft Rock" ended three straight
declines (7.1 – 6.6 – 6.5 – 6.4, 6+).
4)
Providence – Enjoying hearty improvements of eight-tenths each and remaining at #2 and #3, respectively,
are
Cumulus Media mainstream CHR WPRO-FM "Today's Hit Music," (9.0, 6+) and
iHeartMedia rocker WHJY "94-HJY Providence's Home of Rock and Roll" (8.8, 6+). Up six-tenths in September, "Today's Hit Music" is rebounding from October's -.9 (8.5 – 9.1 – 8.2 – 9.0, 6+). September's 9.1 was the best 6+-stat for WPRO-FM since February (also 9.1), however, October's 8.2 was its lowest 6+-showing since the "Holiday" 2015 report (7.4). Following three successive declines for a combined -.8 (9.2 – 8.9 – 8.7 – 8.4, 6+), WHJY added one-tenth in September, but "Providence's Home of Rock and Roll" faltered by one-half share in October (8.5 – 8.0, 6+). Having registered three straight progressive trends for a collective gain of one-half share (9.4 – 9.6 – 9.7 – 9.9, 6+), Cumulus Media adult contemporary WWLI "Lite Rock 105" dips a cumulative four-tenths in October and November (9.9 – 9.8 – 9.5, 6+), but is #1 for the thirteenth 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. Regressing by one-half share each are
Hall Communications' WCTK "98.1 Cat Country" (7.2 – 6.7, unchanged at #4, 6+) and Cumulus Media rhythmic CHR WWKX "Hot 106.3" (2.5, 6+), which hadn't had a decrease in the last five ratings periods (2.5 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 2.6 – 3.0, 6+), but stays at #9. Two streaks conclude in the (noncommercial) spoken-word arena as Boston's WGBH (steady at #10) is off by two-tenths to 2.0 (6+) and
The Wheeler School's WELH (#11 to #12) drops one-tenth to .7 (6+). WGBH put together four straight uptrends (1.2 – 1.4 – 1.7 – 1.8 – 2.2, 6+) for a one-share gain, while WELH with up or flat the past seven survey periods (.3 – .4 – .5 – .5 – .6 – .8 – .8 – .8, 6+).
5)
Raleigh – Not only does it dust itself off from October's loss of nine-tenths by notching a gain of one-half share,
Curtis Media Group CHR WDCG "G-105 The Hit Music Channel" leaps from fourth to first. The five most recent trends for "G-
105" are
+.6 (July);
-.6 (August);
+1.3 (September);
-.9 (October) and
+.5 in November (7.0 – 7.6 – 7.0 – 8.3 – 7.4 – 7.9, 6+). Prior to September, "G-105" last reached the eight-share level (6+) more than four years ago (8.4, July 2012). Locked on 7.7 (6+) in September and October,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's WUNC (7.8, +.1, 6+) is one-tenth behind "G-105" and repeats in the runner-up slot. Dislodged from #1 is
Radio One urban AC WFXC "Foxy," which completely surrenders the seven-tenths it gained in October (7.5 – 8.2 – 7.5, 6+) and moves to third. The market's country contest finds Curtis Media Group-owned WQDR "94.7 Today's Best Country" (steady at #5) notching its fourth straight improvement (5.6 – 6.2 – 6.3 – 6.6 – 7.0, 6+) and
iHeartMedia's WNCB "B-93.9 #1 for New Country" up one-tenth to 3.2 (flat at #14, 6+), halting four straight downward trends (3.8 – 3.7 – 3.5 – 3.4 – 3.1, 6+). In the process of dropping one-half share,
Capitol Broadcasting adult contemporary WRAL "Mix 101.5" slips from third to fourth. Over the course of Raleigh's October 2015 – November 2016 ratings reports, "Mix 101.5" has been in sole possession of first-place seven times and shared it three times. 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;
+1.0 October; and now
-.5 in November. Off three-tenths to 4.9 (6+), Curtis Media Group adult hits WBBB "Radio 96.1" has its string of consecutive progressive trends, which netted a +1.6, end at four (3.6 – 3.7 – 4.1 – 4.8 – 5.2, 6+); October's 5.2 was the best 6+-share for "Radio 96.1" since November 2015 (5.2 as well).
6)
Norfolk – By posting a one-half share increase (2.9 – 3.4, 6+),
Entercom hot AC WPTE "94.9 The Point"
displays its best 6+-share since January's 3.5 and carries on in seventh-place. Unchanged at #6, rhythmic CHR sibling WNVZ "Z-104" picks up one-tenth and has been up or flat since August (4.0 – 4.0 – 4.1 – 4.2, 6+), although the net increase is just two-tenths. It is nevertheless in four-share range (6+) for the eleventh straight time. Urban AC cluster-mate – WVKL "Smooth R&B From Yesterday & Today" (12.2 – 12.0, -.2, 6+) – is #1 for the
54th consecutive ratings period. The last time WVKL – which faltered by one-half share in October – was
not in double-digits (6+) was when it registered a 9.8 in January
2014. Steady at #4, adult contemporary sibling WWDE "2WD" gained a collective one-half share in back-to-back (August – September – October) sweeps (4.8 – 5.2 – 5.3, 6+) before slumping by eight-tenths to 4.5, its lowest 6+-share since June 2015's 4.4. In the runner-up slot for the eleventh straight time,
iHeartMedia urban contemporary WOWI "Jamz 103" picks up three-tenths (7.7 – 8.0, 6+). A gain of one-tenth (to 4.5, 6+) enables
Saga Communications' WAFX "106.9 The Fox" (fifth to fourth) to halt three successive declines which accounted for a -1.5 since July (5.9 – 5.3 – 5.1 – 4.4). After a
+.6 in August and a
-.7 in September, "Jamz 103" answered with a
1.1 in October (6.7 – 7.3 – 6.6 – 7.7, 6+). 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). For the fourth 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 – As
WAY Media contemporary Christian WAYM "WAY-FM" improves by one-half share (1.3 – 1.8, unchanged at #17, 6+), cross-town
Educational Media Foundation-owned, similarly-formatted WLVU
"Positive & Encouraging K-LOVE" regresses by seven-tenths (2.9 – 2.2, flat at #15, 6+). This is the lowest 6+-share for "K-LOVE" since the "Holiday" 2015 report (2.1). In addition to "WAY-FM,"
Cumulus Media's WWTN "Super Talk 99.7" (5.4 – 5.9, eighth to fifth, 6+) and CHR WNFN "All the Hits 106.7" (3.7, #14 to #12, 6+) also notch gains of one-half share.
Midwest Communications' newly-acquired WNFN has registered a 3.2 in four of the last six sweeps. On top for the
57th consecutive ratings period, adult contemporary sibling WJXA "Mix 92.9" is tending 9.7 – 8.4 – 8.3 (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. Its lead over runner-up WGFX "104.5 The Zone" increases to seven-tenths, as the Cumulus Media sports outlet/
Tennessee Titans flagship loses two-tenths to 7.6 (6+), halting three consecutive improvements which resulted in a massive +4.1 (including October's
+2.4) since July (3.7 – 4.0 – 5.4 – 7.8, 6+). The 7.8 (6+) "The Zone" posted in October was its highest since December (also 7.8). Without an increase for the seventh straight sweep for a combined loss of more than two full-shares (7.0 – 6.4 – 6.4 – 6.2 – 6.2 – 6.0 – 5.3 – 4.9, 6+)
iHeartMedia's WNRQ "105.9 The Rock" nonetheless carries on at #9. The market's country share tumbles by four-tenths. Specifically, Cumulus Media's WSM-FM "Nash Icon" is down four-tenths to 5.6, dropping from fifth to eighth (6+), while the three-tenths sibling WKDF "Nash 103.3" loses following October's +.3 (3.3 – 3.6 – 3.3, #12 to #14, 6+) is erased by the +.3 from iHeartMedia's WSIX-FM "The Big 98 – Nashville's #1 for New Country" (4.4 – 4.7, steady at #10, 6+). Back in June, "Nash Icon" registered its strongest-ever 6+-
PPM stat (5.9).
8)
Greensboro – To say that WJMH "102 Jamz The Hip-Hop Station" is on a monster roll is the height of under-statement. Over and
above having its fifth straight increase, this one a whopping
+1.8, the
Entercom-owned rhythmic CHR is up by nearly four full-shares since June (8.6 – 9.8 – 10.0 – 10.1 – 10.6 – 12.4, 6+). For good measure, "102 Jamz" is #1 for the third successive sweep, with 12.4 the best-ever (6+) showing in its
PPM-history. For the third consecutive ratings period, urban AC sibling WQMG is in the runner-up slot, but it erodes by six-tenths. 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; back-to-back gains of
+1.1 in September and October (8.1 – 9.2 – 10.3, 6+); and November's
-.6 to 9.7 (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). Co-owned adult hits WSMW "Simon" is a collective +.8 in October and November, following September's -1.8 (10.5 – 8.7 – 9.3 – 9.5,
+.6, 6+). "Simon" remains at #3, giving Entercom a #1 – #2 – #3 (6+) finish for the eleventh 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 its best-ever under PPM methodology. After three successive down-trending monthlies that produced a cumulative loss of more than two full-shares (7.2 – 7.0 – 6.5 – 5.1, 6+),
iHeartMedia's WTQR "New Country Q-104.1" picks up three-tenths to 5.4 (sixth to fifth, 6+). It has a three-tenths advantage over Entercom's similarly-programmed WPAW "93.1 The Wolf" (5.0 – 5.1, +.1, seventh to sixth, 6+). In September, "Q-104.1" held a 1.9-share lead over "The Wolf." Prior to reaching 5.0 in October, "The Wolf" had been in 4.2 – 4.8 range (6+) the previous eight sweeps. On the heels of October's +.5, iHeartMedia talker WPTI tacks on an additional six-tenths (3.9 – 4.4 – 5.0, 6+) to move from eighth to seventh. Recent (6+) movement for adult contemporary cluster-mate WMAG (6.9 – 7.3, flat at #4, 6+) is
-.9 (March);
+.5 (April);
+.9 (May); -.3 (June);
-.7 (July);
-.5 (August);
+.7 (September);
-.6 (October); and
+.4 (November).
9)
West Palm Beach – The nine-tenths
iHeartMedia-owned adult contemporary WOLL dropped in October is recaptured in its entirety (5.7 – 4.8 – 5.7, 6+), with "Today's Kool 105.5" returning to third from fourth. The five
latest fluctuations for "Kool" have been by
+1.5 (July);
-1.0 (August);
-.8 (September);
-.9 (October); and
+.9 (November). July's 7.5 was its highest 6+-stat since 7.7 in April 2015. Three-tenths ahead of WOLL – and flat at #2 – is its adult contemporary rival,
Alpha Media's WEAT, but "Sunny 107.9," is off for the third consecutive ratings period for a cumulative -1.9 (7.9 – 7.6 – 6.3 – 6.0, 6+). This is the softest 6+-showing for "Sunny" since December (6.0 as well). The ups and downs continue for iHeartMedia classic rocker WKGR "Gater 98.7," which wiped out August's -.7 with a +.7 in September; lost one-half share in October; and now picks up three-tenths in November (4.9 – 4.2 – 4.9 – 4.4 – 4.7, 6+) to shift back to fourth from sixth. Notwithstanding that it is #1 for the fourth straight time, Alpha Media hot AC WRMF (up a collective +1.9 in August and September to 9.1, 6+) follows October's -.8 with a loss of another six-tenths (9.1 – 8.3 – 7.6, 6+). 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+). September's 9.1 was its strongest 6+-stat since February's 9.3. In addition to WRMF, Alpha Media-operated talker WFTL (1.8 – 1.2, #12 to #16, 6+) and iHeartMedia CHR WLDI "WiLD 95.5" (5.2 – 4.6, third to seventh, 6+) are also off by six-tenths. The loss of six-tenths by "WiLD" pulls the plug on seven successive up or flat monthlies that netted +2.4 (2.8 – 3.3 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 3.9 – 4.5 – 5.2, 6+). October's 5.2 marked the first time "WiLD 95.5" reached the five-share level (6+) since the "Holiday" 2013 report (5.3).
10)
Jacksonville – In the swing state of Florida – and on the heels of October's gain of seven-tenths –
Cox Media 
Group talker WOKV flaunts a rousing
+1.7 (6.5 – 7.2 – 8.9, 6+) to march from fourth to first. It is the most potent 6+-stat for WOKV in exactly four years (9.9, November
2012). Evicted from the top spot and trailing WOKV by two-tenths is
Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary WEJZ "Lite 96.1 – Today's Variety," which sputters by one-half share (9.2 – 8.7, 6+). "Lite 96" 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. This is the weakest 6+-share for WEJZ in precisely two years (7.5, November
2014). Simultaneous with the -.5 by "Lite," AC rival – Cox Media Group's WEZI – improves by that margin to 3.6, its best 6+-stat since September 2015's 4.2. Even so, "Easy 106.5" actually backslides from #12 to #13. Powered by a hefty +.8 to 3.8 (6+),
iHeartMedia adult hits WWJK "107.3 Jack-FM" enters the top ten (#11 to #10), applying the brakes to four straight negative trends that produced a collective loss of -2.7 and nearly 50% of its 6+-share (5.7 – 4.1 – 3.8 – 3.3 – 3.0, 6+). Steady at #15, Brunswick, Georgia-licensed independent contemporary Christian WMUV "The Promise" registers a one-half share gain to 1.3 to curtail three successive downward trends (1.1 – 1.1 – 1.0 – .8, 6+). 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 three straight gains in September, October, and November for a combined
+1.7; "99 Gator Country" (5.2 – 5.3, 6+) is unchanged at #7. Meanwhile, prior to November's +.1 to 6.8 (6+), format foe – iHeartMedia-owned WQIK "Jacksonville's Country" (sixth to fifth) – was down two full-shares as a result of not having an increase since February (8.7 – 8.7 – 8.4 – 8.2 – 8.1 – 7.7 – 7.7 – 7.3 – 6.7, 6+). Relinquishing more than twice the one-half share it secured in October after bouncing back from a -.7 in September (8.6 – 9.1 – 7.9,
-1.2, 6+), Cox Media Group CHR WAPE slides from second to fourth. "Jacksonville's #1 Hit Music Station" had a one-month stay at #1 in August and is back to the 7.9 (6+) it had in June. This marks the sixth straight sweep that iHeartMedia urban-rhythmic oldies WSOL "V-101.5 Throwback Hip-Hop and R&B" (eighth to ninth) is either down or flat (6.3 – 5.9 – 5.4 – 5.4 – 5.2 – 5.1 – 4.4, ninth, 6+) for a cumulative loss of almost two full-shares. In contrast, urban contemporary sibling WJBT "93.3 The Beat" (fifth to sixth) drops six-tenths to 6.4 (6+), thus ending five consecutive improvements for a combined
+1.8 (5.2 – 5.5 – 6.1 – 6.3 – 6.4 – 7.0, 6+). October's 7.0 by "The Beat" was its strongest 6+-stat in three years (also 7.0 in October 2013). Down two-tenths to .6 (6+), co-owned WFXJ "Sports Radio 930" (#15 to #16) has its consecutive streak of positive trends end at three (.1 – .2 -.3 – .8, 6+).
11)
Memphis – While unchanged at #4,
Entercom hot AC WMC-FM "FM 100 Today's Best Mix" records its fifth successive improvement for a net gain of +1.6 (5.0 – 5.4 – 5.7 – 6.0 – 6.4 – 6.6, 6+) and has its finest 6+-showing in
nearly three years (6.9, December 2013). Trotting out meaty increases of eight-tenths each are
Cumulus Media cluster-mates WRBO "Soul Classics & Today's R&B" (9.1, 6+, #2 for the sixth straight survey period) and WGKX "Kix 106 Today's Best Country" (5.1, 6+, fourth successive time at #9). Back-to-back modest declines by WRBO in August and September produced a combined loss of six-tenths (8.5 – 8.2 – 7.8, 6+), but "Soul Classics & Today's R&B" wiped out virtually all of it with October's one-half share gain. A +.3 in October curtailed three successive negative trends that produced a -.7 for "Kix 106 Today's Best Country" (4.7 – 4.6 – 4.4 – 4.0, 6+). Rock sibling WXMX "98.1 The Max" (steady at #8) hasn't had a decrease in the last seven ratings periods, netting +2.4 since April (2.8 – 3.4 – 3.5 – 4.0 – 4.7 – 4.9 – 5.2, 6+). Advancing from #12 to #11, Entercom's WMFS "
ESPN Sports Radio" is up or flat for the fourth straight time (2.2 – 2.2 – 2.5 – 2.8 – 3.0, 6+). While #1 for the ninth consecutive monthly,
iHeartMedia urban AC KJMS "V-101" is
-2.6 in six successive monthly reports without an increase (12.5 – 11.6 – 10.7 – 10.5 – 10.2 – 9.9 – 9.9, 6+). October and November (9.9, 6+) mark the first time since February (8.3) that "V-101" is
not in double-digits (6+). Flat at #7, co-owned gospel WHAL "Halleluiah 95.7 – Memphis' Inspiration Station" is down by one-half share to 5.3, its lowest 6+-performance since June's 5.1. Flat at #10, talk sibling WREC drops one-tenth to 3.5 (6+), ending its consecutive progressive trends, which netted a +.9, at four (2.7 – 2.8 – 3.1 – 3.3 – 3.6, 6+).
12)
Hartford – A one-half share improvement not only helps to enable
CBS Radio adult contemporary WRCH
to repeat at #1 "Lite 100.5" is back in double-digits (6+) for the first time since August (9.6 – 10.1, 6+). "Lite" had been in double-digits (6+) for 13 straight ratings periods before posting a 9.3 in September and a 9.6 in October; 9.3 was its lowest 6+-showing since August 2015, when it recorded an 8.7. Entering the September sweep, "Lite" was on top for
15 straight sweeps and 23 of the previous 24 but it declined by
-1.1 and dropped to second-place. Even though co-owned WTIC-AM forfeits all of the six-tenths it secured in October – plus two-tenths more – to 8.1 (
-.8, 6+), the talk facility actually moves up from third to second. Nonetheless, the decrease stymies WTIC-AM's successive string of gains – which netted a +1.9 – at three (7.0 – 8.0 – 8.3 – 8.9, 6+); WTIC-AM's 8.9 in October matched what it registered in June. Progressing from eighth to seventh,
Connecticut Public Broadcasting's WNPR boasts its fifth straight gain (3.1 – 3.3 – 3.9 – 4.0 – 5.0 – 5.4, 6+) for an overall +2.3. Four-tenths behind "Lite" in October,
iHeartMedia-owned WWYZ "Country 92-5" follows up October's one-half share decrease by plummeting nearing three times as much
(-1.4, 6+), sliding from second to third. It results in being the third straight regression for "Country 92-5" (10.1 – 9.7 – 9.2 – 7.8, 6+) producing a collective -2.3 and the station's lowest 6+-share since March (7.2). WWYZ actually took over the top spot from WRCH in September with a
decrease of four-tenths, 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 previous three sweeps. Without an increase for the fifth successive time (6.5 – 6.3 – 6.0 – 6.0 – 5.3 – 5.0, 6+), mainstream CHR cluster-mate WKSS "Kiss 95.7 – All the Hits" slips from seventh to eighth and is a collective -1.5 since June. This also marks the fifth consecutive time that
Connoisseur Media's WDRC-FM "102.9 The Whale – Hartford's Classic Rock" (flat at #9) hasn't posted an improvement (6.0 – 5.9 – 5.6 – 5.2 – 4.7 – 4.5, 6+).
