PPM Data – Part Three. December 2016 ratings information has been released for Portland, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, San Antonio, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Orlando, and Columbus.
Nielsen Audio's December 2016 survey period covered November 3 – November 30. Two particularly significant things to remember in these coverage dates are that the period began five days before the presidential election and it reflects a mainly mid-November start by some stations (the overwhelming majority of which are adult contemporary) of a transition to all-Christmas music. View all the 6+ numbers from subscribing stations
here. Meanwhile,
RadioInfo managing editor
Mike Kinosian (Kinosian@RadioInfo.com) provides his "Takeaways" from these 12-
PPM markets.
TWELVE TAKEAWAYS
1)
Portland – Adult contemporary KKCW "K-103" puts an end to a September – October – November mini-slide (8.6 – 7.8 – 7.7, 6+) with a
+2.1 exclamation point to 9.8 (6+) as the
iHeartMedia facility is #1 for the
30th time in the last
32 ratings periods. A one-tenth gain in
May by KKCW ended four straight sweeps without an increase
(21.4 – 9.5 – 8.8 – 8.6 – 8.6, 6+). Back in
June 2016, "K-103" suffered a massive -1.6 to 7.1, its lowest 6+-share since June
2014 (6.6). This time last year (December
2015), "K-103" was #1 with an 11.4 (6+). Broken is the November tie at #1 between KKCW and KOPB, which, after November's +.8, drops one-tenth and slips to second (7.7 – 7.6, 6+); 7.6 was the
Oregon Public Broadcasting outlet's strongest 6+-stat since March when it hit 8.0. While KOPB is often found in the runner-up slot, November 2016 was its first time at #1 since April 2013. A gain of one-tenth by
Entercom's KWJJ "99.5 The Wolf" (eighth to fifth) is enough to halt four straight skids that resulted in the loss of two full-shares since July (6.7 – 6.0 – 5.7 – 5.0 – 4.7, 6+). Sandwiching an October 4.5 (6+) between 4.7 shares (6+) in September and November, hot AC sibling KRSK busts out a +1.4 to 6.1, marking the first time in its
PPM-history that "105.1 The Buzz – Today's Best Mix" crosses the six-share threshold (6+). In addition, "The Buzz" leaps from a three-way, eighth-place tie to third. Conversely, locked on 5.3 (6+) in October and November,
Alpha Media's similarly-formatted KBFF "Live 95.5 – The Station That Sounds Like Portland" falters by seven-tenths to skid from third to seventh (4.6, 6+). Down seven-tenths since September (5.8 – 5.2 – 5.1, 6+), iHeartMedia-owned KLTH "106.7 The Eagle – Portland's Classic Hits Station" displays a gain of one-half share to 5.6 (6+) and carries on in fourth-place. Following six consecutive months without a decrease for a combined +1.4 since April (3.9 – 4.2 – 4.5 – 5.0 – 5.0 – 5.2 – 5.3, 6+), Entercom adult hits KYCH "97.1 Charlie – We Play Everything" dropped two-tenths in November and now stumbles by one-full-share (5.3 – 5.1 – 4.1, 6+). "Charlie" drifts from a tie at #4 to a three-way logjam at #9, which includes iHeartMedia CHR KKRZ "Z-100," whose down/up pattern since July is 5.1 – 4.8 – 5.3 – 4.3 – 4.7 – 4.1 (6+) for a net loss of one full-share. Unchanged at #12, public KQAC "All Classical Portland" is down four-tenths to end four straight up-trends (2.8 – 2.9 – 3.0 – 3.3 – 4.1, 6+). Prior to November
2016, the last time "All Classical Portland" crossed the four-share threshold (6+) was six years ago (4.1, 6+, November 2010). Without an increase since June – including four straight times at 3.8 – for a combined -1.4 (4.9 – 4.3 – 3.8 – 3.8 – 3.8 – 3.8 – 3.5, 6+), Entercom classic rocker KGON drops from #13 to #14. Albeit down for the fifth straight time for an exactly 50% drop in its 6+-share (3.6 – 3.5 – 2.6 – 2.5 – 1.9 – 1.8, 6+), iHeartMedia's KXJM "JAM'N 107.5" actually returns to the top 20 (#21 to #19). After being up or flat the past four sweeps (1.2 – 1.4 – 2.0 – 2.1 – 2.1, 6+) and achieving its best 6+-share in more than
six years (2.2, 6+, June 2010) public jazz outlet KMHD falters by two-tenths to 1.9 (6+), slipping from a four-way tie at #17 to #18.
2)
Charlotte – Owing to
September's +.3, WKQC "K-104.7" ended three consecutive downward trends that yielded a -1.3 (5.1 – 4.6 – 4.4 – 3.8, 6+), but the
Beasley Media Group adult contemporary outlet regressed by
six-tenths in
October. Up by a combined
+2.4 in November and December (3.5 – 4.3 – 5.9, 6+), "K-104.7" leaps from ninth to fourth. Three-tenths of a share separates Charlotte's top three performers. Down or flat since July for a cumulative loss of seven-tenths (5.8 – 5.7 – 5.4 – 5.1 – 5.1, 6+),
Radio One urban-rhythmic oldies WOSF not only busts out a gain of nearly two full-shares (5.1 – 7.0,
+1.9, 6+), "Old School 105.3" catapults from sixth to first. It succeeds Beasley Media Group-owned WSOC "Country's Greatest Hits" (7.6 – 6.8, -.8, 6+), which assumes the runner-up slot. "Country's Greatest Hits" occupied the penthouse the first four months of the year and shared top honors in July and August with
iHeartMedia classic rocker WRFX "The Fox." This is the weakest 6+-stat for WSOC since June's 6.4. Meanwhile, in back-to-back monthlies, "The Fox" spirals by six-tenths (7.9 – 7.3 – 6.7, 6+) as it moves from second to third and has its lowest 6+-performance since April's 6.0. Whether solo or with WSOC, "The Fox" had a six-month tenure at #1. In 3.1 – 3.7 range (6+) from May through October, Radio One gospel WPZS was -.6 in November but "Praise 100.9 Charlotte's Inspiration Station" recaptures that entire six-tenths (3.5 – 2.9 – 3.5, 6+) and returns to #13 from #15. A loss of six-tenths (5.0 – 4.4, 6+) drops iHeartMedia adult hits WLKO "102.9 The Lake – We Play Anything" from seventh to ninth, while co-owned WEND "106.5 The End Charlotte's New Rock Alternative" is off by one-half share (2.7 – 2.2, 6+) but remains at #16.
3)
Pittsburgh – Three straight down or flat trends since August (6.8 – 6.8 – 6.6 – 6.3, 6+) resulted in a one-half share loss for WSHH, but "Wish 99.7" (fifth to fourth) rebounds with a mighty +1.3 to 7.6, its strongest 6+-stat since the
Renda Broadcasting adult contemporary outlet returned to print this past April. The third straight
gain by triple A WYEP "91.3 – Where The Music Matters" is by one-half share (1.1 – 1.1 – 1.2 – 1.7, 6+), inching the
Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting outlet up from #15 to #14. Following October's one-half share gain to 10.4 – its strongest 6+-stat since November
2015's 10.9 – WDVE dropped four-tenths in November, but the
iHeartMedia rocker recoups all of it (10.4 – 10.0 – 10.4, 6+) and is #1 for the third straight time. Owing to a loss of two-tenths in
September, WDVE halted its string of positive or flat trends at five (8.7 – 8.8 – 8.8 – 9.2 – 9.8 – 10.3, 6+). Within 7.0 – 7.5 range (6+) the past five survey periods, CHR cluster-mate WKST "96.1 Kiss – Pittsburgh's #1 Hit Music Station" (fourth to fifth) stumbles by one-half share to 6.5, its lowest 6+-showing since January (also 6.5, 6+). This is the sixth straight time iHeartMedia alternative WXDX "The X at 105.9" (3.6 – 3.5, -.1, 6+) finishes at #11. In 2.1 – 2.9 range for the sixteenth straight time,
Steel City Media hot AC WLTJ "Q-92.9" is flat at 2.8 (6+) and remains at #12. Although steady in eighth-place,
CBS Radio's KDKA-FM "93.7 The Fan" posts its third consecutive decline that has accounted for a cumulative loss of 3.5 shares (7.6 – 6.5 – 4.7 – 4.1, 6+). Unchanged at #7, co-owned talker KDKA-AM is off by three-tenths to 5.1 (6+), thus curtailing three consecutive increases that netted more than a full-share (4.3 – 4.7 – 4.9 – 5.4, 6+); November's 5.4 was KDKA-AM's best 6+-stat since April's 6.0.
4)
Sacramento – The top three Sacramento finishers are separated by just three-tenths of a share. One way to follow-up a November 2016 gain of +1.2 in is to
replicate it in December 2016, which is exactly what KYMX "Mix
96″ manages to accomplish (5.4 – 6.6 – 7.8, 6+). Despite the combined +2.4 in back-to-back monthlies, the
CBS Radio adult contemporary outlet remains in third-place for the fifth successive sweep. Somewhat ironically, "Mix" was a combined
-2.2 in September and October before November's +1.2. Prior to September, "Mix" had been up or flat the previous four monthlies (6.5 – 6.6 – 7.1 – 7.6 – 7.6, 6+). One-tenth ahead of "Mix" – and in the runner-up slot for the fifth straight time – is KFBK. The
iHeartMedia news-talk hybrid continues its wild ride that has seen it post a
+.8 (August);
-1.4 (September);
+1.2 (October)
.7 (November) and now
+.7 in December (7.3 – 8.1 – 6.7 – 7.9 – 7.2 – 7.9, 6+). The two-tenths KFBK picked up in
July ended three straight downward trends (9.1 – 7.8 – 7.4 – 7.1, 6+) for a net loss of two full-shares. While this is
Entercom classic rock KSEG's fourth negative trend in the last five ratings periods – including November's -.8 and now December's -.7 (9.6 – 8.8 – 8.1, 6+) – "The Eagle" is #1 for the eleventh consecutive report. Its 8.1 though is the lowest 6+-share for "The Eagle" in more than two years (7.8, November 2014). After consecutive downtrends in
May and
June that produced a -1.2 (10.6 – 9.8 – 9.4, -.4, 6+), KSEG posted a +.9 in July. When "The Eagle" faltered by eight-tenths in
May, it witnessed an end to three consecutive increases (8.9 – 9.0 – 9.5 – 10.6, 6+) that netted a combined +1.7. In addition to KSEG, other stations in California's capital city faltering by seven-tenths in December 2016 are co-owned KRXQ "98 Rock" (5.1, fourth to fifth, 6+);
Capital Public Radio-owned KXJZ (4.1, sixth to seventh, 6+); and iHeartMedia's KBEB "B-92.5 – #1 For New Country" (#12 to #16, 6+). Frozen on 4.7 (6+) in August and September, "98 Rock" added a combined +1.1 in October and November (4.7 – 4.8 – 5.8, 6+); 5.8 was its best 6+-performance since July 2014 (also 5.8).
California State University – Sacramento's KXJZ had not had a decrease in the past four sweeps (3.9 – 3.9 – 4.3 – 4.3 – 4.8, 6+). In November, "B-92.5" was down one full-share from 3.8, which was its best 6+-stat since June 2015 (3.9). Simultaneous with
Lotus' KMJE-FM "Vive 92.1 – Siempre Contigo"
advancing by one-half share (.4 – .9, #24, 6+), CBS Radio hot AC KZZO "Now 100.5" (3.6 – 3.1, tenth, 6+) and Entercom's KIFM-AM "
ESPN Radio 1320" (1.4 – .9, #21 to #24, 6+)
regress by that margin; "ESPN Radio 1320" was up by six-tenths in November and "Now" was down seven-tenths. Not varying from a high of 2.3 to a low of 2.1 (6+) in the last 11 sweeps (January 2016 through November 2016),
Entravision Communications' country KNTY "101.9 The Wolf" is off by four-tenths to 1.9 (6+).
5)
San Antonio – After four straight sweeps without an increase for a full-share loss (5.8 – 5.5 – 5.5 – 5.3 – 4.8, 6+),
iHeartMedia adult contemporary KQXT "Q-101.9 San Antonio's Best Variety" roars back with a gain of +1.5 to 4.8 (6+) to storm from sixth to second. One year ago at this time (December
2015), "Q-101.9" was in third-place
with a 6.1 (6+). Eight-tenths ahead of it is
Cox Media Group classic hits-oldies KONO-FM "101.1 San Antonio's Greatest Hits, which repeats at #1. It has been a seesaw lately for "San Antonio's Greatest Hits," which was
-1.0 in October;
+.9 in November; and now
-1.1 in December (8.3 – 7.3 – 8.2 – 7.1, 6+). KONO-FM departed the top spot in October after nine straight sweeps there. Before dropping from #1 to #2 in the "Holiday" 2015 report, KONO-FM was #1 in 17 of the previous 22 monthlies; 7.1 is the lowest 6+-share for "San Antonio's Greatest Hits" since July 2015 (7.1). By way of three straight July 2016 through October 2016 positive trends (6.0 – 6.6 – 7.2 – 7.5, 6+), co-owned KCYY netted 1.5 (6+) shares but "Y-100 – San Antonio's New Country Leader" (second to third) is now a collective
-1.7 in November and December (7.5 – 7.1 – 5.8, 6+). In fifth-place is iHeartMedia's KAJA "KJ-97 – San Antonio's #1 Country Station" (5.6 – 5.4, -.2, 6+). Frozen on 4.4 (6+) in September, October, and November – co-owned CHR KXXM "Mix 96.1 – San Antonio's #1 Hit Music Station" is off by one-tenth to 4.3 (6+) yet actually moves from #11 to #10. Within 2.1 – 2.8 range (6+) for the eighteenth straight time, "Mix 96.1" format rival –
Alpha Broadcasting's KTFM "Energy 94.1 – Sounds Like San Antonio" – picks up two-tenths to 2.8 (6+), climbing from #16 to #14.
6)
Cincinnati – Stuck on 4.8 (6+) in August and September, WRRM "Warm 98" inched up one-tenth each in October and November (4.8 – 4.9 – 5.0, 6+) before the
Cumulus Media adult contemporary explodes in
December by +1.3 to 6.3, elevating from seventh to fourth. Its 5.8 (6+) in December
2015 placed "Warm 98" in fifth-place. Off the past four monthlies for a combined -1.6 (5.9 – 5.4 – 4.6 – 4.5 – 4.3, 6+),
iHeartMedia CHR WKFS "Kiss 107" recaptures well over half of that loss with a +1.1 to 5.4 (ninth to seventh, 6+). Down or flat for the third successive sweep (9.8 – 9.8 – 9.6 – 8.8, 6+), Cumulus Media classic hits-oldies WGRR has lost one full-share but is in first-place for the fourth straight month. Prior to a gain in September, WGRR posted three successive negative trends resulting in a cumulative -1.7 (10.3 – 9.8 – 9.3 – 8.6, 6+). After sputtering by six-tenths in November,
Hubbard Radio country outlet WUBE "B-105" further erodes by
-1.6 (8.5 – 7.9 – 6.3, 6+), but only slips from third to fourth. As the result of a +.2 in November, rhythmic hot AC sibling WREW ended four straight decreases (5.3 – 4.8 – 4.6 – 4.4 – 4.3, 6+), but "Mix 94.9" regresses in December by eight-tenths to 3.7 (6+), returning to #10 from #8. July 2016 to October 2016 (6+) trends for WOFX were 5.0 – 4.6 – 5.0 – 4.6, but with a -.5 in November, "The Fox" broke that pattern. Now, a -.7 (4.1 – 3.4, 6+) takes the Cumulus Media classic rocker from #11 to #13. Declining by six-tenths each are iHeartMedia rocker WEBN (sixth to eighth, 6+) and
Cincinnati Public Radio's WVXU (3.5, #11 to #12, 6+). The decrease halts five straight up or flat trends for WVXU that netted a cumulative
+1.1 (3.0 – 3.2 – 3.8 – 3.8 – 3.8 – 4.1, 6+); 4.1 was its best 6+-share since February 2014 (also 4.1). On the other hand, WEBN is a collective
-1.1 as a result of its third straight dip (5.8 – 5.4 – 5.3 – 4.7, 6+). Dropping by one-half share each are Hubbard Radio hot AC WKRQ "Q-102 Cincinnati's Hit Music" (7.3 – 6.8, third, 6+); iHeartMedia's WCKY "
ESPN 1530" (1.4 – .9, #16 to #17, 6+); and co-owned WEBN-HD2 (also 1.4 – .9, #16 to #17, 6+). Anchored at #15, Cumulus Media's WNNF "94.1 Nash FM" has its fifth straight downward trend (3.4 – 3.2 – 2.7 – 2.3 – 2.1 – 2.0, 6+) and is -1.4 in that stretch.
7)
Cleveland – Three successive negative moves by WHLK "The Lake" in September, October, and November accounted for a -2.4 (8.9 – 8.4 – 7.7 – 6.5, 6+). The
iHeartMedia adult hits property rebounds by 75% though with a
+1.8 (to 8.3, 6+), jumping from fifth to second. November's 6.5 was the weakest 6+-performance for "The
Lake" since June 2012 (6.1). Rocketing from eighth to fourth, WNCX "98.5 Cleveland's Classic Rock" dusts itself off from November's -.7 with a full-share gain (6.7 – 6.0 – 7.0, 6+). An increase of eight-tenths (5.8 – 6.6, 6+) enables hot AC sibling WQAL "Q-104" to leap from ninth to sixth. Enjoying upticks of nine-tenths each are
Radio One urban contemporary WENZ "Z-107.9" (5.5 – 6.4, tenth to seventh, 6+) and iHeartMedia mainstream CHR WAKS "96.5 Kiss-FM" (5.0 – 5.9, 6+). Returning to the top ten (#11 to #10), "Kiss" was off by seven-tenths in November. Six consecutive up or flat trends for
Ideastream's WCPN (unchanged at #13) produce a combined +.7 – the bulk of which come from December's +.5 (2.0 – 2.0 – 2.0 – 2.1 – 2.2 – 2.2 – 2.7, 6+). Up one-tenth (8.6 – 8.7, 6+), iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WMJI is back on top after a one-month hiatus. Prior to December's +.1, "Cleveland's Greatest Hits" was off by nearly three full-shares in three straight downward trends (11.5 – 10.8 – 9.6 – 8.6, 6+) and slipped to #2. September's -.7 ended five straight gains for a cumulative +1.2 (10.3 – 10.7 – 10.9 – 11.3 – 11.4 – 11.5, 6+) and marked the first time in the previous 17 ratings periods that WMJI was
not in double-digits (6+). It departed the penthouse after ten successive sweeps there, dislodged by talk sibling WTAM, which plummets by three full-shares and freefalls to #9. In November,
Cleveland Indians flagship WTAM recorded a massive
+2.7 to 9.1, its most potent 6+-share since May 2012 when it reached 9.8. Without a decrease the past five ratings periods for a collective +2.3 including a combined +1.5 in October and November (4.2 – 5.0 – 5.0 – 5.0 – 5.8 – 6.5, 6+), co-owned WMMS surrenders 1.3 shares of that gain to drift out of the top ten (#5 to #11). The rocker last crossed the six-share threshold (6+) in August 2014 with a 6.1. It doesn't matter how much CBS Radio-owned WKRK "Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan" goes up or down (4.8 – 3.6, -1.2, 6+), the
Cleveland Browns flagship seems to always be at #12 – where it's been since
February. In a bit of an oddity, adult contemporary sibling WDOK "Star 102" (fourth to fifth), has its
fourth consecutive fluctuation of one-half share – three of which have been in the negative direction (7.8 – 7.3 – 6.8 – 7.3 – 6.8, 6+).
8)
Salt Lake City – The all-Christmas music programming strategy has always been tremendously effective in Salt Lake City. That fact is vividly underscored by a whopping November 2016 – December 2016 gain of more than
four full-shares by
Bonneville adult contemporary KSFI "FM 100.3 – Better Music Better Work Day," which reaches 11.4 with its
+4.1 (6+). Rather obviously, KSFI repeats at #1, but over and above that, it has not had a decrease since April. In that stretch of eight successive sweeps, "FM 100.3" has racked up in excess of six full-shares (5.3 – 5.7 – 6.2 – 6.3 – 6.7 – 7.0 – 7.3 – 7.3 – 11.4, 6+) and this is its best 6+-performance since "Holiday" 2015, when it scored a 15.6. KSFI is nearly three full-shares ahead of its 8.5 (#1) in December
2015. In the runner-up slot with an 8.3 (6+) is co-owned talker KSL, whose recent fluctuations are
+2.0 (October);
-.9 (November); and
+1.1 (December); 8.3 is the strongest 6+-figure for KSL in more than two years (9.1, October 2014). At #1 and #2, the Bonneville siblings account for a solid 19.7 (6+). In early-October, one of KSFI's former adult contemporary competitors –
Capital Broadcasting's KSQN ("Sunny 103" in its AC days) – flipped to "103.1 The Next Wave of New Wave." It registers a gain of six-tenths (1.1 – 1.7, 6+) and cracks the top 20 (#20). Even though it drops one-tenth (6.4 – 6.3, 6+),
iHeartMedia CHR KZHT "97.1 Salt Lake's #1 Hit Music Station" improves from fifth to fourth and registers a 6+-share between a 6.1 – 6.7 for the seventh straight sweep. Bumping up from tenth to ninth, its format rival –
Broadway Media-owned KUDD "Mix 105.1 All The Hits" – picks up three-tenths (to 4.1, 6+), thus applying the brakes to four consecutive negative trends that yielded a -1.5 (5.3 – 4.8 – 4.2 – 4.0 – 3.8, 6+). Down seven-tenths to 6.4 (6+), hot AC cluster-mate KBZN "Now 97.9 Today's Best Music" halts its 7.1 – 6.9 – 7.1 pattern. After three straight gains for a
+1.3 (5.5 – 6.2 – 6.6 – 6.8, 6+), Bonneville's KRSP "103.5 The Arrow" surrenders all of it (5.5,
-1.3, 6+), seguing from fourth to fifth. Regressing for the fourth consecutive month (5.5 – 5.2 – 4.8 – 4.6 – 3.8, 6+),
Cumulus Media country-formatted KUBL "K-Bull 93" drops from eighth to tenth and is a combined -1.7 since August. The one-half share KALL derived from three straight up-trends (.6 – .8 – .9 – 1.1, 6+) is wiped out as "700 Sports" loses six-tenths (.5, #28, 6+). Dropping by one-half share each are iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies and classic rock siblings KODJ "Salt Lake's Greatest Hits" (4.8 – 4.3, steady at #7, 6+) and KAAZ "Rock 106.7" (2.7 – 2.2, #16, 6+). When KODJ notched a +.3 in November, it curtailed four consecutive declines (6.6 – 5.5 – 5.2 – 4.6 – 4.5, 6+) for a cumulative loss of -2.1.
9)
Las Vegas – Netting a +2.4 via four successive up or flat trends (5.7 – 6.4 – 7.0 – 7.0 – 8.1, 6+),
iHeartMedia adult contemporary KSNE "Sunny 106.5" returns to #1, again succeeding
Beasley Media Group's KKLZ (7.2 – 6.6, -.6, 6+) which trades places with "Sunny" at #2. Prior to gaining eight-tenths in November, classic hits-oldies
KKLZ was off by a combined full-share in consecutive sweeps (7.4 – 6.7 – 6.4, 6+). Following three straight downward trends netting a combined -2.4 (8.1 – 7.4 – 6.0 – 5.7, 6+), "Sunny" was +.7 in September and then +.6 in October, climbing to first – where it had been for
22 straight monthlies before July. Prior to advancing to #1 in July – and remaining there in August and September – KKLZ was in the runner-up slot for six straight months; 7.4 in
August was its best 6+-showing in over four years (7.5, July 2012). More than doubling its 6+-share as a result of four successive gains (1.4 – 1.9 – 2.3 – 2.4 – 3.0, 6+),
CBS Radio talker KXNT climbs from #17 to #14. Flashing gains of one-half share each are alternative sibling KXTE "X-107.5" (2.7 – 3.2, #14 to #12, 6+) and Beasley Media Group's KCYE "102.7 The Coyote" (2.5 – 3.0, #15 to #14, 6+). "The Coyote" was -.6 in November with 2.5 representing its lowest 6+-share since the "Holiday" 2015 report (1.8). Trending 3.5 – 4.5 – 4.5 (September – October – November, 6+), CBS Radio rhythmic hot AC KXQQ "Q-100.5" spirals by eight-tenths to 3.7 (6+), dipping from seventh to ninth. Unchanged at #10,
Lotus Broadcasting's KOMP "92.3 The Rock Station" relinquishes one-half share of the eight-tenths it dialed up in November (3.2 – 4.0 – 3.5, 6+).
10)
Kansas City – The top two Kansas City finishers are once again
Cumulus Media properties but the difference is that classic rock KCFX "The Fox" (+1.2, second to first, 6+) overtakes classic hits-oldies cluster-mate
KCMO-FM "Kansas City's Greatest Hits" (7.8 – 8.3, +.5, first to second, 6+). On top from May through September, "The Fox" has its fourth straight up-trend (7.2 – 7.3 – 7.6 – 7.7 – 8.9, 6+) for a cumulative +1.7. By dropping two-tenths in August, it closed four successive up or flat monthlies yielding a +1.5 (5.9 – 6.4 – 6.8 – 7.4 – 7.4, 6+). Before a loss of three-tenths in November, KCMO-FM registered four straight progressive trends (5.3 – 6.0 – 7.0 – 7.2 – 8.1, 6+) for a collective +1.8. Also in that cluster, unchanged at #15, KCHZ "95.7 The Vibe – All The Hits" adds two-tenths (to 2.8, 6+) to stymie four straight sweeps without an increase that produced a -1.5 (4.1 – 4.1 – 3.3 – 3.1 – 2.6, 6+). In the market's three-way country skirmish,
Steel City Media's KBEQ "Q-104 #1 for New Country" ends a (4.3 – 3.6 – 3.5, 6+) mini-slide by putting up a +.6 to 4.1, advancing from #13 to #11 (6+). "Q-104" was off by seven-tenths in October. Owing to a +.2 to 3.7 (steady at #13, 6+),
Entercom's WDAF "106.5 The Wolf" ends its string of four consecutive decreases that produced a -.7 (4.2 – 3.9 – 3.8 – 3.6 – 3.5, 6+). Following four straight sweeps without a loss netting a +1.1 (3.8 – 3.8 – 4.2 – 4.7 – 4.9, 6+), "Q-104" sibling KFKF "Country 94.1" falters by six-tenths (4.3, 6+) to segue from sixth to seventh. In addition to KFKF,
Union Broadcasting's WHB is down by six-tenths, thus pulling the plug on five consecutive gains that accounted for a +1.1 (1.8 – 1.9 – 2.1 – 2.5 – 2.6 – 2.9, 6+); "Sports Radio 810" slumps from #15 to #18. Among recent fluctuations for Entercom's similarly-formatted KCSP are
-.6 (July);
-.6 (August);
-1.3 (October); and
-1.8 (November). Up three-tenths (1.2 – 1.5, 6+), KCSP climbs from #20 to #19. Just over one year ago, the flagship of the
2015 World Series champion
Kansas City Royals occupied the #1 spot, but "610 Sports" has witnessed its 6+ AQH plummet nearly 90% from 10.6 to 1.2. Off by one-half share each are
Carter Broadcast Group urban contemporary KPRS "Hot 103 Jamz" (5.5 – 5.0, fifth, 6+) and public (
University of Northwestern St. Paul) contemporary Christian KJNW (1.9 – 1.4, #19 to #20, 6+).
11)
Orlando – It takes a mammoth move of 8.4 – 10.5 (6+) to accomplish it but – following six straight rating periods finishing in third-place –
iHeartMedia adult contemporary WMGF "Magic 107.7" progresses to the runner-up slot. Over the course of the past 16 sweeps, "Magic 107.7" shifts by
+.5 (October 2015);
-1.0 (November
2015);
+1.6 (December 2015);
+5.2 ("Holiday" 2015);
-4.7 (January);
-1.2 (February);
+1.3 (March);
+.7 (April);
+.6 (May);
-.8 (June);
-1.1 (July);
-.4 (August);
+.7 (September);
-.5 (October)
+.9 (November); and now
+2.1 (December). At this time last year "Magic" was #1 with a 7.7 (6+, December
2015). It trails Spanish tropical cluster-mate WRUM, which continues on its own roll. On top for the third successive month, "Rumba 100.3" follows November's +1.1 with +1.4 to 12.1 (6+), the highest 6+-share in its
PPM-history. The five most recent (6+) trends for
JVC Media country outlet WOTB have been 1.0 – 1.2 – 1.0 – 1.2 – 1.2, but "103.1 The Wolf" dials up a +.6 to 1.8 to move from #18 to a three-way logjam at #15. Up one-tenth and remaining at #14 (2.4 – 2.5, 6+), public WMFE is in 2.0 – 2.9 range for the 27th straight time. Regressing by seven-tenths each are
CBS Radio hot AC WOMX "Mix 105.1" (sixth to eighth, 6+) and CHR cluster-mate WQMP "101.9 Amp – Orlando's #1 Source For New Music" (3.5 – 2.8, #12 to #13, 6+). This is the fourth consecutive monthly without an increase for "Mix" for a net loss of -1.2 (6.2 – 5.9 – 5.7 – 5.7 – 5.0, 6+).
12)
Columbus – Apparently bored to remain at 4.0 (6+) in September, October,
and November –
iHeartMedia adult hits WODC "93.3 The Bus – We Play Anything" busts out a +2.7 to 6.7 (6+) yet can only advance from eighth
to seventh. It is nonetheless the best 6+-stat for "The Bus" since the "Holiday" 2015 report when it reached 11.5 (6+). Tacking on a +1.2 to the eight-tenths it gained in November,
Saga Communications' WLVQ "Iconic Rock Q-FM 96" progresses from fifth to fourth and is up for the third straight sweep (5.3 – 5.5 – 6.3 – 7.5, 6+). Continuing in third-place,
Radiohio's WBNS-FM "Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan" is without a loss for the sixth straight monthly (3.6 – 3.7 – 4.0 – 5.1 – 6.9 – 7.7 – 7.7, 6+), more than doubling its 6+-stat since June (+4.1 in that timeframe). Prior to November 2016, the last time "The Fan" crossed the seven-share threshold (6+) was February 2015 when it reached 7.2. Owing to an improvement of one-half share, classic hits-oldies WNND "Rewind" (#14 to #13) is back to the 2.4 (6+) it notched in July. Even though it is without an increase in each of the last five ratings periods for a collective -2.8 (12.2 – 12.1 -11.1 – 9.8 – 9.4 – 9.4, 6+), iHeartMedia CHR WNCI advances from the runner-up slot to #1. There it unseats co-owned WCOL "92.3 Columbus' #1 for New Country," which is down two full-shares to 8.2 (6+). In addition to losing #1 honors, WCOL ends its consecutive streak of achieving double-digits (6+) at 11. WNCI and WCOL had an equally-divided monopoly at #1 for the entire calendar year, with WNCI on top in December, September, August, March, February and January, compared to WCOL in November, October, July, June, May and April. After back-to-back gains of two-tenths each (5.6 – 5.8 – 6.0, 6+), talk sibling WTVN is off by one-half share to 5.5, moving from sixth to eighth. Elsewhere in that cluster, just over a week before the December 2016 sweep concluded, alternative WXZX "105.7 The X" transitioned to "Sports Radio 105.7 The Zone." The 105.7 frequency finishes with a loss of seven-tenths (1.7 – 1.0, #15 to #16, 6+). After four consecutive positive trends netting a total of six-tenths (6.5 – 6.6 – 6.8 – 6.9 – 7.1, 6+), Saga Communications adult contemporary WSNY "Sunny 95" is off by two-tenths to 6.9 (6+) and dips from fourth to sixth. Dropping six-tenths (4.4 – 3.8, 6+),
Radio One rhythmic CHR WCKX "Power 107.5" falls from seventh to ninth. Dating back to April, urban AC cluster-mate WXMG "Magic 95.5 Columbus' Best R&B" more than tripled its 6+-share (+2.8, including November's +1.2) via seven straight sweeps without a loss (1.2 – 1.6 – 1.8 – 2.1 – 2.5 – 2.6 – 2.8 – 4.0, 6+). "Magic" drops one-half share in December though (3.5, +) and exits the top 10 (#8 to #11).
