Exclusive September PPM Analysis: New York, Los Angeles And Chicago

Exclusive PPM Analysis

ALL ACCESS presents SEPTEMBER PPM market highlights, compiled by the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and powered by XTRENDS, radio's #1 PPM and diary analysis tool. All numbers reflect subscriber only data. 

New York: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

Quick, when was the last time CCM+E AC WLTW (LITE FM) was NOT #1 in NEW YORK. Answer? We can’t remember back that far. Once again, the LITE powerhouse topped the City That Never Sleeps (but occasionally naps) by going 7.0-7.2, its second straight up month but almost a point off its best showing of the year back in MAY. Surging back to #2 for the first time since, coincidentally, MAY was CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F (6.1-6.6), which posted the largest jump-of-the-month.

Tumbling down to #3 was the recently resurgent YMF MEDIA Urban AC WBLS, which lost a half-share (6.3-5.8) off its best-book-ever month of AUGUST. Still, it's over two share points ahead of the same time a year ago. When was the last time CCM+E Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) failed to land in the top 3? We got this one -- OCTOBER 2011. By posting its worst book since MARCH (6.1-5.5), Z100 now find itself at #4 with a still sizable lead over cluster-mate CCM+E Top 40/M WKTU, which posted its second straight down book (5.0-4.7) to remain firmly entrenched at #5.

The second half of the top 10 bracket saw little movement but did expand their roster for SEPTEMBER by adding an 11th member. SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA) held on to #6 for the sixth book in a row, while CBS RADIO News WINS-A kept the #7 slot firmly in their clutches despite going 4.1-3.9. It was just this much ahead of UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WXNY (3.7-3.8), which posted its best book in over a year. Rounding out the top 10 is a tale of two stations. The recently stumbling CCM+E Classic Rock WAXQ posted its worst book in over a year (3.7-3.5) to fall into a tie for #10 with the playoff-bound CBS RADIO News WCBS-A (3.1-3.5), which posted its best month of 2012. A couple of outside-the-top-10 stations worth mentioning: CUMULUS Hot AC WPLJ plummeted to #16 (3.0-2.6), while the change of on-air scenery has done MERLIN Alternative WRXP (NEW ROCK 101.9) some good as it more-than-tripled its shares since the flip and now resides at #18 (1.6-2.1).

What a difference a year makes, as WLTW not only continued to lead the 25-54 chase, it's over a share-and-a-half ahead of where it was last SEPTEMBER. WHTZ had its third straight in-demo down book but held on to #2 just ahead of the equally tumbling WBLS. To be fair, WBLS is up two shares year-to-year. WKTU maintained its presence at #4, while WSKQ leapt into a tie at #5 with WCBS-F. In case you were wondering, WRXP went from tied at #26 to #17 to tied at #14.

When it comes to those fickle young ‘uns of 18-34, EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT97) re-established its dominion over #1 for the first time since MARCH. Falling to #2 for the first time since that fateful month of MARCH, WHTZ is experiencing the unpleasant feelings that accompany a three-book slide. CCM+E Urban WWPR (POWER 105.1) and WLTW keep the status quo at both #3 and #4, respectively, while WXNY returns to the top 5 for the first time in almost a year. Exactly one year ago, WKTU was a solid #1 in this demo. Now, it's outside of the top 5 and looking in. Meanwhile, those pesky folks at WRXP are currently submitting their application to join the top 10 club.

There was much less drama 18-49 as WHTZ was #1 for the sixth straight book and WLTW strengthened its hold on #2. WKTU is safely sequestered at #3 but is well off its pace of a year ago. WBLS is in at #4 and in a statistical anomaly, the top 5 actually numbers seven as WQHT, WWPR and WSKQ manage to tie for #5. They are scheduling a one-game playoff for next week.

Los Angeles: Share And Share Alike

The folks at CCM+E Top 40/M KIIS (102.7 KIIS FM) are starting to get pretty darned used to being #1 -- especially after competed its sixth straight book atop the leader board, despite posting its lowest numbers since APRIL (5.5-5.2). However, it now hasto make nice in their cluster sandbox as CCM+E Hot AC KBIG (MY-FM) has grabbed its fair share of the lead (4.9-5.2). What makes KBIG’s recent rise even more impressive is the fact that a year ago at this time it was not only outside the top 10; it couldn’t crack a 3 share. Speaking of the number 3, CCM+E Talk KFI-A is marveling at its consistency of being #3 for five straight books (4.8-4.8).

Meanwhile, CCM+E AC KOST posted its third straight up book to maintain its hold on #4 (4.3-4.6). Paying a return visit to the top 5 was CBS RADIO Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH), which went 3.9-4.1. This caused EMMIS Top 40/R KPWR (POWER 106) to fall out of the top 5 for the first time since last DECEMBER (4.2-3.9). Those kinds of things tend to happen when you post your second-worst book of the year. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KAMP (97.1 AMP) had its second straight down book to remain at #7 (3.8-3.5). However, it must be gazing longingly into the past, as at this point last year it was #3 in town, with ratings that were more than a share point higher. CCM+E Rhythmic AC KHHT (HOT 92.3) was off slightly (3.6-3.4) to remain at #8. It is worth noting that that is the exact same share and ranking as it had last SEPTEMBER. CBS RADIO Alternative KROQ continued to hang with the top 10 big boys by equaling its best book of 2012 (3.3-3.3). Rounding out the top 10 was UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE), which posted its worst book of the year (3.3-3.2).

Begging for top 10 acceptance are two up-and-comers. Last year at this point, UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSCA was tied for #16 but its five-book growth curve has placed them in a tie for #11 (2.8-3.0) with CCM+E Alternative KYSR (2.7-3.0), which posted its best book in over a year.

There isn’t any sharing 25-54 as KBIG extended its #1 winning streak to 5, just ahead of #2 KIIS. Meanwhile, KROQ posted its biggest in-demo book in well over a year to remain a solid #3, ahead of the rebounding KOST. KPWR held on to #5 by, essentially, treading water. KYSR was on a tear and up a full share over a year ago. They were in a tie for #6 with KHHT and KFI-A.

If 18-34 is where all the cool kids hang out, then KPWR was the coolest of them all, hanging on to #1 despite its worst in-demo book since APRIL. KIIS was not able to close the gap as it suffered its third straight down book. Both KBIG and KROQ were significantly ahead of where they were this time last year, tying for #3. KAMP has seen itsfortunes suffer over the last year but it still managed to hold on to #5. That pesky KYSR joined hard-charging KOST in a tie for #6. Both stations experienced dramatic growth since last year. They are currently being tested for PEP (performance-enhancing promotions).

Despite a three-book slide, KIIS held on to #1 18-49 for the 9th book in a row, though KBIG closed the gap slightly and moved up to #2. KPWR followed its best book of the year with something that was less than its best and dropped to #3. Meanwhile, KROQ managed to duplicate its best book of the year to remain intimately familiar with #4. KOST posted itsbest in-demo performance since JANUARY to jump back into the top 5, supplanting KAMP, which fell out of that select group for the first time in over a year.

Chicago: No Static At All

What is going on with CHICAGOLAND's AM band? First, let’s start at the top as CCM+E Urban AC WVAZ (V103) recorded its fifth straight #1 book (6.4-6.2). What’s even more impressive was that they have led the league by over a share point for four straight books. CBS RADIO News WBBM-A was up for the third consecutive survey (4.8-5.1) and kicked it up a notch to #2. Is the logo for TRIBUNE N/T WGN-A a yo-yo? A year ago it was tied for #1. As recently as JUNE it was #11. Now, WGN rode the flat train up to #3 (4.3-4.3). Speaking of riding that train, HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) was #1 as recently as MAY. Alas, fortune has not smiled upon them in recent surveys (4.5-4.2), remaining at #4. Despite all the ups and downs,is has the same exact share as this point last year. This month’s biggest loss was CCM+E Top 40/M WKSC (KISS FM), which is down for two books (4.9-4.1), maintained a tenuous hold on #5.

Three stations are nipping at their heels and trying to gain entrance into that elite top 5 club. All three are tied at #6. UNIVISION Regional Mexican WOJO (LA QUE BUENA) jumped up from #10 (3.8-4.0). CUMULUS Talk WLS-A performed the leap-of-the-month from #11 (3.7-4.0), while its twin son from a different mother CUMULUS Oldies WLS-F dropped from the top 5 (4.3-4.0). Eliminating the need for a #7 or #8 station, CBS RADIO Country WUSN (US 99.5) dropped down to #9 (4.1-3.9). And, once again, the top 10 turned it up to 11. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96) has seen hard times over the last couple of surveys (4.1-3.8) and quickly fell from the top five to a tie at #10 with HUBBARD Classic Hits WDRV (THE DRIVE) (4.0-3.8).

There’s a new #1 sheriff in town 25-54 and WVAZ was wearing the badge, despite being on a two-book slide. That’s likely due to the fact that former #1 (and current #2) WKSC was also on a two-book slide. WTMX, on the other hand, was on a three-book slide, but at least it was able to hold steady at #3. WDRV remained #4, probably because it's only on a two-book slide. WOJO did a reverse slide and moved back into the top 5 at the expense of WUSN, which posted its worst book since MARCH.

One station we haven't mentioned to this point is CCM+E Urban WGCI. Its time has come as it assumed the 18-34 throne. Cluster-mate WKSC fell to #2 while posting its absolute worst in-demo book in over a year. WTMX posted its second-best book of 2012 and jumped up to #3, while WBBM-F turned in its worst performance in over a year to fall to #4. Say hello to MERLIN Alternative WKQX (Q87.7) as it entered the top 5 for the first time with its best book since the format change.

Another demo, another new #1. This time it’s 18-49 and the current champ was WTMX, which reclaimed the lead it last held in MAY. WKSC’s three-book run at the top ended after posting its worst in-demo book since APRIL. Despite its worst performance since MARCH, WBBM-F held fast at #3. Two stations shared real estate at #4 -- WGCI and WOJO; WGCI reversed its two-book slide to return to the top 5. This caused the recently slumping WVAZ to fall into a tie for #6 with WDRV.

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