Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive June PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix And Minneapo

Final Round-up For The Month

ALL ACCESS presents JUNE 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.

DETROIT: A Pretty Little Souped-up 4-wheel Drive

What could be more appropriate in the city that invented the heavy duty pick-up than the sounds of country music as the most popular form of radio?  It’s not like this is the first time CBS RADIO Country WYCD was #1 – why, just last year the station was routinely ridin’ on the roof.  It’s just that this is the first time since SEPTEMBER this has happened, and it is no coincidence that WYCD had its best book since then (6.4-7.5) to rocket to the top from #4.  CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX) maintained its own version of the status quo (6.7-6.7) to remain at #2 for the third straight book.  CBS RADIO News WWJ-A reported its lowest number since DECEMBER to slip from #1 to #3.  Cluster brother CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) rode the twin turbines of the RED WINGS’ collapse and the TIGERS’ resurgence yet slipped from #3 to #4 (6.6-6.5).  CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC is on a four-book slide (6.1-5.7) but maintained its hold at #5.

For the first time in over a year, WYCD owns the top spot 25-54 after posting a truly monster number. Its cluster brother – WXYT-F – posted a near-monster book, though it was a little less fierce than last month, and slipped from #1 to a dangerously close #2.  WMXD dropped from a tie at #2 to #3 with its second straight down book. Meanwhile, CCM+E Urban WJLB scored its best book since MARCH to leap from #7 to #4 – its highest ranking in exactly one year. CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD was down for the fifth straight survey and slipped out of a tie at #4 to #5. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF also dissolved that #4 tie but dropped to #6.

Well, it looks like the folks at WYCD are setting all sorts of records.  The station ascended to the #1 spot 18-34 (from #3) with another monster, killer, sensational book – one that added over three shares to an already hefty number.  This ended the four-month run at #1 for CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) as the station slipped to #2. WJLB was nice and flat but did take a small step back to #3. WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR (HOT) also had a killer book – its best in over a year – but had to settle for staying at #4.  Last month, two stations were tied at #5. WXYT-F was off slightly but held on to the position while WMXD was off just a bit more than slightly to slip to #6.

Let’s go ahead and call it a clean sweep for WYCD as the station rocketed up from #4 to own the top spot 18-49 with, surprise, another killer type of book. WXYT-F was off a bit but held in there at #2 while WJLB was up a bit but remained at #3.  WKQI shed some share tenths and, as a result, fell from #1 to #4. WMXD was off for the second straight survey to remain at #5 though it is now tied with WGPR, which moved up from a tie at #6 with its best book in over a year.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: It’s Always Hot Down There

Another month, another #1 book for COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) (9.1-8.8) and another large lead over everyone else.  As is usually the case, the race is for #2. Last month, that race ended in a dead heat but history did not repeat itself. COX RADIO Urban WEDR scored its best book since JANUARY (6.1-6.6) to take over the position to itself.  UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) slipped back a spot to #3 (6.1-6.0) just inches ahead of COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY), which stayed at #4 (6.0-5.9). There was a log jam at #5 with three stations occupying the same location.  LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE) was actually down (5.0-4.5) yet managed to move up from #6.  BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) was flat (4.5-4.5) yet still slid up from #7. And, UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) actually scored its best book in over a year (4.3-4.5) to jump into the fray from #8. Last month’s #5 resident – CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) landed its lowest number in over a year (5.3-4.4) to drop to #8.  The MARLINS’ residence at the bottom of the NL East standings had a predictable effect as their flagship did not crack the top 20.

WHQT scored its best 25-54 book since FEBRUARY to remain at #1 and, in the process, widened its lead over #2 WEDR, which landed its lowest number since AUGUST. WFEZ is on a two-book surge and just posted its highest number in over a year to move up a slot to #3 while WRTO also had its highest rating in over a year to jump up one to #4.  Alas, WHYI turned in its lowest number since OCTOBER to slide from #3 to #5.

WEDR had its best 18-34 showing since FEBRUARY but that amounted to just showing off as the station continued to utterly dominate this demo. However, WPOW did score its best number since JANUARY to remain at #2 and close the gap to less than three shares. WRTO has picked up about three shares since JANUARY, and its most recent surge moved the station from #4 to #3. This was the ninth straight survey where WHYI was either flat or down and, as a result, slipped from #3 to #4.  CCM+E Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) posted its best number in exactly one year to climb from #6 to #5, which forced WAMR to take one step back to #6.

As with the above demo, WEDR continued to control the destiny of the 18-49 demo though its lead is now under two shares as WHQT scored its best book since SEPTEMBER to move up a notch to #2. WRTO had its highest share and ranking in over a year as it jumped from #5 to #3. WPOW had a solid showing to remain at #4 though it is now tied with WHYI, which plunged from #2 with its lowest number since AUGUST.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Moves Like Jagger

What seemed to start as a surprise, then turned into a story, has now become a trend. For the fourth survey in a row, SANDUSKY Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) is the number one station in town. And, as we saw last month, the station set a new ratings high (6.0-6.2) to widen its lead even further. CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK was flat (5.2-5.2) but all that did was match its best book of the last year and allow the station to move from a tie at #3 to #2.  To put this in perspective, as recently as NOVEMBER the station was in a tie at #12. ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) ended its five-book surge (5.6-5.1), which had taken it from a tie at #10 to #2.  It settled in this time at #3. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was off slightly this survey (5.0-4.9) yet managed to move up a rung to #4. SANDUSKY AC KRWM (WARM) cooled off a bit (5.2-4.8) to slide from a tie at #3 to #5. Keep an eye on CBS RADIO Country KMPS, which posted its best number in over a year to climb from #10 to #6 (3.9-4.6). The MARINERS did not have an impact on the overall radio landscape as their flagship did not crack the top 20.

All sorts of stuff happened 25-54 as the order of things got quite the shake-up. First, KQMV continued its torrid pace and rose from #3 to #1 (it was in a tie at #9 a year ago). However, it was forced to share that lofty perch with KZOK, which returned to the top spot it held back in FEBRUARY. KKWF’S five-book winning streak took the station from #12 to #1 but it came to an end this survey, and the station dropped to #3. ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW remained at #4 though it is now on a three-book slide.  KMPS was sitting at #15 back in JANUARY and its recent two-book surge landed the station at #5. This bumped CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) down a notch as the station endured its lowest number since NOVEMBER.

In what is starting to smell like a theme, KQMV hit another tape-measure shot – this time with 18-34 – to claim ownership of this demo, as well. This ended KKWF’S three-month stay as king of the hill as the station dropped to #2. CCM+E Top 40/R KUBE – which was #1 as recently as FEBRUARY – remained at #3 even though its ratings were up. Cluster sibling CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) had its best non-SANTA-influenced book since it was tied for #1 in NOVEMBER and edged up a slot to #4.  This forced the otherwise red hot KMPS to take a step down to #5.

That KQMV was #1 18-49 was no surprise as this merely duplicated what the station did last month, though its lead has grown from slim to commanding. The rest of the top 5 also remained unchanged. KKWF’S five-book streak came to an end but it remained at #2 though it is mere fractions ahead of KISW, which saw its numbers decrease for the second straight month.  In MARCH, KZOK was sitting at #14. As it rode a three-book surge, the station remained stationary at #4.  KBKS scored its best book since JANUARY but had to stay put at #5.

PHOENIX: Way Kool

When you score a touchdown, some of the best advice is to act like you’ve been there before. That is the feeling bouncing around the halls at CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL as the station returned to the top spot for the first time since OCTOBER after scoring with its best number in over a year (5.0-6.0). This ended the seven-month run at #1 for CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) as the station posted its lowest number since before SANTA began his run (6.2-5.8). A year ago, CCM+E Country KNIX was sitting at #12. Now, after securing its highest book in over a year, the station was up a spot to #3 (4.7-4.8). This caused SANDUSKY Classic Rock KSLX to take one step back to #4 (4.9-4.7). CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX) bounced back from an uncharacteristically low book (3.9-4.4) to move from #8 to #5. Cluster mate CCM+E Talk KFYI-A fell from #5 (4.5-4.3) into a three-way tie at #6 with CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (JAMZ) (4.4-4.3), which was there before, and CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) (3.7-4.3), which rose from a tie at #9. While the DIAMONDBACKS may be making some noise in the NL West, things were relatively quiet at BONNEVILLE Sports KTAR-A, which moved from #19 into a tie at #17 (2.5-2.4).

Okay, stay with us here as things are about to get a bit complicated. Last month, two stations tied for the lead 25-54 and that number has grown to three but some of the players have changed. First, KSLX remained as part of the #1 discussion even though they were down slightly.  Second, KNIX had its best book in over a year to climb from #3 – the station was in a tie at #13 a year ago. Finally, KOOL, which was at #10 as recently as JANUARY, broke out of a three-way at #5 to forge the tie at a much higher level. Not to be outdone, BONNEVILLE Adult Hits KPKX (THE PEAK) scaled the mountain – rising from a tie at #12 to #4 with its best number since JULY. Last month’s co-leader – KESZ – dropped to #5 with its lowest total since the pre-SANTA days.  Two stations that were part of that #5 tie last survey tumbled a bit. SANDUSKY Active Rock KUPD – despite being up for the fourth straight book – slipped to #7. Cluster brother SANDUSKY Rock KDKB had its lowest number since FEBRUARY to fall to #11.

Things went pretty much according to the script 18-34 as KNIX was #1 for the second straight book and KUPD held down the #2 position for the fourth survey in a row. However, KZZP had its best book since NOVEMBER to leap from a tie at #7 to #3.  KZON remained at #4 but is now tied with UNIVISION Regional Mexican KHOT (LA NUEVA), which inched up from #5. You would not normally expect to see a Classic Hits station perform well with this demo, but KOOL had a huge book and jumped from #10 to #6. As recently as FEBRUARY the station was in a tie at #22. RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER) had its lowest total since OCTOBER and fell from #3 into a tie at #7.

For the fourth straight book, KUPD was the #1 station 18-49, posting its best book in over a year in the process. KNIX was off a bit but remained at #2 though it is now tied with KZZP, which had its best book in exactly one year to move up from #5. KZON is on a three-book surge and stayed at #4 though it is now sharing space with KOOL, which was elevated from #8.  The station now has a share that is almost exactly double what it had a year ago. KSLX’s roller-coaster ride continued.  Over the last three books the station has gone from a tie at #12 to #3 to #8.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: Fit To Be Tied

Things are all knotted up atop the leaderboard in the TWIN CITIES. Last month’s market leader – HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) is still #1 (8.4-8.1) but is now branded a co-leader as CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB eased its way back to the top (8.3-8.1). For 12 of the last 14 books one – or both – of these stations has been #1. CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS was off a bit (7.9-7.5) but remained at #3, though it is now tied with CCM+E Country KEEY (K102), which had its best book since JULY (6.7-7.5) to climb from #5. All these ties changed the numerical structure of the rankings so CCM+E Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) actually fell from #4 to #5 in spite of increased ratings (7.0-7.1). NORTHERN LIGHTS Hot AC KTWN (K-TWIN) did not see much benefit from the TWINS as the station moved from a tie at #16 to #17 (1.7-1.9). Then again, it’s not like the TWINS are killing it in the NL Central, either.

The normal order of all things 25-54 remained in place, with one small addition. KSTP ended a three-book surge yet remained at #1, though its lead over #2 KDWB did reveal some noticeable shrinkage. KQRS was down for the second book in a row to remain at #3 but it is hearing footsteps from #4 KEEY, which scored its best book since JULY. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) held fast at #5 but it was joined by CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM), which had its best book since FEBRUARY to move up from #8.

Even though KDWB just posted its lowest 18-34 number in over a year, the station still controls the market by over three shares. KXXR moved up a spot to #2 with its best book since OCTOBER and KZJK rose from a tie at #4 to #3 with its best book in over a year. The station has almost doubled its shares compared to last year. KSTP popped its lowest number since FEBRUARY to drop from #2 into a tie at #4 with KEEY, which had its best book since SEPTEMBER.

KDWB had its lowest 18-49 share since the HOLIDAY book but remained at #1 with a full two-share lead over #2 KSTP, which earned its lowest number since FEBRUARY. KZJK continued its torrid pace – it was up for the third straight survey – and rose from #4 to #3. KEEY had its best showing since SEPTEMBER to climb out of a tie at #5 to take over sole possession of the #4 spot. KXXR experienced a small ratings loss but that caused it to fall from #3 to #5. KQRS had a small ratings gain but that could not prevent the station from slipping out of a tie at #5 to #6.

Thanks for reading!  We’ll see you again next month. In the meantime, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to type “RESEARCH DIRECTOR INC.” into the search field on FACEBOOK and let us know.

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