Research Director, Inc.: Exclusive July PPM Analysis For New York., L.A., Chicago, S.F., Dallas

Top-5 Markets

To paraphrase GEORGE GERSHWIN: The JULY ratings are in and the livin’ is easy … We’re halfway through the survey year with a book that featured a long holiday weekend, the cessation of most educational activities, and the beginning of pattern disruption in meter keepers’ lives due to distractions like vacation. Plus, baseball started to separate winners from also rans. We were dealing with a lot of stuff here. So, the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., in contractual cooperation with the math wizards from XTRENDS, bring you the month of JULY. Defined for our purposes as the time from JUNE 16 through JULY 13.

NEW YORK: One For Old Times Sake

Not that we are technically allowed to use the “O” word in the same sentence with CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F, but given the circumstances we took the chance. The station posted its highest share since NOVEMBER (5.4-6.2) and that drove it from #4 to #1 6+. Thus ended the four-book reign of iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (LITE), which stepped back to #2 with its lowest total in over a year (6.4-6.0). SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA) was hoping for a four-demo sweep (spoiler alert) but instead moved back to #3 (6.0-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) was flat (5.5-5.5) and dropped down a slot to #4. EMMIS Urban AC WBLS also had its lowest share in over a year (5.3-5.1) but was able to hold on at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WWPR (POWER) was also stationary – at #6 – but with its best performance since OCTOBER (4.4-4.5).

Though WSKQ lost a rather large chunk of 25-54 share, the station managed to maintain a firm grasp on the #1 position for the seventh straight survey. WHTZ remained at #2 though with a down book while WWPR held steady at #3 with a slight decrease. WCBS-F had its best book since DECEMBER and that propelled the station three steps forward to #4. WBLS was off a bit to drop back to #5 while WLTW again posted its lowest score in over a year and actually dropped out of the top five – landing at #6. It was about a half point ahead of iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKTU, which advanced to #7 with its best showing since FEBRUARY.

Last month WSKQ hit double digits 18-34 but could not duplicate the feat this time. Still, the station was #1 for the third consecutive book. WHTZ was up slightly but did not move from its previous #2 position. In JUNE two arch rivals were tied at #3. This time both were off slightly with WWPR’s loss slightly larger than that of EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT). As a result the former dropped to #4 and the latter remained at #3. WLTW was steady at #5 but with – you guessed it – its lowest share in over a year. WCBS-F had a hot showing in this demo as it moved up three places to #7, which tied it with cluster mate CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBMP (AMP). AMP slid back a spot with a small decrease.

The top three positions on the 18-49 leaderboard remained unchanged from last month. WSKQ was #1 for the third book in a row despite a modest decrease. WWPR was #2 with a slight loss while WHTZ remained at #3 with a slight loss, as well. WQHT was flat but moved up a slot to #4 while WKTU took one step forward to #5 with its highest total since FEBRUARY. WLTW dropped to #6 – its lowest rank in over a year – while WCBS-F moved up to #7 – its first appearance above the top ten since Rudolph was playing games.

LOS ANGELES: KOSTing Along

For those of you keeping score at home, mark this as the ninth consecutive 6+ win for iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST (5.3-5.4). Cluster compadre iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KIIS (KISS) fell a little further behind at #2 (5.1-4.9) while CBS RADIO Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH) was up to #3 as it ended a two-book slide (4.5-4.8). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (MY FM) had its lowest share since FEBRUARY (5.0-4.7) to take a step back to #4. CBS RADIO Rhythmic AC KTWV (THE WAVE) ebbed a bit as it dropped back to #5 (4.7-4.2) as it, too, had its lowest total since FEBRUARY.

In a move that even caught NASA by surprise, KRTH altered its apogee as it moved from #4 to #1 with its biggest number since NOVEMBER. KIIS remained at #2 though with its lowest share since EARTHA KITT was getting significant spins. KBIG dropped two places to #3 with its lowest score since FEBRUARY. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KCBS-F (JACK) dropped a spot to #4 as it ended a two-book surge. KOST rebounded from last month’s down book to move up to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) was up a bit but still dropped back into a tie at #6 with UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE), which was up from #9 with its best performance since JANUARY. KTWV dropped four places to #9 as it shed a chunk of share.

Last survey KIIS and KYSR shared the lead 18-34. This time the former was up slightly while the latter was flat thus ending the tie and placing KISS on top. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KAMP (AMP) was up to #3 with its highest score in over a year but was still almost a share out of first. EMMIS Top 40/R KPWR (POWER) inched up to #4 with its best performance since OCTOBER. KBIG dropped two places to #5 with its lowest total in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban KRRL (REAL 92.3) was immobile at #6 with a small increase. K-LOVE jumped three slots to #7 with its best book since FEBRUARY.

KIIS was off slightly 18-49 but that did not prevent the station from winning its seventh book in a row. KBIG was still #2 but fell a bit farther off the pace thanks to its least productive outing in over a year. Having your best book since NOVEMBER is a good thing and that shot KRTH from #8 to #3. The two stations locked in battle at #4 last month went into extra innings as both had small increases. KYSR bounced back from a down book while KAMP hit its highest mark in over a year. KLVE was up three places to #6 with its best showing since JANUARY. KCBS-F dropped five slots to #8 even though it only had a small decrease. KTWV, on the other hand, had its lowest total since FEBRUARY and dropped eight stories to #12.

CHICAGO: The News Marches On

It may have been a slow news month in the WINDY CITY as CBS RADIO News WBBM-A was flat (5.8-5.8). However, since iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) had its lowest share since MARCH (6.1-5.6), the stations traded positions 6+, which put WBBM-A back on top. HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (MIX) was off slightly (5.0-4.9) but remained steady at a somewhat distant #3.  iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKSC (KISS) had its highest output in over a year (4.4-4.6) but could not advance from its previous posting at #4. Is this the year for the CUBS? CBS RADIO Sports WSCR-A hopes so. Though the station was off slightly (4.1-4.0), it remained at #5. This is a dramatic improvement over last year when the station was #21 with a symmetric 2.1 share. Also landing at #5 was iHEARTMEDIA Urban WGCI, which took three steps forward with its strongest survey in over a year (3.5-4.0).

Over the last fourteen surveys the only times when WTMX was not #1 25-54 had something to do with the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. The station was off slightly this survey but was still the market leader with more than a share advantage over #2 WKSC, which moved up a spot with a flat performance. WVAZ slid to #3 with its lowest share in over a year. WGCI wrested control of the #4 position with its best book since MARCH. WBBM-A was up for the second straight survey but still dropped back to #5. Similarly named but formatically different CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96) moved up to #6 with its highest share in over a year. CUMULUS Alternative WKQX took a small hit and dropped three places to a tie at #7.

So far, 2016 has been the year of WGCI in the 18-34 arena. By our math this made it the seventh straight win for the station even though it was flat. #2 WKSC narrowed the gap slightly with its best number in over a year while WBBM-F made it a three-team race as it remained at #3 but with its highest share since AUGUST. iHEARTMEDIA Country WEBG (BIG) was up for the fifth book in a row and climbed up to the #4 position with its highest score in over a year. The two stations that used to occupy #4 ended up in different places. WTMX dropped to #5 with a small decrease while WKQX ended up at #7 with its lowest share since the lords were a leaping.

There was a seismic shift in the 18-49 demo as WKSC’s best book in over a year moved the station up to #1. This sent WTMX packing to #2 as it posted its lowest number since we all went a-caroling. WGCI was up a bit to remain at #3 while WBBM-F advanced two squares to #4 – its highest rank in this demo since AUGUST. The two former patrons of the #4 café – WKQX and WVAZ – left the premises and took up residence at #5 and #6, respectively. WKQX’s move was due to a modest decrease while WVAZ dropped due to its lowest total in over a year. WEBG was up three places to #7 with its highest score in over a year.

SAN FRANCISCO: Orange And Black Are The New Black

There appears to be quite a bit to talk about in the Bay Area. For the fifth book in a row, the top three positions 6+ were held by stations that refuse to play songs. Coming in at #1 for the fourth straight month was the flagship station for the GIANTS – CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A. Though the station was down (6.7-6.2), it maintained a comfortable advantage over incumbent #2 CBS RADIO News KCBS-A, which was up slightly (5.4-5.5). Coming in at #3 for the fourth straight month was KQED INC. N/T KQED, which had its highest share since MARCH (4.9-5.3). These three properties were well ahead of the rest of the field. ENTERCOM AC KOIT was again #4 as it ended a two-book slide (4.0-4.1). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KIOI (STAR) repeated at #5 with its third flat book in a row (3.9-3.9). That may be some sort of a record. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW) was up to #6 with its best performance since OCTOBER (3.5-3.8).

There were no new entrants among the top six spots in the 25-54 world. KNBR-A was #1 for the fourth book in a row even though it was down a bit. CBS RADIO Hot AC KLLC (ALICE) was up to #2 with its best book since we were at something called a party hop. Still, the station was over a share out of first place. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KYLD (WILD) had its second down book in a row and dropped back to #3. KOIT was up slightly to remain at #4 where it was paired with KQED, which moved up a spot thanks to a small increase. KMVQ had its highest total in exactly a year but remained riveted at #6.

The 18-34 arena continued to be dominated by iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R KMEL and KYLD. Last month, KYLD knocked its cluster brother off the perch. This time the roles were reversed as KMEL ended a two-book slide. KYLD was off slightly and back at #2. Then came everyone else. There was a threesome on the #4 tee last book but they decided to split up. KMVQ moved up to #3 with its best outing since OCTOBER while KIOI remained in place with a flat performance. ENTERCOM Top 40/R KRBQ (Q102) slipped to #6 with its smallest share since FEBRUARY. In between was UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSOL (QUE BUENA), which was up to #5 despite a small decrease. CBS RADIO Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) fell four places to #7 with its lowest total since MARCH.

After a two-book down trend, KMEL bounced back and reclaimed the 18-49 mantle. It just edged out its cluster competitor KYLD, which slipped back to #2 with its lowest total since the tree tops glistened. KMVQ was up a slot to #3 with a strong increase leading to its highest share since OCTOBER. KNBR-A was off for the second straight survey and slipped two places in the standings to #4. KOIT rebounded from a down book to move back up to more familiar turf at #5. The two previous occupants of that position were asked to leave. KLLC was flat for the second book in a row and alit at #6 while KIOI fell to a tie at #8 as it ended a four-book run.

DALLAS-FT.WORTH: I’m K-LUVin’ It!

For the second month in a row CBS RADIO Classic Hits KLUV (K-LUV) was #1 6+. However, the station was down (6.3-5.7) and that narrowed the gap over second-place iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KHKS (KISS), which was also down (5.9-5.6). CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF) was lurking at #3 after hunting down its biggest number since DECEMBER (4.7-5.1). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (QUE BUENA) was up two slots to #4 as it ended a three-book slide (3.9-4.7). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR) slipped to #5 with a small decrease (4.5-4.4). Something rather large happened to SERVICE Urban AC KRNB. The station had its lowest score since SEPTEMBER (4.4-3.0) and fell from #5 to a tie at #15.

KHKS extended its 25-54 winning streak to six surveys even though it was merely flat. KLNO moved up three places to #2 with its best showing since MARCH. Still, the stations were nearly a share apart. CUMULUS Sports KTCK-A (THE TICKET) remained a solid #3 despite ending a strong six-book surge. KZPS was down for the third straight survey but remained at #4. It was joined by KLUV, which dropped from #2 with its least productive outing since NOVEMBER.

The least interesting part of the 18-34 story was the fact that KHKS was a dominant #1 again. Sure, the station posted its lowest total since FEBRUARY but it still led the market by two-and-a-half shares. Then, things got interesting. KLNO rocketed from #10 to #2 as it ended a nasty three-book slide. SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) had its highest score since DECEMBER to jump six places to #3. RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBFB (THE BEAT) was off slightly but dropped two slots to #4. Last month we had the rare experience of watching four stations wrap themselves around the #5 flag pole. This time, only two remained. KPLX and CBS RADIO Sports KRLD-F (THE FAN) both had small increases. In THE FAN’s case it was the station’s fifth up book in a row and highest share since OCTOBER. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KEGL (THE EAGLE) slipped to #7 despite a small increase while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (NOW) landed at #8 while being flat. A couple of other stations took serious plunges. KLUV went from #4 to #10 as it ended a three-book run. CBS RADIO Regional Mexican KMVK (LA GRANDE) dropped from #3 to a tie at #12 with its lowest share since FEBRUARY.

This was the seventh straight 18-49 win for KHKS. The station was off slightly but maintained a share-and-a-half lead over KLNO, which advanced three places to #2 with its best book since DECEMBER. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJKK (JACK) remained at #3 despite a small decrease. The two stations previously known as #7 changed their status to #4. Both KBFB and KEGL had slight increases. KTCK-A was off a bit and dropped two places to #6. It was joined by KZPS, which slid from a tie at #5. KLUV ended a three-book run as it fell from #2 to #12 – its lowest rank since NOVEMBER.

Time to turn so you won’t burn. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. are getting a cool, adult beverage as we prepare to tackle the data from HOUSTON-GALVESTON, WASHINGTON, DC, PHILADELPHIA, ATLANTA, and BOSTON. Let’s see how that works out next time.

E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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