Research Director, Inc.: Exclusive January PPM Analysis For New York, L.A., Chicago, San Francisco & Dallas

Top-5 Markets

A new year but the same old plotline (kind of like 24:Legacy). The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., in a closed door session with the wizards of the algorithm from XTRENDS, bring you the JANUARY survey. A period defined by NIELSEN as encompassing 1/5 through 2/1.

It is a new year, with a new administration and, in many markets, new formats. However, one thing does not change. The inevitable and often precipitous decline of the holiday hit makers. The annual question is a two-parter: how far did they fall and was this year’s bottom better than last? Let’s find out, shall we?

NEW YORK: Lite ‘Em Up!

Santa’s sudden and abrupt departure before the HOLIDAY book had expired yielded the expected results for iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (LITE). The station remained #1 6+ (13.3-7.2) and was ahead of last year’s 6.7 share. SBS Tropical WSKQ (LA MEGA) had its best share since JUNE to remain at #2 (5.5-5.8). EMMIS Urban AC WBLS was rock solid at #3 (5.4-5.5) while CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F held steady at #4 (5.3-5.4). It was a good month to be in the News business as CBS RADIO News WINS-A had its highest share in over a year (4.4-5.2) to move up to #5. Even though it ended a three-book slide, iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) slipped back to #6 (4.6-5.1). Farther down the list we see that CUMULUS Country WNSH (NASH) had its best showing in over a year (1.7-2.7) to move up six places to lucky #13 (tied).

WLTW was #1 25-54 for the fourth book in a row and was over a half share larger than last year. WHTZ moved up to #2 with a solid increase while WSKQ dropped back to #3 despite a slight increase. The tie at #4 remained in effect as both WBLS and iHEARTMEDIA Urban WWPR (POWER) were off slightly. WCBS-F had its best book since JULY but could not move out of sixth place. CBS RADIO Hot AC WNEW (FRESH) also was stalled – at #12 – but had its best outing since FEBRUARY.

WSKQ had a monster increase –- its best book since JUNE –- to jump from #3 to #1 18-34. WHTZ had a good book but could not budge from second place. WLTW dropped from the lead to #3 but continued to outpace last JANUARY. WWPR was flat and held steady at #4 but was joined by EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT), which moved up a slot as it rebounded from last month’s big loss. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKTU remained at #6 but did regain all of last survey’s loss. WNEW had its best performance in over a year to climb three places to #7.

For the second straight survey, WSKQ had a big 18-49 increase. This one vaulted the station to #1. WHTZ stepped up to #2 as it regained most of last book’s decline. WLTW fell back to #3 and had the exact same share as a year ago. WWPR was off slightly at #4 while WKTU was up to #5 with its highest score since SEPTEMBER. WQHT slid back to #6 despite a small increase.

LOS ANGELES: The KOST Clears

iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST lost over half its previous share (10.7-5.2) yet managed to win the 6+ crown once again. The station did not quite measure up to last year when it had a 5.9. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (MY FM) took sole control of second place (4.7-5.1), which relegated CBS RADIO Rhythmic AC KTWV (THE WAVE) back to #3 even though the station had its highest share in over a year (4.7-5.0). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KIIS (KISS) remained at #4 (4.6-4.5) while CBS RADIO Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH) held firm at #5 (4.1-4.3). The Left Coast was hungry for information as CBS RADIO News KNX-A reported its largest share in over a year (2.7-3.7) to advance eight places to #7. We can assure you this is not fake news.

After a brief peppermint-infused hiatus, KBIG was back to #1 25-54 as it regained about half of last month’s share loss. KOST dropped back to #2 and was just slightly off of last year’s number. KIIS posted its lowest score in over a year but was able to cling to the #3 position. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KCBS-F (JACK) was up slightly to remain at #4. It was partnered with UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE), which moved up a spot as it ended a three-book slide. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) got back most of last book’s loss to move up a slot to #6.

If you happened to be a station tied at #3 18-34 last survey, this was a good month for you. KIIS moved back up to #1 for the first time since OCTOBER while KYSR advanced to #2 with a solid increase. EMMIS Top 40/R KPWR (POWER) slipped back to #3 with a slight decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Urban KRRL (REAL 92.3) moved up to #4 and narrowed the gap between the two competitors, thanks to its best showing since AUGUST. KBIG took one step forward to #5 as it rebounded from last month’s loss. SBS Spanish AC KXOL (MEGA 96.3) had its best book in over a year and moved back into the top ten. It was up five places to #7. KOST dropped from #1 to #8 and was a little softer than last year when it settled in a tie at #6.

KBIG was back in control 18-49 as it got back some of last survey’s decline. KIIS moved up to #2 with a small increase. KOST lost over half of its share as it slipped back to #3. That was its same rank as a year ago. KLVE joined the #3 party as it ended its three-book slide. KYSR was unmovable at #5 with a small increase. KRRL was up to #6 with its highest score since AUGUST while KPWR slipped back to #8, despite landing its best number in over a year.

CHICAGO: Back In The News

The power of Yule tunes, combined with the rapid response of PPM, were in full display in the WINDY CITY. Another way of putting this is that JANUARY was a return to normalcy. The holiday station was iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WLIT (MY FM). Without the aid of performance-enhancing music, the station dropped from #1 6+ to a tie at #6, losing over 10 shares in the process (13.7-3.5). Last year it fell to #4 with a 4.7. Back in the saddle again at #1 was CBS RADIO News WBBM-A (6.1-6.3). The next four stations also took one step forward. iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) was up to #2 (5.9-5.8). HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (MIX) got back almost all of what Santa took (4.4-5.3) to land at #3. TRIBUNE N/T WGN-A was up to #4 (3.7-4.0) while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKSC (KISS) ended up at #5 (3.5-3.7).

It was a similar deal in the 25-54 arena. WLIT dropped back to #6 (it was #3 a year ago) as it lost almost ten shares. WTMX was back to its customary #1 position. WVAZ stepped up to #2 with a slight decrease while WKSC advanced to #3 as it ended a four-book slide. Two cluster brothers with similar names were tied at #4. WBBM-A took one step forward with a slight increase while CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96) was up from #6 with its highest share since JULY. CUMULUS Classic Rock WLUP (THE LOOP) had its best book since MAY as it moved up to #9.

WBBM-F picked a good month to play the hits. The station rose to #1 18-34 with its best book in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WGCI was up to #2 as it ended a two-book slide. WTMX took two steps forward to #3 as it got back most of what the elves absconded with. WKSC remained at #4 with a small increase while CUMULUS Alternative WKQX was up two spots to #5 with its best performance since JUNE. iHEARTMEDIA Country WEBG (BIG) ended a six-book slide as it moved up three places to #7. It was well ahead of format competitor CBS RADIO Country WUSN (US 99), which fell to a tie at #17.

With the 18-49 group, WLIT lost nearly 10 shares as it fell to #6. It was #7 last year. WTMX rebounded from last month’s holiday hit to return to #1. Two competitors were locked in at #2. WKSC took one step forward, thus halting its four-book slide. Meanwhile, WBBM-F was up from #6 with its highest share in over a year. WGCI took one step forward to #4 as it ended a two-book slide. WVAZ dropped back to #5 with a flat performance.

SAN FRANCISCO: The Talk Of The Town

When the big guy was in town, music was the leading choice of radio listeners. However, with his migration back north of the border, the spoken word has returned. That means KQED INC. N/T KQED was back at #1 6+ with its best showing in over a year (6.4-7.3). CBS RADIO News KCBS-A was back to where it was in DECEMBER -– #2 (5.9-6.7). Santa has left the building at ENTERCOM AC KOIT. As a result, the station dropped back to #3 (9.2-4.9). A year ago it sat at #2 with a 5.6 share. iHEARTMEDIA AC KISQ (THE BREEZE) remained at #4 (4.1-4.2) CBS RADIO Hot AC KLLC (ALICE) had its highest share since FEBRUARY (3.1-3.8) and advanced five places to #5. It was just ahead of format rival iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KIOI (STAR), which moved up to #6 as it ended a four-book slide (3.2-3.6). It was also tied with CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW), which slipped back from #5 (3.7-3.6)

After two down books in a row, KQED returned in style 25-54 with its highest score in over a year. This placed the station on top of the heap. KOIT dropped back to #2 –- compared with remaining at #1 a year ago. KLLC was up to #3 with its best performance since AUGUST. KMVQ remained at #4 with a slight decrease and was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KYLD (WILD), which fell from a tie at #2 with its lowest share in over a year. KCBS-A regained all of last book’s loss and moved up to #7 – its highest rank in this demo in over a year.

For the first time since SEPTEMBER, iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R KMEL was #1 18-34 -– even though the station was off slightly from last book. KYLD remained at #2 but with its smallest share in over a year. KOIT dropped back to #3, which was noticeably better than last year’s #5 finish. KQED was up to #4 as it -– again –- posted its best number in over a year. KIOI was stationary at #5 but with its biggest book in over a year. CBS RADIO Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) inched up to #6 with its best performance since AUGUST. KMVQ dropped three places to #7 with its least productive outing since MAY.

Even though KYLD was down 18-49 for the second straight survey, the station managed to re-capture the #1 position. KQED moved up three slots to #2 with a healthy increase and was joined in that space by KOIT, which stepped back from day-to-day control of the demo. Last year it rested at #3. KLLC was up two places to #4 as it ended a two-book slide while KMEL slipped back to #5 with a small decrease. KMVQ dropped three spots to #6 with its lowest share since JUNE. A little farther down -– but nonetheless noteworthy –- was KCBS-A. The station was up to a tie at #10, which was its highest rank –- and share –- in over a year.

DALLAS-FT.WORTH: And Their Hair Was Perfect

This one is kind of like building IKEA furniture. You really, really need to follow the directions. First off, there were three -– count ‘em -– three stations that succumbed to the temptations of the season. The biggest surprise was the station formerly known as THE EDGE – iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR). Santa pushed the station to #1 6+ last time. Alas, that fame was fleeting as it dropped all the way to a tie at #14 (7.7-2.8). The “usual suspect” CHRISTMAS station –- CBS RADIO Classic Hits KLUV (K-LOVE) -– slipped back to #3 (6.8-5.2). A year ago it had remained at #1 with a 6.6 share. The third holiday player was SALEM Christian Contemporary KLTY. It moved up to #11 (2.8-3.0), which was well off last year when it was tied at #6 with a 4.2. Talk about burying the lead ... the big story this month belonged to CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF), which rose three places to #1 with its best book in over a year (4.7-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KHKS (KISS) was up to #2 (4.8-5.8). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR) remained at #4 (4.7-4.6) while UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (QUE BUENA) inched up to #5 (4.4-4.4).

The 25-54 demo was a game of musical chairs. KHKS was up two places to #1 while iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KEGL (THE EAGLE) soared to #2 with its highest share in over a year. Of course, the demise of THE EDGE may have been a contributing factor here. KLNO advanced two squares to #3 as it ended a two-book slide. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJKK (JACK) got back (jack) most of last survey’s loss as it moved up to #4. KLUV fell three places to #5. It was #1 a year ago. KPLX moved up four places to #6 where it was tied with CUMULUS Sports KTCK-A (THE TICKET), which advanced from #8. KLTY was up two places to #9 (as opposed to a tie at #7 last year). And, your previous market leader –- KDGE -– dropped to #10.

Santa was the Grinch to KHKS last book. However, this time things returned to normal and the station was -– once again -– #1 18-34. KEGL remained at #2 with a slight increase. KLNO moved up a slot to #3 with a slight decrease. RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBFB (THE BEAT) was up three places to #4 with its highest total since JUNE. KPLX was up five places to #5 as it regained all of last book’s holiday-tainted loss. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (NOW) was up slightly to remain at #7. However, it had two new partners. KLUV dropped down from #3 (it was #9 a year ago) and KDGE fell from #1.

KHKS was back in its normal range 18-49, which meant the station was back to #1. KLNO remained at #2 as it ended a two-book slide. KEGL took two steps forward to #3 with its best score in over a year. KJKK was also up two slots -– to #4 -– with a modest increase. KPLX advanced seven spaces to #5 as it also ended a two-book slide. KDGE lost more than half its share and dropped from the top spot to #6. KLUV fell five places to a tie at #9 (it was #5 last year). And, KLTY was actually up five spots to a tie at #12 (it was tied at #10 last year).

Round one is in the books. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. are going back under the hood to prepare the next batch of analyses. This will include HOUSTON, WASHINGTON, DC, PHILADELPHIA, ATLANTA, and BOSTON. Stand by for breaking news …

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