Research Director, Inc.: Exclusive June PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston

Markets #6-10

Welcome to the mid-point of the year. The release of the JUNE survey means we are less than five months away from the beginning of the holiday music season. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in a committed relationship with the number crunchers from XTRENDS – can barely hold back our collective excitement. But we will. Must focus on the task at hand, which is looking at what happened in the time frame of 5/25 through 6/21. We know there was a big, fat holiday weekend, some stations trotted out that ALICE COOPER song and many were setting up out-of-office auto-responders. How did that affect the numbers? Let’s see …

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Do You Believe In Majic?

Well, you should. For the fifth straight survey RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) was #1 6+. Though the station dipped this month (8.3-7.7), it retained a large lead over the rest of the market. COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) remained at #2 but posted its best score since SEPTEMBER (6.2-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY) moved up a slot to #3 (5.5-5.8) while the wrecking ball known as CBS RADIO Adult Hits KKHH (THE SPOT) moved forward two paces to #4 (4.7-5.1). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN had its lowest share in over a year (6.1-5.0) to drop back to #5. Two stations saw their fortunes improve as they moved up and into a tie at #6. COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) was up from a tie at #7 (4.4-4.6) while CUMULUS Top 40/M KRBE had its highest share since AUGUST to advance from a tie at #11 (3.8-4.6). KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ posted its lowest score since SEPTEMBER and was forced to move down to #8 (5.0-4.4).

There was no longer a tie atop the 25-54 leaderboard. While both previous occupants had down books, one was less of a downer. KMJQ captured the flag for the third time in the last four surveys while KLTN slid back to #2 with (again) its lowest share in over a year. There was a logjam at #3. KKHH remained in place with a slight decrease while KGLK moved up two slots as it ended a two-book slide. KODA slipped back to #5 despite a slight increase while iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) had its best outing in over a year to advance to #6.

Speaking of which … KQBT also had its best 18-34 book in over a year and that propelled the station to #1 with almost a full share lead over the rest of the competition. RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) moved up to #2 with its second up book in a row. KRBE made the move of the month by jumping from a tie at #7 to #3 with -– yep –- its highest share in over a year. Conversely, KLTN ended a two-book run at #1. The station dropped to #4 with its smallest share since JULY. KMJQ remained a fixture at #5 with a small decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) dropped three places to #6 with its lowest share since we were roasting our nuts on an open flame. Talk about your buzz kill. (Insert rim shot here). CBS RADIO Hot AC KHMX (MIX) advanced five places to #7 as it bounced back from last month’s big loss. It was tied with KKBQ and CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA).

Though KLTN appeared to have taken a pounding in the previous three demos, the station did manage to remain #1 18-49 – even with its lowest share in over a year. Mere breaths behind was KQBT, which moved up from a tie at #4 with a small increase. KTBZ was off slightly but remained at #3 where it was joined by KMJQ, which fell back from #2. KBXX stepped back to #5 with a slight decrease while KRBE was close behind at #6 thanks to its best book in over a year.

WASHINGTON, DC: WAMU Out The Wazoo

Stop the presses! After five consecutive double-digit 6+ books, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU dipped below a ten share (10.7-9.3). The station was still #1 but got closer to #2 HUBBARD News WTOP (8.8-8.7). In a distant third place again was HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR (7.5-7.5). Then came everyone else. RADIO ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC) rose to #4 with its best book since AUGUST (5.3-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH moved up to #5 (5.0-4.9) while two of its cluster siblings were just a hair behind at #6. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) was up from #7 with its highest share since NOVEMBER (4.5-4.8) while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG dropped from #4 with its lowest share since JANUARY (5.4-4.8).

Re-start the presses! For the sixth month in a row, WAMU topped double digits 25-54. It remained #1 but saw its lead dip under four shares (oh, the horror!). WTOP was still in second place but had its third down book in a row. WIHT moved up to #3 with its third up book in a row but was still more than a share out of second. WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY Christian Contemporary WGTS moved up to #4 with easily its best book in over a year. The station has been on a good roll this year after starting out at #13. WHUR ended a two-book surge and dropped a couple of slots to #5 where it was tied with its direct competitor, WMMJ, which moved up two places with its best book since AUGUST. WASH fell to #7 just because it was flat.

When Santa’s away WIHT is always #1 18-34. This book was no exception. Though the station was down slightly, #2 WAMU was down more so the gap widened to a share and a half. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101) moved up to #3 with its highest score in over a year. This pushed RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) back to #4 as it was off a bit. CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC remained at #5 with a small decrease while WASH was up to #6 as it ended a two-book slide.

Last month WAMU was dangerously close to cracking the double-digit barrier 18-49. This month the station backed off that pace though it still retained its #1 ranking. WIHT remained at #2 with a slight increase. WGTS claimed third place with its best book in over a year. WASH was still settled in at #4 with a slight increase and was joined by its cluster bro WWDC, which moved up from a tie at #6 with its highest share since FEBRUARY. WTOP dropped three stories to #6 with a slight decrease. Close behind was WKYS, which slid to #7 despite a small increase.

PHILADELPHIA: Destined To Be A Classic

The top four stations 6+ were packed as tightly as traffic on the SCHUYLKILL (ask a local how to pronounce that). For the third time in the last four surveys, CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL led the way as it ended a two-book slide (6.8-7.2). Not far behind was JERRY LEE RADIO AC WBEB (MORE), which moved up to #2 as its down trend ended at three books (6.3-6.9). Last month’s market leader – iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS – dropped to #3 (7.0-6.8). BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK fell back to #4 as it ended a three-book surge (6.9-6.6). If our math is correct – and it usually is – this quartet was separated by six tenths of a share. Coming in at #5 again was BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR, though the station posted its lowest score since we were celebrating the winter solstice in that noted holiday hot spot of SARAJEVO (5.7-5.3). CBS RADIO News KYW-A ended its two-book slide (4.6-4.9) to move up to #6.

The top four stations 25-54 were also separated by a small margin. There was a lot of movement this time. WBEB returned to the top spot with its highest score since FEBRUARY. Last month’s co-leaders were sent packing. WMGK was flat but fell to #2 while WMMR dropped to #4. In between was WDAS, which remained motionless with a slight increase. Its sister station – iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER) moved up to #5 with its highest share since SEPTEMBER. Meanwhile, iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) slid back to #6 as it shed a painfully large chunk of share. It was joined in that space by CBS RADIO Country WXTU, which advanced from #9 with its best performance since OCTOBER.

Last month, two stations were officially designated #1 18-34. One was left standing this time. WBEB was flat while WUSL returned most of last month’s big gain to fall back to #2. Coming in at a somewhat distant #3 again was iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102), which had its lowest score since JANUARY. WRFF remained in place at #4 with its second down book in a row. It was joined by WXTU, which shot up from #8 with its highest share since AUGUST. WMMR slipped back to #6 with its fourth down book in a row and was hanging with its older cluster brother WMGK, which had a slight decrease.

For the first time since FEBRUARY, WBEB was #1 18-49. The station is on a strong two-book surge. WUSL also moved up – to #2 – just by maintaining the ratings status quo. WDAS held steady at #3 with a small decrease and was sharing the moment with WMMR, which ended its four-book run at #1. WRFF returned as the #5 station but with a modest decrease. It was paired with WMGK, which moved up a couple of places with a slight increase.

ATLANTA: Talk Ain’t Cheap

The market domination continued for COX RADIO Talk WSB-A. The station was again #1 6+ and maintained its large lead over the rest of the field (8.6-8.8). COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) was in second place for the third book in a row (6.7-6.6). Two format competitors were locked in mortal combat at #3. CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V-103) remained in place (6.5-6.2) while COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) moved up a slot (6.3-6.2). RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) moved a little closer to its competitors at #5 (4.5-4.8) while its younger sibling – RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) – slipped back to #6 (4.7-4.6).

There was little drama 25-54 as WVEE continued to own the demo. The station was #1 for the fifth book in a row and expanded its lead to more than a share. WSRV remained at #2 after giving back all, and then some, of last month’s solid increase and was in league with WSB-A, which took a step forward with its best book since JANUARY. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) remained at #4 with a small decrease while WHTA repeated at #5 with a slight increase. WAMJ had its highest total in over a year and was rewarded with a two-spot jump to #6.

Both stations previously hailed as #1 18-34 had down books. WHTA’s was less down as the station remained in the lead while WVEE slipped back to #2. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WWPW (POWER) held steady at #3 with a small decrease. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #4. WWWQ took one step forward with a slight increase while WSRV advanced two with its best book in over a year. COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) fell four spots to #8 with its least productive outing since NOVEMBER.

WVEE saw its 18-49 share shrink for the third book in a row. No matter. The station was still #1 by over a share. WHTA became the sole occupant of the #2 position with a slight decrease while WSRV slid back to #3 with a slightly larger loss. WWWQ maintained its #4 presence with its highest score in over a year while WWPW inched up to #5 despite a slight decrease. CUMULUS Rock WNNX has been on quite a roll. The station was up for the sixth book in a row to move up to #6. When the streak began, it was tied at #18. WSB-F dropped to #8 with its lowest share since JANUARY and was tied with WAMJ and iHEARTMEDIA Country WUBL (THE BULL).

BOSTON: A Three-Team Race

BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR was #1 for the twelfth time in the last fourteen surveys (7.9-7.3). Its cluster sister BEASLEY AC WMJX (MAGIC) moved up to #2 with its best Frosty-free book in exactly one year (5.9-7.0). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS) slid back to #3 despite also posting its biggest number in exactly a year (6.2-6.9). CBS RADIO News WBZ-A remained at #4 but with its lowest reported number since SEPTEMBER (5.6-5.1). ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F was a nose behind at #5 with its best book since JANUARY (4.7-5.0). This just edged out CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX, which remained at #6 (5.0-4.9). BEASLEY Country WKLB gave back most of last month’s big gain to fall to #7 (5.1-4.5).

For the second book in a row WXKS was #1 25-54. However, this time the station had a noticeably larger ratings bulge – its biggest in over a year. As a result, it led new #2 WMJX – which had a nice increase – by two and a half shares. WROR dropped back to #3 with its third straight down book. WEEI-F moved up three places to #4 with its best performance since OCTOBER. CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) dropped back to #5 with its lowest score in over a year. CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX) fell back to #6 as it returned most of last month’s big increase.

JANUARY was the last time WXKS hit double digits 18-34. The station cruised to another demo win and led #2 WROR by over three shares. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #3. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) had its best book since SEPTEMBER to move up one slot while WMJX moved in from a tie at #8 as it ended a three-book slide. WKLB slipped back to #5 with a small decrease while BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) fell three places to #6 with its lowest total in over a year.

It was another monster increase for WXKS, which extended its dominance over the 18-49 demo. WMJX moved up to #2 with a strong increase yet still trailed the leader by well over two shares. WROR was off slightly but stable at #3. WEEI-F rode the SOX to its best book since OCTOBER as it advanced from a tie at #10 to #4. Its chief rival – WBZ-F – went in the opposite direction as it fell three places to #5. WBQT dropped four spots to #8 where it was tied with WJMN.

Welcome to the intermission. This is where you can refresh your screen and The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. can get an adult beverage. We will return – if a bit unsteadily – to this space with round three. That features the ratings fates and fortunes of DETROIT, MIAMI, PHOENIX, SEATTLE-TACOMA, and MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL. Stand by.

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