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

Markets #6-10

As we plod through the malaise that is the dregs of summer, we must still face the inevitable onslaught of (dramatic sting) the numbers! You may be relaxing at the beach sipping on an umbrella-adorned adult beverage. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – in collegial cooperation with the experts from XTRENDS – delve into what JULY has wrought. This survey covered 6/22 through 7/19 and featured an extended holiday weekend and the lifestyle upheaval caused by the family vacation. And, so begins our task …

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Do You Believe In Majic?

Well, you should. URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) just garnered its sixth straight #1 win 6+. However, the station did take a bit of a tumble (7.7-7.0), which drew it a little closer to the rest of the pack. COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) remained #2 but could not advance on the leader due to its flat condition (6.5-6.5). iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY) got back into the race at #3 by posting its best Frosty-free share since NOVEMBER (5.8-6.4). Also in flat mode was CBS RADIO Adult Hits KKHH (THE SPOT), which remained at #4 (5.1-5.1). Two stations moved up and into a tie at #5. KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ was up from #8 as it regained a good portion of last month’s big hit (4.4-4.8). CUMULUS Top 40/M KRBE took one step forward with its highest share in over a year (4.6-4.8). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN dropped a couple of places to #7 with its lowest score in over a year (5.0-4.3).

The top of the 25-54 leaderboard suddenly became quite compressed. KMJQ had been #1 for the last two surveys but fell to #4 this time with its smallest share since OCTOBER. The two former occupants of the #3 position were cheek-by-jowl at the top. KGLK moved up to #1 with its best book since DECEMBER while KKHH was ever so close at #2 with its highest total since the format change. Just a small step behind at #3 was KODA, which was up for the second book in a row. Two stations moving in opposite directions collided at #5. KLTN dropped from the second spot thanks to its third straight down book. KRBE rose from a tie at #8 with its best performance in exactly a year.

There was some compression in the 18-34 ranks. Last month, iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) vaulted into the lead by almost a full share. The station remained on top but the top four positions were separated by around half a share. URBAN ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) remained at #2 despite giving back most of last month’s large increase. KRBE held steady at #3 with a flat performance. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) moved into contention at #4 as it regained most of last survey’s big decline. KODA advanced six places to #5 with its highest share in over a year (that was gained without the help of performance-enhancing holiday tunes). KLTN dropped a couple of slots to #6 with its lowest number in over a year. It was sharing the moment with CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA), which took one small step forward with a slight increase. KMJQ dropped five places to a tie at #10 as it lost a rather large chunk of share.

You want to talk narrow spacing? The top seven positions 18-49 were within a half share of each other. KTBZ took control of the demo just by maintaining the numerical status quo. KODA jumped six spots to #2 with its best BURL IVES-free month since DECEMBER. KRBE was also #2 – moving in from #6 – thanks to a small increase. KQBT fell two places to #4 as it ended a two-book winning streak. KGLK soared three slots to #5 with its highest perch in over a year. KLTN dropped from the market lead to #6 with – once again – its lowest share in over a year. KBXX dropped back to #7 with a small loss while KMJQ fell from a tie at #3 to #9 with its least productive outing since OCTOBER.

WASHINGTON, DC: The Big WAMU

The so-called denizens of the swamp were waxing laconic (can you actually do that?) this month as there was precious little news to report. Unless, of course, that is your stock-in-trade. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU continued to lead the 6+ swarm (9.3-9.4) and saw its lead expand over #2 HUBBARD News WTOP, which reported its lowest number in over a year (8.7-8.2). This is not fake news. HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR remained in third place but was dangerously close to breaking the talk monopoly after landing its largest share in over a year (7.5-8.1). Its arch nemesis – URBAN ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC) – had its best performance in exactly a year (5.7-6.0) but had to settle for remaining in fourth. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG regained all of last month’s, ahem, big loss (4.8-5.4) to move back up to #5. Its cluster sister – iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH – had its lowest score in over a year (4.9-4.1) to fall three places to #8. CHRISTMAS music begins in 3 … 2 … 1 …

For the first time since Santa was roaming the murky local waters, WAMU did not surpass the double-digit barrier 25-54. Still the station was #1 again. Though WTOP remained at #2 and ended a three-book slide, it was still over two shares off the lead. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) was flat to remain a distant #3. WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY Christian Contemporary WGTS held steady at #4 with a slight decrease but was forced into a partnership with WHUR, which took a step forward with a small gain. WMMJ slid back to #6 despite a slight increase and maintained a solid lead over its next closest pursuer – WBIG – which ended a three-book slide to move up to #7.

It was another month of sheer 18-34 dominance for WIHT. The station did take a bit of a hit but held over a share-and-a-half lead over its cluster brother iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC-101), which moved up to #2 despite a small loss. WAMU dropped back to #3 with its lowest total since you were composing that holiday letter no one reads. It was joined at that spot by URBAN ONE Urban WKYS (KISS), which moved up as it ended a two-book slide. CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC remained at #5 with a small gain. (Fun, useless historical fact: this station’s slogan was “Where People Get Cash” back in the day.) WBIG was up three slots to #6 with its best book since MARCH.

There wasn’t much of a contest 18-49 as WAMU – despite a down book – continued to hold a commanding lead over #2 WIHT, which ended a modest three-book surge. WTOP advanced three spaces to #3 as it halted a three-book slide while WGTS dropped back to #4 as it returned some of last month’s large increase. Two stations moved up and set up shop at #5. WKYS took two steps forward despite a small loss while WHUR moved in from a tie at #9 with its highest mark in over a year. The two stations previously known as #4 did not fare as well this time. WWDC dropped to a tie at #7 as it returned all of last month’s increase while WASH turned it down to eleven with its lowest total in over a year.

PHILADELPHIA: Back In The Day Leads The Way

That’s kind of a convoluted way to refer to a station that plays old songs (but never the dreaded “oldie”). For the second book in a row – and fourth time in the last five months – CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL was #1 6+. And, this time the station landed its largest share in over a year (7.2-7.5). JERRY LEE RADIO AC WBEB (MORE) remained #2 but fell a bit farther off the pace (6.9-6.8). BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK inched up to #3 despite being off for the second book in a row (6.6-6.5). This pushed iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS back to #4 as it posted its smallest share since AUGUST (6.8-6.2). Its younger cluster brother – iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER) – had its highest score in over a year (4.4-5.6) to advance four spaces to #5. CBS RADIO News KYW-A remained sheltered in place at #6 but with its best performance since MARCH (4.9-5.3). BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR dropped back to #7 with its third down book in a row (5.3-4.8).

WBEB was a little less than it was last month but the station remained in the lead 25-54. WMGK was also off a bit but held on to its #2 ranking. WUSL moved up to #3 with its highest total in over a year and this pushed its cluster mate WDAS back to #4 as it ended a nice two-book surge. WMMR slid back to #5 with its lowest share in over a year while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) was up to #6 as it regained most of last month’s share loss.

For the third book in a row, WBEB was #1 18-34 with its best share since FEBRUARY. WUSL was flat and stable at #2 but trailed the leader by a full share. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) moved up to #3 as it regained all of last month’s loss – plus a little extra for good behavior. WIOQ was down for the third straight survey and stepped back to #4 while WMGK moved up to #5 with a slight increase. CBS RADIO Country WXTU dropped to #6 as it lost a chunk of last month’s big gain. WMMR dropped back to #7 with its fifth down book in a row and was tied with CBS RADIO AC WTDY (TODAY’S 96.5), which had its best share since the new format was installed. There was a new player this time and even though it was not “new” for the entire survey, it did quite well. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC WISX (REAL 106.1) debuted in week two and ended up with its best share since DECEMBER to move up four slots to #11.

Can you feel the power? You should because WUSL had its best 18-49 share since AUGUST and took the demo lead, just edging out last month’s leader, WBEB, which was off slightly. WRFF moved up to #3 as it continued to rehabilitate itself from last month’s decline. WDAS slid back to #4 with its smallest number since FEBRUARY. There was a three-way confab at #5. WMGK remained in place with a small loss while its younger cluster brother WMMR slid back from #3 with its least productive outing since BRENDA LEE was showing up on MEDIABASE. WIOQ also joined the party – from #7 – despite being down for the third straight survey.

ATLANTA: Something To Talk About

To misapply a cliché, the 6+ song remained the same as COX RADIO Talk WSB-A remained #1 – and by its usual wide margin (8.8-8.6). CBS RADIO Urban AC WVEE (V-103) was flat (6.2-6.2) but managed to worm its way into the #2 position. This pushed COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) back to #3 as it posted its lowest number since MARCH (6.6-5.9). It was joined with COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS), which remained in place with its second down book in a row (6.2-5.9). Watch out for CUMULUS Country WKHX (KICKS). The station jumped four places to #5 with its highest share since SEPTEMBER (4.1-4.8). Just two months ago it was at #13. COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) also had a very good book. The station was up from a tie at #11 to #6 as it ended a four-book slide (3.9-4.7). URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) dropped back to a tie at #8 as its two-book winning streak came to an end (4.8-4.4).

For the sixth month in a row, WVEE was #1 25-54. The station did post its lowest score since JANUARY but led #2 WSB-A by over a share. WSRV slid back to #3 with its second straight down survey while CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) remained a solid #4 as it regained all of last month’s modest loss. URBAN ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) held steady at #5 despite a small loss and was joined by CUMULUS Rock WNNX, which moved up from #7 with its seventh straight up book. When the streak began, the station was at #18.

The top two stations 18-34 that continually dominate the market had down books and ended up in a tie at #1. WHTA remained in place while WVEE stepped up from #2. Both had their lowest shares since APRIL. WWWQ moved up to #3 with its best performance since NOVEMBER, which pushed iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WWPW (POWER) back to #4 even though it was up slightly. WSRV slipped back to #5 as it lost about half of last month’s big gain while WSB-F moved up to #6 as it, too, got back about half of what it lost last time.

WVEE was flat 18-49 but still led the way for the ninth straight survey. WWWQ moved up to #2 with its highest score in over a year, which forced WHTA to step back to #3 as it was off slightly. WSRV moved back to #4 with its second straight down book while WSB-F was up three places to #5 as it almost completely recovered from last month’s big hit. WWPW dropped back to #6 with a flat performance and was partnered with WNNX, which remained in place with a slight increase.

Boston: Objects Are As Close As They Appear

After taking it on the chin last month, BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR bounced back this month (7.3-7.7) to remain #1 6+. However, iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS) posted its best number in over a year (6.9-7.5) to move up to a very close #2. BEASLEY AC WMJX (MAGIC) slipped back to #3 as it returned a large portion of last month’s big gain (7.0-6.4). CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX also had its largest share in over a year (4.9-5.6) to move up to #4. This pushed CBS RADIO News WBZ-A back to #5 (5.1-5.0). Its soon-to-be cluster brother ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F fell to a tie at #7 with its lowest score (5.0-4.3) since MARCH.

For the third straight survey, WXKS was the clear 25-54 leader. The station was off a bit this time and, as WROR ended a three-book slide to move up to #2, the gap between the two stations dropped to under two shares. WMJX slid back to #3 with its lowest score in over a year (how long before we add in BURL IVES?) while WZLX leapt four places to #4 with its best book in over a year. WEEI-F slipped to #5 as it ended a three-book surge while its arch rival CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) was flat and moved down a step to #6.

This was the seventh straight 18-34 win for WXKS and the station surmounted the double-digit plateau for the second book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) moved up to #2 with its best book since SEPTEMBER but remained over three shares off the lead. WROR slid back to #3 with its lowest total since JANUARY and WMJX dropped back to #4 as it lost a good portion of last month’s big increase. BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) moved up to #5 as it ended a three-book slide while BEASLEY Country WKLB fell back to a tie at #7 with a modest loss.

WXKS continued to plod along with another 18-49 victory. The station did give back some of last month’s big increase but the new #2 – WROR – was close to three shares behind. WMJX lost most of last month’s increase to move back to #3 while WZLX earned leap-o-the-month honors as it moved from #14 to #4 with its largest share in over a year. Two stations advanced their causes and landed at #5. CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX) was up a slot with a slight increase while WJMN took three giant steps forward with its best performance since SEPTEMBER. WBZ-F fell to #7 with its lowest score in over a year.

Another one bites the dust … and as The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. wet our parched whistle, we invite you to stay tuned for round three. That will feature the combined efforts of DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE-TACOMA, PHOENIX, and MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL. Watch this space.

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