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

Markets #6-#10

The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., along with our nerdy compatriots from XTRENDS, have returned to bring you another round of the JUNE ratings ring dang do. This particular “month” covered 5/23 through 6/19 and featured one very large federal holiday weekend. Now, let’s divine the stories behind the songs …

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Sunny Is Money

So, here’s the deal. Ever since iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY) peaked during the Santa season, the station has seen its 6+ share steadily decline. However, the station is still #1 (7.3-7.1) and maintains a comfortable lead over the rest of the pack. URBAN ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) moved up to #2 (5.7-5.9) but was still more than a share off the pace. COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) dipped to #3 as it returned some of last month’s increase (5.9-5.4). It was forced into a tie as ENTERCOM Adult Hits KKHH (THE SPOT) moved up from a tie at #5 with its best performance since AUGUST (5.1-5.4). CUMULUS Top 40/M KRBE remained at #5 (5.1-5.1). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (QUE BUENA) slipped to #6 with its lowest total since JULY (5.5-4.9). It met up at that spot with KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ, which moved up from a tie at #8 (4.9-4.9). ENTERCOM Country KILT-F (THE BULL) fell five places to #10 with its lowest share of the year (5.1-4.4).

It was an interesting way to gain a tie. KLTN was #1 for the fifth book in a row but with its lowest share in exactly a year. Meanwhile, KODA was down for the sixth straight survey but moved up from #2 to forge the tie. KKHH had its best book since OCTOBER to move up to a very close #3. Three stations moved up and into a tie at #4. URBAN ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) took one small step forward with a slight decrease. COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) advanced from #7 as it got back some of last month’s loss. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) had its highest share since NOVEMBER to jump from #12. KRBE fell from that #4 position to #7 where it was tied with ENTERCOM Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA). KGLK swooped down from #3 to #9 as it returned all of last month’s increase.

The results are in and … we have another tie. KODA was again #1 18-34 but with its lowest mark since NOVEMBER. KLOL moved up from #3 to force the jump ball thanks to its best book in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) was off a bit but moved up a spot to #3. KBXX slipped to #4 after posting its lowest share since SEPTEMBER. KRBE stepped up to #5 as it ended a two-book slide. KLTN fell to #7 with its smallest share in over a year. Meanwhile, KTBZ was very close behind at #8 after landing its best book since FEBRUARY.

KODA continued to lead the way 18-49. The station was #1 for the third book in a row but posted its lowest share since NOVEMBER. KLOL moved up to #2 with a slight increase and was under a share off the lead. KLTN stepped back to #3 with its lowest score since JULY. KRBE stood alone at #4 with a slight decrease while KBXX slumped to #5 with a small loss. KQBT was very close behind at #6 while KTBZ and KKHH were a click behind at #7. The seven stations ranked from #2 to #7 were within a half share of each other.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: TOP Shelf

From the city that specializes in hot air, we once again find the top of the 6+ leaderboard crowded with stations that only speak when spoken to (there’s an Alexa joke in there somewhere). For the sixth book in a row, HUBBARD News WTOP was the market leader, though with its lowest share in over a year (8.7-8.2). Nipping at its heels was AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU, which was down for the third straight survey (8.4-8.0).  The top two music stations were in their usual locations with URBAN ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC) in third for the seventh book in a row (7.7-7.5) and easily outdistancing #4 HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR (6.5-6.1). Then, things got a little interesting. The demise of the station formerly known as WRQX may have provided a boost for a couple of contemporary stations. iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH had its best Frosty-free book since NOVEMBER (4.5-5.3) as it rose two places to #5. And, right down the hall, iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) landed its largest share in over a year (3.7-4.6) to move up to #6. The two previous occupants of the #5 position went their separate ways. CUMULUS Talk WMAL-F – in its last full month broadcasting on both bands – slipped to #7 (5.2-4.4). WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY Christian Contemporary WGTS – now facing format competition – dropped to #8 (5.2-4.2). 

For the sixth straight survey WAMU was #1 25-54. However, the station did post its lowest number of the year and this time around had company on the summit. WMMJ became the co-leader despite also having a down book. Both stations easily outpaced #3 WHUR, which was off slightly. WIHT had its best outing since NOVEMBER as it moved up three slots to #4. WTOP was down for the fifth book in a row as it dipped to #5. WASH remained in place at #6 but with its best non-holiday-influenced book since NOVEMBER. WGTS dropped from #5 to #10 with its lowest mark since JANUARY.

There were some interesting developments 18-34. A flat WIHT was #1 for the fourth book in a row. However, it was hearing footsteps as WASH moved up to an extremely close and personal space-invading #2 with a huge increase. WHUR slipped back to #3 despite posting its largest share in over a year. Those three were separated by a half share and at least a share clear of everyone else. ENTERCOM Top 40/R WPGC was up four slots to #4 with its best performance since DECEMBER. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC101), which took one step upward after posting its best number in exactly a year. URBAN ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) got back a little of last month’s big loss to move up to #6. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG jumped four places to #7 with its highest share in over a year. WAMU dropped three spaces to #8 as it was down for the fifth book in a row. WGTS dropped from #4 to a tie at #12.

There was a changing of the 18-49 guard as WIHT took three giant steps forward to #1 thanks to its best book since NOVEMBER. WAMU slipped back to #2 while WMMJ dropped back to #3. WASH was up to #4 with its third straight up book. WKYS remained at #5 with a slight increase. WGTS dropped five slots to #8.

ATLANTA: A Fish Tale

Nothing fishy about this story. SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (THE FISH) was #1 6+ for the third book in a row. And by #1, we mean a big fish in a big pond number one (OK, we’ll stop now). The station had its best book in over a year (7.9-8.8) and opened up a lot of water (sorry) between it and COX RADIO Talk WSB-A, which moved up to #2 (6.3-6.3). ENTERCOM Urban WVEE (V-103) slipped to #3 (6.5-6.2) while two stations were hanging out at #4. COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) moved up a spot (5.9-5.9) while COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) advanced two (5.6-5.9). URBAN ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) dropped to #6 (6.3-5.2) and was tied with COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5), which bounced back from a down book (4.7-5.2).

The top four stations 25-54 remained the same but the race got quite a bit closer. As a matter of fact, they were all separated by about a half share. WVEE was #1 again but with its lowest share in over a year. WAMJ repeated at #2 as it returned all of last month’s modest gain. WSRV was still #3 with a flat book while WFSH was treading water at #4 with its fifth up book in a row. WSB-F stepped up to #5 as it ended a two-book slide. WALR remained at #6 with a slight increase. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q99.7) had its best showing since JANUARY to advance four spaces to #7. URBAN ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) slid to #8 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER.

As is usually the case, the 18-34 race was for second place behind WVEE. The station had a small increase and led the market by over two shares. WSB-F jumped from #7 to #2 with its best outing in over a year. WALR remained in place at #3 but with its best book in over a year. WHTA slipped to #4 as it lost a chunk of share. It was forced to share the moment with WWWQ, which moved up from a tie at #8 with its highest mark since NOVEMBER. WSRV slipped to #6 with a slight increase while WAMJ dropped to #8 with its lowest score since JANUARY.

The one constant 18-49 was WVEE. The station was #1 as per usual though its lead over WFSH – which moved up to #2 with its best holiday-free book in over a year – shrank to a mere share. WSB-F went from #7 to #3 with its best outing since JULY. WSRV ebbed to #4 as it returned all of last month’s increase. WWWQ advanced four spaces to #5 with its highest score since NOVEMBER. WAMJ dropped to #6 while WHTA fell to #7. Both stations lost a chunk of share.

PHILADELPHIA: B Is For Best

At least when it comes to 6+, there can be no argument. ENTERCOM AC WBEB (B101.1) won for the second book in a row (6.7-7.0) and opened up a little distance over BEASLEY Classic Rock WMGK, which repeated at #2 (6.6-6.6). BEASLEY Active Rock WMMR made a return appearance at #3 (6.4-6.1) while two stations were getting acquainted at #4. ENTERCOM Sports WIP-F got back some of last month’s loss (5.6-5.9) to move up, while ENTERCOM Classic Hits WOGL remained in place (6.0-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS slipped to #7 with its lowest share in over a year (5.9-5.3).

The top three spots 25-54 remained unchanged from last time and each station had a strong grip on its respective position. WMMR was a flat #1 but led a slightly up #2 WBEB by a share and a half. It, in turn, led #3 iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER) by about the same margin even though POWER had its best book in over a year. The next four stations were tightly packed together. WMGK was up three places to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. BEASLEY Country WXTU stepped up to #5 with a slight increase while WIP-F advanced one base to #6, also with a slight increase. WOGL moved up to #7 with its best showing since FEBRUARY. WDAS dropped to #8 with –again – its lowest share in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) fell five spots to #10 as it ended a two-book surge.

There was all sorts of commotion 18-34. WBEB jumped from #5 to #1 with a solid increase. A flat WXTU remained a close #2. It was in league with WUSL, which dropped back from the top spot as it returned all of last month’s increase. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) was off slightly but still moved up two places to #4. WMGK stepped up to #5 with a slight decrease and was just ahead of WOGL, which moved up five places to #6 with its best book since AUGUST. WMMR fell to #7 with its lowest total in over a year. ENTERCOM Top 40/M WTDY – which had taken the demo by storm over the last five books – hit a pothole on the Schuykill and fell to #8.

The top five 18-49 contained the same players as before with one slight modification. WMMR was #1 for the sixth book in a row. That is the same number of consecutive surveys that WBEB has been #2. Close behind at #3 was WUSL, which again had its best book in over a year. WXTU moved up to #4 with its third straight up book. This pushed WRFF back to #5 as it was down a bit.

BOSTON: I Am Classic Hear Me ROR

A song not likely to be found on the playlist of BEASLEY Classic Hits WROR (and for good reason) as the station was #1 6+ for the fourth straight survey. And, it posted its best share in over a year (7.6-8.2). Last month iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS) had a share of the lead but it dropped back to #2 this time (7.6-7.3). ENTERCOM AC WMJX (MAGIC) moved up to #3 with its best share in over a year that was not enhanced by the musical stylings of BURL IVES (6.2-6.9). BEASLEY Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) slipped to #4 with its lowest share since the aforementioned crooner was, well, crooning (7.0-5.6). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WZLX remained at #5 but with its first down book of the year (6.0-5.5).

Though WXKS was off slightly, the station remained #1 25-54 for the third book in a row. WMJX was up three places to #2 as it ended a two-book slide and trailed the leader by less than half a share. WROR was up slightly and moved up a spot to #3 while WBZ-F slid to #4 as it returned all of last month’s big increase. WZLX fell back to #5 as it ended a very strong five-book surge. 

As is usually case, the 18-34 demo was a race for second place. WXKS topped double digits for the fifth time in the last six books and led the rest of the market by better than four shares. WROR made the leap o’ the month as it went from #9 to #2 with its best book since JULY. BEASLEY Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) remained very close behind at #3. WBZ-F dropped to #4 with its lowest score since SEPTEMBER and was tied with ENTERCOM Hot AC WWBX (MIX), which was off slightly. WZLX slid to #7 as it ended a four-book surge and was tied with ENTERCOM Top 40/M WODS (AMP).

For the fifth straight survey, WXKS was #1 18-49. WMJX moved up to #2 with a solid increase but remained nearly two shares off the lead. WBZ-F slipped back to #3 and was tied with WBQT, which moved up from #5 as it bounced back from a down book. WROR was up a spot to #5 with its highest share in over a year. WZLX fell to #6 thus ending its five-book surge.

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That puts a wrap on our second round from the JUNE survey. Thanks for reading. You could become a member of our blog brigade. Or not. Your call.

Oh, we’ll back shortly with MIAMI, SEATTLE, DETROIT, PHOENIX, and MINNEAPOLIS. 

Website: www.ResearchDirectorInc.com
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