Research Director Inc., Exclusive August '22 PPM Analysis For New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco And Dallas-Fort Worth

August '22 PPM Ratings

We’re here to discuss the ratings fortunes that befell radio during the survey affectionately known as AUGUST. We should be clear, however, that this book’s title is only half correct. The time period in question commenced on 7/21 and reached its denouement on 8/17. There were no major holidays to foul people’s plans, but it was the last gasp of freedom for many prior to the beginning of the school year. The Ratings experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.  – along with our august compatriots from XTRENDS – are your escorts for this foray into the numbers.

NEW YORK: Neck And Neck And Neck

The top of the 6+ leaderboard was cluttered with stations that were all in the five-share range. The top three were insanely close to each other. iHEARTMEDIA AC WLTW (106.7 LITE FM) won the day for the third book in a row (6.0-5.9), while AUDACY Classic Hits WCBS stepped up to #2 (5.7-5.8). MEDIACO Urban AC WBLS was up to #3 with its best outing since APRIL (5.4-5.7). Moving up a slot to #4 was SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA 97.9) (5.0-5.3), while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3 FM) slid to #5 as it ended a strong three-book surge (5.8-5.2). The closest station to cracking the top five was iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100), which remained at #6 (4.5-4.7). WLTW kept the cume crown with a 1.2% decrease (3,402,700-3,363,100). The market was down 1.7%.

The 25-54 race was not nearly as close as the previous demo. WSKQ was in control for the third book in a row despite a small decrease. A flat WHTZ repeated at #2 and was a little more than a half share behind the leader. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKTU ended a small two-book slide as it stepped up to #3. WLTW dipped to #4 with its second straight down book, while WCBS slipped to #5 with a slight decrease. Not far behind was AUDACY Hot AC WNEW (NEW 102.7), which moved up to #6 with its best showing since FEBRUARY.

There was quite a bit of movement within the 18-34 ranks. WCBS rebounded from a down book to reclaim the #1 spot it lost last month. WHTZ also bounced back from a down book and leapt two places to #2. It was better than a share off the pace. MEDIACO Top 40/R WQHT (HOT 97) posted its largest share since NOVEMBER as it soared from #8 to #3. WAXQ’s stay at the top was all too brief. The station surrendered all of last month’s huge share increase – plus a little extra – as it dropped to #4. WSKQ was off slightly but repeated at #5, while WLTW dropped from #3 to #7.

Though WAXQ was #1 18-49 for the third straight survey, it was forced to share. A flat WHTZ moved up to forge the tie. This duo was well clear of the rest of the field. WKTU advanced three spaces to #3 with a strong showing, while a flat WCBS remained ensconced at #4. WLTW slipped to #5 with its third down book in a row. Not far behind was WNEW, which stepped up to #6 with its best performance since NOVEMBER. WAXQ dropped from #5 and landed in a tie at #9 with NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO Public Radio WNYC.

LOS ANGELES: Flip And Flop

Last month AUDACY Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH 101) ended the long string of #1 books for iHEARTMEDIA AC KOST. That result was reversed this month. KOST was back on top (5.4-5.4) while KRTH slipped to #2 (5.5-5.2). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBIG (104.3 MYFM) repeated at #3 (5.3-5.0), while iHEARTMEDIA Talk KFI-A moved up to #4 (4.5-4.8). TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE 107.5) dipped to #5 (4.9-4.6) and just edged out AUDACY Urban AC KTWV (94.7 THE WAVE), which retained its #6 ranking (4.3-4.4). KRTH continued to have the most listeners (2,339,000-2,344,400) – an increase of 0.2%. The market was off by 1.1%.

A close 25-54 competition got even closer. Both KBIG and KLVE remained #1 and #2, respectively. Each station had a down book and as the dust cleared, they were separated by the slimmest of margins. KRTH repeated at #3 but fell a bit farther off the pace. KOST remained at #4 but with its smallest share in over a year. It was paired with AUDACY Adult Hits KCBS (93.1 JACK FM), which moved up a slot with its largest share in over a year. SBS Regional Mexican KLAX (LA RAZA 97.9) had its first up book since JANUARY as it rose from #12 to #7.

iHEARTMEDIA Urban KRRL (REAL 92.3) has been absolutely stoning the 18-34 arena. The station was #1 for the fourth book in a row despite losing a massive chunk of share. It led the two second-place finishers by a share and a half. That duo was comprised of KOST – which was up from #4 with a small increase – and KTWV, which advanced from a tie at #8 with its best book since APRIL. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KIIS (102.7 KISS FM) slid to #4, while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KYSR (ALT 98.7) dropped to #5. Both stations had slight decreases. KRTH suffered the same fate as it stepped down to #6. MERUELO Classic Rock KLOS had its best outing in over a year as it climbed from #14 into a tie at #8 with KCBS.

The 18-49 clash was all about partnering up. KLVE repeated at #1 though it returned half of last month’s large increase. It was sharing the moment with KBIG, which was up from #3 with a slight decrease. KRRL dipped to #3 as it ended a robust three-book surge. It was paired with KRTH, which rose from #4 despite a small share loss. A flat KIIS remained at #5 but had a new partner. KCBS moved up from #9 with its highest score in over a year. KOST fell out of a tie at #5 and ended up in a tie at #7 with KTWV.

CHICAGO: Sharing Is Caring

So, there was HUBBARD Classic Rock WDRV (97.1FM THE DRIVE) in complete cruise control 6+ as it dominated the last three surveys. The station hits a pothole for its lowest share since MARCH (6.1-5.5) yet remains in first place. There is a plot twist as iHEARTMEDIA AC WLIT (93.9 LITE FM) had its best Frosty-free share since NOVEMBER (5.4-5.5) to claim a share of the lead. WBEZ ALLIANCE N/T WBEZ and iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WVAZ (V103) had been tied at #3. WBEZ remained in place (5.1-4.8), while WVAZ slipped to #4 with its smallest share in over a year (5.1-4.7). AUDACY News WBBM-A repeated at #5 (4.6-4.6), while TELEVISUNIVISION Regional Mexican WOJO (QUÉ BUENA 105.1) moved up to #6 as it ended a two-book slide (3.6-4.4). WLIT was the cume leader once again (1,282,200-1,343,200) – a 4.8% increase. The market gained 0.6%.

For the fifth book in a row, WOJO was your runaway 25-54 leader. The station had a strong share increase. WDRV was up slightly as it advanced to #2 but a share and a half in arrears. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKSC (103.5 KISS FM) was off slightly but still moved up two slots to #3. WLIT jumped from #7 to #4, also with a slight increase. AUDACY Country WUSN (US99) and HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (101.9 THE MIX) had been an item at #2. WUSN dropped to #5, while WTMX fell into a tie at #6 with WVAZ and CUMULUS Alternative WKQX (Q101).

Last month WUSN rocketed to the top of the 18-34 chart with a massive share increase. The station gave some of that back this time as it slipped to #2. WOJO got the massive increase this time as it took over the top spot. Way back in MARCH, WOJO was in a tie at #8. The station has more than doubled its share since then. WDRV crept up to #3 with a small loss, while WKSC dipped to #4 with its lowest mark since SEPTEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WGCI advanced five spaces to #5 as it ended a two-book slide. AUDACY Rhythmic AC WBMX (104.3 JAMS) fell from #5 and landed in a tie at #9 with WKQX and CUMULUS Classic Hits WLS. WLS rose from a tie at #16.

WOJO continued to run roughshod over the 18-49 demo. The station was #1 for the eighth book in a row and led WKSC – which moved up to #2 – by two and a half shares. WUSN slipped to #3 and just edged out WKQX, which remained at #4 with a slight increase. WDRV broke out of a tie at #8 as it moved up to #5. Meanwhile, WVAZ dropped from #5 and landed in a tie at #8 with WLIT and TELEVISAUNIVISION Spanish AC WPPN (AMOR 106.7 FM).

SAN FRANCISCO: Both News And Talk

For the second book in a row, KQED INC. N/T KQED was the far and away 6+ leader. The station posted its largest number since MARCH (8.1-8.5) to open a wide lead. AUDACY News KCBS-A and BONNEVILLE AC KOIT remained tied at #2 with the exact same book (6.3-6.2). iHEARTMEDIA AC KISQ (98.1 THE BREEZE) did have its best book in over a year (5.1-5.4) as it remained at #4. CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A got back a portion of last month’s big share loss (3.3-4.0) as it stepped up to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KIOI (STAR 101.3) dipped to #6 despite landing its best share since APRIL (3.4-3.8). KOIT still had the most cume despite a 7.9% drop (1,212,700-1,117,500). The market was up by 0.8%.

Last month KQED knocked KOIT off its lofty 25-54 perch. This time KOIT returned the favor. The station stepped up to #1 as it rebounded from a down book and just nipped KQED, which slipped to #2 with a small share loss. AUDACY Hot AC KLLC (ALICE @ 97.3) repeated at #3 with a slight decrease, while BONNEVILLE Top 40/M KMVQ (99.7 NOW) stepped up to #4 with its fourth straight up book. KISQ slipped to #5 with a slight decrease and was tied with a flat iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R KMEL, which remained in place.

KOIT dominated the 18-34 sphere for the fifth book in a row. Last month the station was in double digits and it just missed that mark this survey. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KYLD (WiLD 94.9) moved up to #2. The station came off its smallest share in over a year and landed its largest since MARCH. KMVQ had its best outing in over a year as it stepped up to #3. KMEL slid to #4 with its smallest share in over a year. KISQ  has regained a lot of ground since it dropped to #13 in JUNE. With two up books in a row, it has improved its standing to break into the top five. CUMULUS Classic Rock KSAN (107.7 THE BONE) leapt from a tie at #10 to #6 with its highest score since OCTOBER (or was that Rocktober?). SBS Regional Mexican KRZZ (93.3 LA RAZA) dropped from #5 and into a tie at #7 with KIOI and AUDACY Rhythmic AC KRBQ (THE NEW Q102.1).

This was the fifth straight 18-49 win for KOIT, but the station posted its lowest number since FEBRUARY. KISQ stepped up to #2 with its best book in over a year and closed to within less than a share of the lead. KYLD was up three slots to #3 as it ended a two-book slide. KMVQ repeated at #4 but with its highest share in over a year. KMEL slid from #2 to #5 where it was tied with KQED.

DALLAS-FT.WORTH: QB 7

Yes, TELEVISAUNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (QUÉ BUENA 94.1) was the 6+ leader for the seventh straight survey (5.9-5.5). However, it was hearing footsteps. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KHKS (106.1 KISS FM) advanced four spaces to #2 with its best performance since OCTOBER (4.1-5.4). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR 92.5) dipped to #3 (5.6-5.1). CUMULUS Talk WBAP-A stood alone at #4 (4.5-4.5), while its former partner in that space – AUDACY Classic Hits KLUV (98.7 K-LUV) slipped to #5 (4.5-4.4). iHEARTMEDIA AC KDGE (STAR 102.1) ended a three-book surge (5.0-4.3) as it dropped into a tie at #6 with CUMULUS Sports KTCK-A (THE TICKET) (3.7-4.3). There was a new cume leader. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KDMX (102.9 NOW) captured the most ears thanks to a 2.7% increase (975,900-1,002,600). The market grew by 2.2%.

The 25-54 demo mirrored the previous one. KLNO was #1 for the seventh book in a row though it was off slightly. KHKS suddenly became a very close competitor at #2 thanks to its best book in over a year. KZPS stood alone at #3 with a slight increase, while KDGE stepped up to #4 despite ending a three-book surge. AUDACY Adult Hits KJKK (100.3 JACK FM) was up to #5 with its first up book since MARCH. AUDACY Regional Mexican KMVK (LA GRANDE 107.5) dropped from a tie at #3 to #6 as it returned most of last month’s rather large increase.

For the first time in exactly a year, KHKS was the leading station with the 18-34 crowd. It also landed its largest share in over a year. KMVK jumped two places to #2, also with its best book in over a year. The station has nearly doubled its share over the last two books. KLNO repeated at #3 with a slight increase, while AUDACY Alternative KVIL (ALT 103.7) moved back up to #4 as it bounced back from a down book. KDGE fell from first to fifth with its smallest share since OCTOBER. CUMULUS Country KPLX (99.5 THE WOLF) slipped to #7 as it returned a good portion of last month’s big increase.

KLNO made it eight in a row in the 18-49 arena but posted its lowest share since JANUARY. Still, it was nearly two shares clear of tKDGE and KHKS, which were sharing the moment at #2. KMVK dipped to #4 as it returned most of last month’s massive share increase. CUMULUS Country KSCS was up three slots to #5 with a modest increase. KPLX dropped into a tie at #9 with KVIL.

We appreciate the patronage. Be with us again next time as The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. present another titillating episode of the ratings roundup, featuring the likes of HOUSTON, ATLANTA, WASHINGTON DC, PHILADELPHIA, and BOSTON. 

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