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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive February PPM Analysis For Six Major Markets
March 19, 2013
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. San Francisco: A New #1
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ALL ACCESS presents FEBRUARY PPM market highlights, compiled by the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and powered by XTRENDS, radio's #1 PPM and diary analysis tool. All numbers reflect subscriber only data.
San Francisco: A New #1
What is it about FEBRUARY? A year ago, CBS RADIO News KCBS-A was the #1 station in town with a whopping 6.6 share. Now, we find it back on top (5.5-5.9) for the first time since then with its best book since MARCH. Coincidence? Meanwhile, KQED INC N/T KQED slid back to #2 (5.6-5.5) just ahead of ENTERCOM AC KOIT (4.7-4.8), which is slightly ahead of last year’s post-CHRISTMAS pace. Jumping from #5 to #4 was CCM+E Top 40/R KMEL (4.1-4.5) with its best numbers since SEPTEMBER, which kept it ahead of its surging cluster mate CCM+E Top 40/R KYLD (WILD), which leapt from #9 to #5, reversing a three-book slide (3.5-4.0). Behold the power of sports on the radio. A year ago, the 49ERS’ season did not extend into FEBRUARY so CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A was stuck in a tie at #16 with a 2.5 share. This year, the local franchise came thi-i-is close to winning it all but the extended season kept the station in a much better position at #9 (4.3-3.6).
For the second month in a row, KQED landed atop the 25-54 leaderboard with a number that is a full, juicier share riper than last year. CCM+E Hot AC KIOI (STAR) remained a solid yet distant #2 while KYLD moved up from a tie at #6 to #3. By earning its best book since SEPETMBER, KMEL jumped from #9 all the way to #4. Three stations found themselves duking it out at #5. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW) slipped from #3 while KOIT dropped from a tie at #4. KCBS-A moved up from a tie at #6 with its second straight up book.
How dominant is KMEL 18-34? Consider this, the station’s #1 share is almost equal to the combined shares of stations #2 and #3. Amazing. Speaking of which, KYLD solidified its hold on #2 with a strong book while KMVQ is unchallenged at #3. CBS RADIO Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) broke back into the top 5 for the first time since JULY at #4. KQED does not usually post in this demo. As a matter of fact, a year ago at this time it was ranked at #14. It just jumped from a tie at #6 to #5, the first time it has been in that group in over a year.
KMEL continued to own 18-49 and just scored its best book since SEPTEMBER. Reversing a two-book slide, KYLD moved up a slot to #2 while KQED slipped down to #3 with a flat book. KMVQ was also flat and remained at #4 with KIOI slipping a bit to remain at #5.
Dallas-Ft. Worth: KISS Is Back
Well, to be completely accurate -- CCM+E Top 40/M KHKS (KISS FM) never really left. The station is usually #1 and this survey was no different than 12 of the previous 13. However, this was the first time since AUGUST that it returned to the familiar 7 share territory (6.6-7.2) and that qualifies as noteworthy. Though SALEM Christian Contemporary KLTY is on a two-book slide (5.6-5.3) it remained #2 and is a full share fuller than this time last year. Riding a two-book surge, CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF) gnawed its way out of a tie at #3 to become the only station in that position (4.6-4.9). CCM+E Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR) also worked out of a jam at #3 but slipped into another tie at #4 (4.6-4.4) with cluster sister CCM+E Hot AC KDMX (NOW), which edged up from #5 (4.3-4.4). CBS RADIO AC KVIL (LITE FM) recovered from its post-CHRISTMAS hangover and posted its best non-SANTA-influenced number in exactly a year (3.8-4.3) to move up from #9 to #6.
KHKS is consistently dominant 25-54 and this survey was no different as the station remained #1. However, as we saw with 6+, the most recent number was its best since JULY and further extended its sizeable gap over the #2 player, UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (LA QUE BUENA). KPLX has been on a tear of late and posted its highest share since SEPTEMBER as the station jumped from #6 to #3. This forced a couple of stations with flat books to drop a slot as KZPS slid to #4 and KDMX landed at #5.
This was certainly KHKS’s book as the station’s 18-34 number not only qualified it for #1 but was the bulkiest it has seen since JULY. A year ago, KPLX was hanging out at #8 but is now a solid #2 after posting its second best book in the last year. KDMX was stuck at #10 last year but just earned its highest share in over a year to move up a slot to #3. CUMULUS Country KSCS also landed its best book in over a year to leap from #8 to #4. Meanwhile, KLNO has been on a three-book slump, which has earned it a trip from #3 to #5.
Another demo, another return to dominance for KHKS as it had its best 18-49 share since JULY to remain a solid #1 and is more than three shares ahead of #2 KLNO. KDMX popped its best number since NOVEMBER to climb a spot to #3 while KPLX posted its second straight strong book to move up from #5 to #4. A couple of stations had solid books and worked their way into a tie at #5 – KSCS leapt from #9 while KLTY rose from #6.
Houston-Galveston: The Box And (Radio) One
For all but three of the last 14 surveys, RADIO ONE has owned the top two spots in HOUSTON. And, two of those books were significantly affected by the omnipresence of the man from the NORTH POLE. So, for the second straight survey, order has been restored as RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) was the clear market leader (7.5-7.7) while its cluster brother RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) found itself clinging to the #2 position (7.0-6.6). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) could not quite match its strong showing from the previous month (6.9-6.5) and had to settle for being #3 again. A year ago, CCM+E AC KODA (SUNNY) shook off any aftereffects of the loss of SANTA to own the top spot with a 7 share. Things were not as rosy cheeked this time. Even though it remained at #4 (6.3-6.0), its share was not quite as fulfilling as last year’s 7.0. COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) is on a bit of a tear after posting its best book in over a year (4.5-5.3) to move from #7 to #5. This is far better territory than last year when the station was tied at #13 with a 3.6 share.
KLTN scored its second straight #1 25-54 book but its gap over #2 KBXX was narrowed considerably. KMJQ slipped out of a tie at #2 with its cluster mate to land at #3 while maintaining its slim lead over #4 CCM+E Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ). KKBQ’s three-book surge has taken the station into the top 5 for the first time in over a year.
When it comes to 18-34 and KBXX, the old adage applies -- you can’t stop them, you can only hope to contain them. The station had another monster book and its share is almost as large as the next two stations combined. Part of this is due to the fact that #2 KLTN did score its lowest book since AUGUST. Bouncing back from its lowest book in over a year, KTBZ remained a solid #3 while CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA) held firm at #4. CUMULUS Top 40/M KRBE snuck in at #5.
Last month, KBXX’s lead 18-49 had shrunk to almost a single share point. That was a mere flesh wound as it now leads #2 KLTN by over two full shares. KTBZ is the unquestioned owner of the #3 position while KKBQ posted its best book in over a year to move up a slot to #4. KMJQ picked a bad time to score its lowest share since OCTOBER (is there ever a good time?) to slip one spot to #5.
WASHINGTON, DC: The Talk Of The Town
One would think that with all the hot air emanating from your Nation’s Capital that it would have an effect on what people are listening to on the radio. And, you might be right as the sequestration chatter fueled market-leading performances for stations that don’t play songs. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU had its best book in over a year (9.2-9.4) to remain at #1 just ahead of HUBBARD News WTOP (8.3-8.9), which had its best book since JULY. CCM+E Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) was flat (6.3-6.3), but moved up a notch because cluster sister CCM+E AC WASH continued its post-jingle bell malaise (6.4-5.6). HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR was down for the fifth straight book (5.5-5.4) but still held on to #5. There might be something to all this government-related yakking as CUMULUS Talk WMAL-F scored its best number in over a year (3.3-4.3) and over the last three months moved from a tie at #17 to a tie at #11 to #7. And, if our math is correct, that means that non-music radio scored a 22.6 share of the market.
The news was dominant 25-54 as WTOP reigned #1 for the second straight book with its best share in over a year. WIHT held flat at #2 while WAMU was down slightly to stay at #3. WASH experienced more post-CHRISTMAS erosion but did not budge from #4. WHUR was off slightly to remain at #5 though it is now tied with RADIO ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC), which scored its highest number in exactly one year.
Things certainly look a lot different 18-34 as RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) took #1 for the fourth straight month. A year ago the station was #4 with a number that was more than three shares lighter than where it stands today. WIHT had a strong book to remain at #2 though it closed the gap on KISS considerably. CCM+E Alternative WWDC (DC101) slipped from last month’s best-book-in-over-a-year but held firm at #3 ahead of #4 CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC. Coming in from the outside lane, CCM+E Country WMZQ drove from #14 all the way to #5.
WIHT extended its string of #1 18-49 books and, in the process, extended its lead over #2 WKYS. WTOP was up for the third book in a row to climb from #6 to #3 – its highest ranking in this demo since NOVEMBER. WASH slipped again to drop to #4 just ahead of WAMU at #5.
PHILADELPHIA: Have You Heard The News?
If not, then you’re one of the few in the city of beloved cheesesteaks who hasn’t. CBS RADIO News KYW-A strengthened its vise-like grip on the #1 position by thundering in with its best book in over a year (7.8-8.6) and is on a pretty demonstrative two-book tear. Its lead over #2 WEAZ-FM RADIO AC WBEB (B101) only got wider despite the fact that the "B" had its best non-Kringle-tinged effort since MARCH (6.8-7.2). CCM+E Urban AC WDAS slipped ever so slightly but still held on to a strong #3 position (6.6-6.4). CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL was up for the second straight book (5.3-5.5) with its best share since AUGUST but had to settle for staying put at #4. Making a return appearance in the top 5, after a brief two-book hiatus, was GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR, which was also up for the second book in a row (4.7-4.9). Last month’s media darling, GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK, hit a bit of a speedbump by posting its lowest number in over a year (5.1-4.3) to slip from #5 to #9.
After a brief departure from the top spot 25-54, WBEB decided now would be a good time to post its best non-Egg-Nog-flavored book in over a year and reclaim the throne. WMMR is on a two-book surge and moved from #3 into a tie at #2 with CCM+E Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5), which moved up from a tie at #4. WDAS was unceremoniously served with its lowest number since OCTOBER to fall from #1 to #4. As recently as OCTOBER, KYW-A was ranked at #16 in this demo. Its most recent growth spurt took the station from a tie at #9 to #5.
For the second straight book, CCM+E Urban WUSL (POWER) reigned supreme 18-34 by posting its best number in over a year. WRFF was up for the second book in a row but had to settle for remaining at #2 while WBEB had a huge book and moved from #7 to #3 -- its highest non-Elf-influenced rank in over a year. WMMR had another solid book but was bumped down a notch to #4 while WDAS also slid one spot to #5.
As recently as NOVEMBER, WBEB was #7 18-49. Then all that CHRISTMAS brouhaha started and the station rocketed to the top of the charts. Usually, it begins a slow decline after the holidays but not this book, as the station zoomed from #3 to #1 with its best non-evergreen-scented book in over a year. WUSL also had its best book in over a year to climb from a tie at #4 to #2. Despite being up for the second straight book, WRFF was forced down a slot to #3 ahead of the equally expanding #4 WMMR. WDAS was not so fortunate as the station fell from #1 to #5.
ATLANTA: Objects Are Closer Than They Appear
As a general rule, CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V103) is #1 by a wide margin. Rare is the book where the station’s lead is less than a share and frequently it has exceeded two shares. However, this book there was a bit of compression. True, V103 was still #1 (8.9-8.3) but now may be hearing some actual footsteps from #2 RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC), which had not had a down book since AUGUST (7.2-7.7). Last year, COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) was stuck at #10 with a 4.4 share. Its recent wave of positive activity has it holding firm at #3 (6.9-7.5) but was also threatening to make this a three-horse race. Cluster neighbor, COX RADIO Talk WSB-A remained at #4 with its second straight up book (6.5-6.9) while its cluster brother, COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) was off slightly but held fast at #5 (6.3-6.2). Keep an eye on a couple of stations that are experiencing some ratings inflation. COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) was at #12 with a 3.3 a year ago but recent trends (5.2-5.7) had elevated the station to #6. LINCOLN Hot AC WSTR (STAR) seemed to be reversing some recent down times with its second straight solid performance (4.6-5.2) and climbed up to #7.
While the race has gotten tighter in the general ratings election, when it comes to 25-54 WVEE still dominates the game with a two-share lead over #2 WAMJ. Cynics may point out that it had been more than a three-share lead, but either way WVEE was in control. WSB-F slipped from a tie at #2 to #3 despite a flat book while cluster-mate WSRV scored its highest number in over a year to remain at #4. WSTR posted its best number since JULY to charge into the top 5 from #7.
For the third straight book, WVEE scored an increase 18-34 and now stands more than three shares ahead of #2 RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT), which just posted its best book since AUGUST. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) held firm at #3 while WSB-F remained a solid #4 -- far better than the tie at #12 it was in a year ago. At that same time, CCM+E Regional Mexican WBZY (EL PATRON) was patrolling #16 and now the station was #5 for the third straight book.
WVEE’s down book 18-49 did not prevent it from being #1; it only shrunk its lead over new #2 WAMJ to a mere 3-plus shares from its previous 5-plus share lead. MAJIC did score its best book in over a year to rise from #3, which forced WSB-F to take a step back from #2. WHTA bounced back from its lowest book in over a year to remain at #4. Last month, both WSTR and WSRV were tied at #6. This month, both stations rode the second of a two-book surge into a tie at #5. This forced WWWQ to drop out of the top 5 to #7 despite its second up book in a row.
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