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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive May PPM Analysis For New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco And Dallas
June 10, 2013
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. NEW YORK: Avenue Q
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ALL ACCESS presents MAY 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.
Channeling our inner PHIL from The Amazing Race, we are about to embark on our monthly journey, covering over 100 radio stations in 15 markets and spanning four different demos. We look at the ratings road blocks, detours and express passes that are the true reality shows for all of us. For those of you keeping score at home, the MAY survey covered 4/25-5/22/13.
NEW YORK: Avenue Q
Despite suffering its lowest one-month total since before the time of the CLAUS, CCM+E AC WLTW (LITE-FM) held on to the top spot (7.2-7.0), something it has done in the PPM era since at least DECEMBER 2012. CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F inched to less than a share out of the lead despite having its second straight down book (6.2-6.1). CCM+E Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) saw its recent two-book surge soften a bit (6.0-5.9) yet remained a solid #3. However, the station is now sharing that position with YMF MEDIA Urban AC WBLS, which moved up from #4 (5.6-5.9) with its best number since the HOLIDAY season. For the first time in well over a year, CCM+E Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104) found itself a member of the top 5 club (4.3-4.6) by posting its best PPM book since at least DECEMBER 2010. This knocked CBS RADIO News WINS-A back a spot to #6 (4.7-4.5). The new kid in town, CUMULUS Country WNSH (NASH-FM) had another small growth spurt (1.8-1.9) to move up a notch from #20 to #19.
Though its number fell back to its JANUARY level, WLTW continued to lead the pack 25-54. However, cluster mate WHTZ is less than a half-share out of the lead at #2. This is the closest these two have been since AUGUST. WBLS earned its best number since DECEMBER to take over sole possession of #3, which pushed WCBS-F out of a tie at that spot to #4 as the station ended a strong two-book surge. WAXQ continued its record-breaking performance as it moved up a slot to #5 with its best book in well over a year. This knocked SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA) out of the top 5 for the first time since AUGUST. WNSH remained at #19, but actually experienced the first down trend of its young life. There’s a TAYLOR SWIFT song in there somewhere.
Since slipping to #2 18-34 back in FEBRUARY, WHTZ has returned with a vengeance, recording double-digit shares in each subsequent survey to claim supreme dominance over this demo. Though it was down for the second book in a row, it maintained a commanding lead over its cluster mate at #2, WLTW. EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT) ended a two-book surge but remained in control at #3, though it might be hearing footsteps from WSKQ, which was up for the second month in a row and climbed a spot to #4. This dropped CCM+E Urban WWPR (POWER) a spot to #5 as the station posted its lowest number in over a year. In case you were wondering, WAXQ had its best book since JULY and climbed into a tie at #9. WNSH remained at #14 but, as we saw above, it had its first ever-so-slight downtrend. Maybe the song can be a duet with MIRANDA LAMBERT.
For the third month in a row, cluster buddies held down the top spots 18-49 as WHTZ remained #1, followed faithfully by WLTW at #2. WSKQ ended a two-book slide to remain at #3 while CCM+E Top 40/M WKTU held on at #4. WAXQ – once again – posted its best number in over a year to leap from #9 to #5. This bumped out the two stations that were tied at that spot last month. WBLS slipped to #6 despite scoring its best book since JANUARY while UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WXNY dipped to #7. WNSH remained in a flat-footed tie at #17 with its second straight flat book.
LOS ANGELES: Dueling #1s
Last month’s #1 station, CCM+E Hot AC KBIG (MY FM), remained on top of the world, Ma, with its best book in over a year (5.5-5.6). However, before it could accept the #1 trophy, its cluster companion, CCM+E Top 40/M KIIS (KISS FM), rebounded nicely (5.4-5.6) to claim its share of the lead. This is the third time since SEPTEMBER that these two stations have been tied at #1. One of their other cluster compatriots -- CCM+E AC KOST -- had its lowest number since the pre-SANTA days (4.7-4.5) yet remained at #3. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KAMP (AMP) was locked in at #4 for the third straight month (4.1-4.3). CCM+E Talk KFI-A posted its lowest number since the HOLIDAY book (4.1-3.8) to drop from a tie at #4 into a tie at #5 with EMMIS Top 40/R KPWR (POWER), which moved up from #6 despite being down for the second straight month (3.9-3.8).
For the fifth book in a row (and 11th time in the last 14 surveys), KBIG reigned supreme 25-54. KIIS was #2 for, oddly, the fifth book in a row. CBS RADIO Alternative KROQ was flat but managed to wrestle complete control of the #3 slot. KOST dipped a bit and slipped from a tie at #3 into a tie at #4 with UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSCA, which moved up from #5. This is quite amazing since exactly one year ago, the station was sitting at #18 in this demo.
Despite its second straight down month, KIIS extended its #1 18-34 streak to seven books. KPWR held on at #2 for the fifth straight book despite posting its lowest number in over a year. KBIG was up for the third month in a row to remain at #3 while KAMP held firm at #4. KROQ had to settle for remaining at #5 despite being up for the third straight book. Two stations bubbling up outside the top 5 were LIBERMAN
Regional Mexican KBUE (QUE BUENA), which rose a slot to #6 and UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE), which jumped from #10 to #7. What’s noteworthy is that both stations saw their shares increase by at least a full point.For the previous four months, KIIS was #1 18-49 and KBIG was #2. That was reversed last month as the stations swapped positions in large part because KBIG had its best book in over a year. KPWR remained at #3 despite its second straight down book. KROQ held on at #4 for the fifth straight survey and KAMP remained at #5 despite matching its best book of the last year.
CHICAGO: This Mix Is On Fi-yuh
Submitted for your approval. A year ago, CCM+E Urban AC WVAZ (V 103) was tied for the top spot with a meager 5.0 share. Fast forward and we find that the station just completed its fifth straight month at #1 (7.0-6.9) with a share that is far beefier than last year’s. Meanwhile, HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (MIX) is scorching. After reaching its nadir during the HOLIDAY survey with a 3.9 share, the station has been gobbling up audience like that semi-circle in PAC MAN. MIX, which was also tied at #1 with a 5.0 share a year ago, remained at #2 despite posting its best book in over a year (5.9-6.4). The news was not as robust for CBS RADIO News WBBM-A, which scored its lowest number since JUNE (5.4-4.5) yet remained at #3. Perhaps all those loyal CUBS fans have already resigned themselves to another sub-.500 season as TRIBUNE N/T WGN-A posted its lowest number (4.8-4.3) since the HOLIDAY book yet remained at #4. CBS RADIO Country WUSN (US 995) had its best book since AUGUST (3.7-4.1) to climb out of a tie at #7 to #5. It was a tough month for CCM+E Urban WGCI, which ended a three-book surge to fall from #5 to #10 (4.2-3.6).
WTMX is currently crushing it 25-54. The station was #1 for the fifth straight book and posted its best number in over a year – over two shares higher than what it scored last MAY when it was also #1. The station has more than a three-share lead over #2 WVAZ, which was flat. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96) had its best book since JULY to take over sole possession of the #3 slot. This bumped CCM+E Top 40/M WKSC (KISS) into a tie at #4 with MERLIN Classic Rock WLUP (THE LOOP), which moved up from #6 on the strength of its best book since JUNE.
WTMX has added over two shares to its 18-34 total in the last two months and, as a result, became the new #1 station. This ended WGCI’s two-month stay at the top. WKSC was off slightly but remained at #3 while WBBM-F bounced up from #6 to #4. It has been quite the roller coaster year for CCM+E Regional Mexican WNUA (EL PATRON). A year ago the station was in a tie at #19 and, as recently as FEBRUARY, it was #1. Now, despite being down for the third book in a row, it still held on at #5.
The record setting continued for WTMX as the station held on to its #1 18-49 crown for the fifth straight book. The station is over two shares stronger than a year ago – when it was also #1 – and now has a three-and-a-half share lead on WVAZ, which moved up a slot to #2. WGCI had its lowest book since JANUARY to slip a spot to #3. WBBM-F and WKSC switched places at #4 and #5 with the former posting its best book since SEPTEMBER and the latter its lowest since JANUARY.
SAN FRANCISCO: This Call To The Bullpen …
So, while the GIANTS may not be running away with the NL West, it doesn’t seem this has dampened fan enthusiasm in the BAY AREA. For the second month in a row, CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A is the (sports) talk of the town at #1 (6.0-5.8). CBS RADIO News KCBS-A recovered from a down book and ranking drop to return to the #2 spot (5.4-5.7). ENTERCOM AC KOIT posted its best non-CHRISTMAS-influenced number in over a year (4.8-5.0) to move up a slot to #3. Meanwhile, KQED INC N/T KQED had its lowest book in over a year (5.5-4.6) and dropped from #2 to #4. CCM+E Top 40/R KMEL remained at #5 despite its second down book in a row (4.4-4.3).
Behold the power of the long ball. KNBR-A returned to the #1 spot 25-54 for the first time since the GIANTS were wrapping up the WORLD SERIES in NOVEMBER. This ended KQED’s four-month run at the top as the station posted its lowest number since JUNE. Last month, three stations were squatting together at #3 but this month they have positions all their own. KOIT remained at #3 with its best non-jingly number in over a year while CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW) slipped to #4 despite earning its best number since NOVEMBER. KMEL has had the exact same number four months in a row and this time it put the station at #5.
There was a four-month window, starting last OCTOBER, where KMEL was #1 18-34 but -- shockingly -- did not have double-digit shares. Apparently, that was a bubble as the station continued its dominance over this demo, stretching its lead over cluster mate CCM+E Top 40/R KYLD (WILD) to almost 5 full shares. KMVQ had its best book since DECEMBER to remain at #3 while KNBR-A remained at #4, though it is now tied with its cluster brother – the suddenly resurgent CUMULUS Classic Rock KSAN (THE BONE), which moved up from a tie at #7 with its best book in over a year.
Yes, KMEL is still #1 18-49 even though the station was down for the second month in a row. KMVQ had its best book since NOVEMBER to jump from #5 to #2. KYLD was off for the third straight book but remained at #3. KNBR-A continued to hit to all fields and remained at #4 though it is now in extra innings with KOIT, which moved up from #7 with its fourth straight ratings enhancement. Once again, KQED posted its lowest number since JUNE and tumbled from #2 to #6 – the first time the station has not been in the top 5 since AUGUST.
DALLAS-FT. WORTH: It’s Kiss
Month after month, year after year, CCM+E Top 40/M KHKS (KISS FM) leads the pack in the METROPLEX. The only thing that seems to stay this steed from completing its rounds are the sounds of hooves on the roof, which can be quite unsettling. This go ‘round, KHKS had a down book (8.1-7.5) but still has a sizeable lead on the nearest challenger. That would be SALEM Christian Contemporary KLTY, which remained at #2 for the fifth book in a row (5.8-5.5). Last month, two stations were wrasslin’ for #3 and this time only one was left standing. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (LA QUE BUENA) was the winner after posting its best book in over a year (4.7-4.9). This dropped CCM+E Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR) to #4 even though the station had its best book since NOVEMBER (4.7-4.8). Two stations passed each other going in opposite directions. CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF) ended a two-book slide (4.2-4.5) to move up a slot to #5, effectively switching places with CCM+E Hot AC KDMX (NOW), which saw its five-book surge come to an abrupt end (4.6-4.2).
Though it was off slightly, KHKS took the #1 ribbon for the fifth book in a row, though its lead over #2 KLNO shrunk a bit because that station gave its best performance in over a year. KZPS was completely flat yet managed to break out of a tie at #4 to take over the #3 position. This was due to some ratings slippage from KLTY, which edged down a spot to #4. KDMX also found it was slippery when wet as it broke out of that tie at #4 and ended up at #5.
There was a lot of movement 18-34 but it was all taking place behind the back of market leader KHKS, which was #1 for the 18th book in a row. KLNO scored its best book since JUNE to move up a spot to #2, cutting KHKS’ market lead to less than three shares for the first time since JANUARY. SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) was up for the third straight month to move from a tie at #4 into a tie at #3 with KPLX, which made the move up from #6. KDMX received its lowest number since JANUARY to fall from #2 to #5 while KLTY slipped from a tie at #4 into a tie at #6.
The order of the top 5 18-49 remained completely unchanged this month. As usual, KHKS was #1 by a wide margin over KLNO which, once again, posted its best book in over a year. KDMX was off for the second straight month to stay at #3 while KLTY shed some ratings but remained at #4. KZPS was up for the second month in a row to stay the course at #5.
Be sure to tune in again for our next installment featuring HOUSTON-GALVESTON, WASHINGTON, DC, PHILADELPHIA, ATLANTA and BOSTON.
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