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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive May PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix And Minneapolis
June 11, 2014
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. DETROIT: A Tiger By The Tail
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Rounding the back stretch and heading for home, this is the third and final installment of our analysis for the MAY 2014 survey. Hopefully, we perform better than CALIFORNIA CHROME. The Ratings Experts do not like being called cowards. As with the previous installments, this one covers APRIL 24th through MAY 21st and, unlike horse racing, these numbers are provided for entertainment purposes only.
DETROIT: A Tiger By The Tail
Seam heads (like us) know that baseball plays very well on the radio. However, there are few markets where the home team can propel their flagship to first place. We saw it earlier with the GIANTS and KNBR, and we saw it again with CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET). As the TIGERS try to run away with the NL CENTRAL, the station is trying to do the same with the ratings as it scored its highest run total since OCTOBER (6.8-7.9) to take over the top spot. That also happened to be the last time the station was #1. CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC was totally flat (6.7-6.7) but managed to take one small step forward to #2. CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX) saw its two-month run at #1 come to an end. The station slid to #3 (6.9-6.5). CBS RADIO News WWJ-A remained the #4 station but endured its fourth consecutive down book (6.6-6.3). There is a bit of a country battle going on here. Up until SANTA came to town, CBS RADIO Country WYCD was routinely popping 7 and 8 shares and holding court at #1. This time the station remained at #5 (5.3-5.5) and that may have something to do with CUMULUS Country WDRQ (NASH). Though the station is not playing with the big boys, it just might be making itself a bit of a nuisance. It remained at #18 (2.0-2.1).
Like a tape measure blast into the cheap seats at COMERICA, WXYT-F widened its lead as the #1 station 25-54. Shockingly, this was its best share since last OCTOBER when a certain local nine was in the playoffs. There might be a connection there. WMXD matched its lowest book of the year to remain at #2 while WYCD held on at #3 with its highest number since the SANTA book. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF was up slightly – with its best share since SEPTEMBER – to remain at #4. The two stations that were tied at #5 last time have gone their separate ways. CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) remained in place with some slightly downward movement while WOMC dropped to #6 with a slightly greater loss of share. WDRQ was flat as it moved from #17 to #18.
Not even the boys of summer could prevent WKQI from being #1 – again – 18-34. The station did post its lowest number since DECEMBER, however. This is not to say WXYT-F did not benefit greatly from its baseball affiliation. The station had its biggest share in over a year to move up from a tie at #5 to #2. It has added nearly five full shares since the doldrums of FEBRUARY. CCM+E Urban WJLB landed its lowest share since DECEMBER to slip back a spot to #3. Two stations were vying for the coveted crown of Miss #4. WRIF was there last time and was up slightly while WYCD slipped from #3 with its lowest share in over a year. That station has lost over three full shares since JANUARY. WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR (HOT) had its lowest number in over a year as it fell from a tie at #5 into a tie at #8. WDRQ was up slightly as it moved from a tie at #12 into a tie at #11.
With the speed of a VERLANDER fastball, WXYT-F moved into the leading position 18-49 for the first time in over a year. The station posted its best share since – shocker – OCTOBER. #2 WKQI was flat as its two-book run at #1 came to an end while WYCD was up for the second straight book to inch up to #3. WRIF jumped forward a space to #4 with its highest share in over a year while WJLB dropped back two places to #5 with its lowest number in over a year. WDRQ was up slightly but remained mired at #17.
MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: It’s Lonely At The Top
Not that the folks at COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) mind the solitude. Book after book, the question is not about who will be #1. It’s about how big the margin will be. This time HOT (7.9-8.0) saw its lead shrink to less than two shares (alert the media!) over UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR), which had its highest share since DECEMBER (5.9-6.3). LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE) ended a two-book run (5.9-5.4) as it fell into a tie at #3 with COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY), which also slipped slightly (5.5-5.4). Last month’s tie at #5 was broken. CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) remained in place with its best share since FEBRUARY (4.8-5.3) while COX RADIO Urban WEDR dropped to #7 with its lowest share in over a year (4.8-4.6).
Last month WHQT suffered through its lowest 25-54 share in over a year. If you can call #1 suffering. This time the station bounced back and – surprise – remained at #1. SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL) was up slightly as it held onto the #2 position. Two stations rocketed up the chart to vie for control of #3. WHYI moved in from #5 with its best share since the HOLIDAY survey while WAMR made the bold move from #6. WFEZ was flat and dropped back to #5 while WEDR dropped three spots to #6 with its lowest output in over a year.
Things were a bit more, shall we say, fluid 18-34. Last month, two stations shared the top spot. That feat was not repeated, and we saw a new station vault into the lead. WHYI had a huge book – its best in over a year – to move up from #3. Of the two former co-leaders, WEDR had its lowest share in over a year but only slipped to #2 while BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) also slumped a bit and ended up at #3. CCM+E Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) posted its lowest share since the format flip but held on at #4 while WXDJ bounced back nicely from a down book to move forward three paces to #5. WHQT shed a bit of share and moved back one spot to a tie at #6.
There was also a changing of the guard 18-49 as WHYI took control with its best showing since DECEMBER while WEDR fell back with its smallest share in over a year. WXDJ was up a bit to move forward to #3, which sent WPOW packing back to #4 as it lost a bit of share. WAMR and WHQT swapped places at #5 and #6 as the former was up slightly while the latter was flat.
SEATTLE-TACOMA: A Big Move
Stations have been playing the radio version of musical chairs for quite some time now. When the music stopped last month, HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) moved up from #3 to re-take the lead with its best book since JUNE (5.5-6.2). Last month’s leader, HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM), had its best frost-free book in over a year (5.7-5.8) but still stepped aside for its cluster mate. ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW was down slightly (5.6-5.5) to move back to #3 while CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK remained at #4 with its own slight loss (5.3-5.2). CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) remained at #5 with its best showing since things were calm and bright (4.5-4.9)
Things really tightened up 25-54 as two stations were sharing the lead. KISW was there last time and lost a bit of share, while KQMV had its largest share in over a year to move up from #2. KZOK was off slightly to hold steady at #3 while KCMS was up slightly to remain at #4. Two stations swapped places in somewhat dramatic fashion. KRWM had its highest share since JANUARY to move up to #5 from a tie at #8 while BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F did the reverse after posting its lowest score since JANUARY.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have another first-place tie. The demo changed to 18-34 but the players remained the same. KISW lost a bit of share to remain in place while KQMV again had its largest share in over a year to move itself up from #2. The two stations that were tied at #4 last survey have decided to part company. ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) hunted down its biggest share since NOVEMBER to move up to #3 while cluster mate ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) was up, just not enough to change its position. KZOK bounced back nicely from a down book to move up two paces to #5 while CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) dropped five spots to #8 with its smallest share in over a year.
Make it a clean sweep for KQMV as the station put on one of its patented moves to secure the top spot 18-49. Having its best book in over a year certainly helped to facilitate that process. KISW slipped back to #2 with some share loss while KZOK held sway at #3 with a slight increase. KKWF wolfed down a nice share increase and rose a notch to #4. There was a three-way dog fight at #5. KBKS slipped back from #4 with its lowest share in over a year while KCMS arose from #6 by remaining flat. KRWM made the leap from #8 with its best elf-less book since OCTOBER.
PHOENIX: Take It Easy
While the station may not be standing on a corner in WINSLOW, ARIZONA, its ratings are a fine sight to see. CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) was #1 for the second book in a row with a flat performance (6.1-6.1). Cluster sister CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX) was down for the second straight survey (6.0-5.4) but managed to hold on to its #2 ranking. CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL moved up a spot to #3 with its best showing since NOVEMBER (5.1-5.2). There was a draw at #4. HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX remained in place with a slight loss of share (5.1-5.0) while CCM+E Country KNIX dropped from #3 with a slightly larger loss of share (5.6-5.0).
Ties were the order of the day 25-54. The top spot was shared by cluster brothers. KSLX moved up from #4 with its largest share in over a year while HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD made the move from #3 despite a slight loss of share. There was also a logjam at #3. KMXP slid from #2 with its smallest share since JANUARY while KESZ jumped up from a tie at #8 with its best number since that very same month. KNIX took a noticeable hit as it fell from the top spot to #5 and CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) slipped a spot to #6 with a flat report.
The top of the 18-34 leaderboard remained unchanged but the two stations in front got closer. KUPD was down but remained on top while KZZP was up slightly to remain at #2. RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER) had a nice rebound from a down book to move up three places to #3. Last month’s #4 tie was broken. KMXP remained in place with a slight increase while KESZ slipped back to #5 with a flat book. KNIX had its lowest showing since FEBRUARY and dropped four spots to #7.
The 18-49 demo went through a bit of reorganization but in the end KUPD remained on top despite some share loss. The #2 spot was the scene of a sharing moment. KESZ had its best sleigh-free share in over a year to move up from #5 while KZZP had a slight increase as it stepped up from #3. KMXP was flat to remain at #4 while KNIX sank three spots to #5.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: This Was A Surprise
For 10 of the previous 13 surveys, CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB was the clear market leader. The station was not able to extend that streak this time as it posted its lowest share since AUGUST (9.2-8.3) to slip to #2 – barely. Your new market leader was CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS, which scored its best number in over a year (7.5-8.4). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95), which was one of the other stations in the last year to dethrone KDWB, dropped a spot to #3 with its lowest share since JANUARY (7.9-7.3). CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK) did what it wanted by posting its best book in over a year (6.6-7.1), though remaining at #4 was probably not on its “to do” list. The two stations sharing space at #5 last month gave each other some space. CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) remained in place with its highest share since DECEMBER (6.2-6.9) while cluster mate CCM+E Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) dropped to #6 with its lowest holly jolly-free number since NOVEMBER (6.2-6.0).
After three straight books in the double digits 25-54, KDWB dipped just below that mark and saw the gap between it and #2 KQRS narrow considerably as the latter station scored its best book in over a year. The third spot in the order was a dead heat between KZJK – best book in over a year – and KSTP – lowest share since the HOLIDAY book. CCM+E Sports KFXN (KFAN), which does not benefit from TWINS play-by-play, drove in its highest run total since DECEMBER to move up two places to #5. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) was flat so it naturally slipped a spot to #6.
Once again, KDWB had an impressive double-digit 18-34 performance. Yes, it was down a little from last month but it was still quite impressive in its scope. KXXR got closer at #2 as it also hit the double-digit stratosphere – the first time it accomplished that feat since NOVEMBER. KSTP secured its best share in exactly one year but had to settle for remaining a strong #3. CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) ended a two-book slide to remain at #4 while cluster mate KZJK dropped to #5 with a flat book. The other country station – KEEY – was up slightly to stand pat at #6.
The exact order of the players 18-49 remained completely as it was last month. KDWB was a dominant double-digit behemoth while KZJK again grabbed its best number in over a year. KSTP was up slightly at #3 while KXXR was flat at #4. KQRS came in at #5 with its best number since NOVEMBER. Of the two country stations, KMNB was up a little at #6 while KEEY was up a lot to narrow the gap at #7.
That’s our stories and we are sticking to them. If you care to respond in any way – feel free to tap into the resources below. Also, if The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. can help you with your numbers story – please do not hesitate to reach out. We’ll see you again next month.
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