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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive July PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, & Boston
August 5, 2014
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Welcome To The Rodeo
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We forge ahead with round two of our ratings analysis of AMERICA’s largest markets. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. pore over the data provided by our friends at XTRENDS to bring you the stories behind the headlines.
In case you missed our first episode, this is all about JULY. A survey that covered JUNE 19th through JULY 16th. As such, this survey was affected by several factors. The end of the school year, summer vacations, and the JULY 4th holiday. This took place at the beginning of week #3 and had the ability to alter listener behavior in two separate weeks. These kinds of market-wide events can have a short-term impact on a station’s ratings.
Let’s see what we found …
HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Welcome To The Rodeo
In true TEXAS fashion, ladies and gentlemen – we have ourselves a horse race. The top-four stations were separated by three-tenths of a point. CCM+E AC KODA (SUNNY) returned to the top spot for the first time since FEBRUARY despite suffering its second lowest total of the year (7.0-6.4). Moving up to a close #2 was RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC), which had its best showing of the year (6.2-6.3). A couple of cluster bunkmates were neck and neck at the next two spots. COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) saw its four-book run at #1 cease to be as it slipped to #3 (7.3-6.2). That was the station’s lowest share of the year. COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) had its best book in over a year (5.7-6.1) to move up a notch to #4. RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) slipped slightly (6.0-5.7) and dropped back to #5. Coming up on the outside at #6 was CCM+E Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ), which also had its best book in over a year (4.8-5.3).
Make it two solid #1 25-54 books in a row for KODA. Though this share was slightly smaller, the station actually increased its lead on the double-dippers at #2. KKBQ remained in place with its lowest share of the year while KTBZ zoomed in from a tie at #6 with -- again -- its highest number in over a year. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) remained at #4 with a book within its recent range while KMJQ moved up into a tie with its most impressive number since SEPTEMBER. KBXX had been either flat or up for the last four books. Alas, that trend was stopped in its tracks as the station dropped three spots to #6.
Despite the presence of a direct competitor, KBXX continued to dominate 18-34. While its numbers are smaller than last year’s, they are still in double digits and good enough for nearly a three-share lead. Last month, two stations were locked in mortal combat at #4. This time, they broke the tie and moved up the chart at the same time. KTBZ ended up at #2 with its highest share since OCTOBER while KLTN took over #3 with its best book since APRIL. KKBQ was not loving the month as it again had its lowest total of the year to slip two spots to #4. CCM+E Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) also dropped two places – ending up at #5 with its lowest share since the format flip.
At the beginning of the year, KBXX found itself with lower 18-49 shares and a #2 ranking. That went on for five months. That trend seems to be reversing as the station copped its second straight #1 book even though it was down slightly. One of the sub-plots of this survey was that KKBQ and KTBZ were moving in opposite directions. It happened again here as the former remained at #2 despite its lowest book of the year while the latter moved up into a tie with its best book in over a year. KLTN was off slightly but held on at #4 while KODA dropped two places to #5.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: This Just In
Whether it’s the hunger for news in the most powerful city in the free world or the really, really crappy traffic, HUBBARD News WTOP captured its seventh straight #1 book with another dominant share (8.2-8.0). Holding on at #2 was AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU – one of the most successful non-coms in the country. The station ended a three-book skid (6.2-6.4). CCM+E Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) also ended a three-book slide (6.2-6.3) but slid back a spot to #3. HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR had a slight uptick (5.5-5.6) as it moved up to #4. This displaces CCM+E AC WASH, which ended a three-book surge (5.8-5.1) to land at #5.
The picture was quite a bit different 25-54. For the sixth book in a row, WIHT was #1 with another very solid performance. WHUR moved forward two spots to #2 with a healthy increase but still trailed HOT by a full share. WTOP remained at #3 despite reporting its lowest number since SEPTEMBER. WASH took a big hit as it fell two places to #4. CCM+E Alternative WWDC (DC101) also slipped a bit but remained entrenched at #5. A couple of stations saw their fortunes rise. CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC had its best book in over a year to move up two places to #6 while RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) scored its highest share since NOVEMBER to move forward four spots to #8.
The 18-34 battle is really a race for second place. Book after book, WIHT is the dominant player in the space. However, the station was down for the second book in a row and this allowed WKYS to close to less than four shares of the lead. KISS had its best book since OCTOBER. Coming in a bit farther back at #3 was WPGC, which had its largest number since FEBRUARY. Then came everyone else. CCM+E Country WMZQ also had its highest share since OCTOBER to move ahead three paces to #4, which dropped cluster bro WWDC back to #5 as that station suffered its smallest total in over a year. The two stations that were tied at #5 last month took steps backward. CBS RADIO Hot AC WIAD (FRESH) shed a little share as it dropped to #6 while WASH shed even more as it fell to #7.
WIHT was on cruise control 18-49 adding another #1 trophy to its already cramped trophy case. WHUR moved up to #2 with a solid book but remained almost three shares behind. WKYS showed up strong in moving up three spots to #3 while WASH took a haircut as it fell two spots to #4. WPGC had its second straight positive performance to move back into the top five while WWDC turned in its second down book in a row and dropped to #6.
PHILADELPHIA: More Is Less
Though the station formerly known as a stinging insect that collects nectar – uh, that would be WEAZ-FM RADIO AC WBEB (MORE FM) – was #1 for the fifth consecutive survey, its share dipped to the lowest point in over a year (7.3-6.5). This allowed BEASLEY Country WXTU to get dangerously close to the lead (6.4-6.3) as it inched up to #2. CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL could not capitalize on the opportunity to move up as it spun its lowest share since JANUARY (6.8-5.8), settling at #3. CCM+E Urban AC WDAS picked up a bit of momentum (5.3-5.5) to take over the #4 position. Two cluster bro’s were bromancing at #5. GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK slid back from #4 (5.9-5.4) while GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR moved up from #6 (5.2-5.4). Keep an eye on RADIO ONE Urban Oldies WRNB (OLD SCHOOL). The station just scored its seventh consecutive up book (4.3-5.3) as it moved up a spot to #7. When this run started, the station had a 2.6 share and was tied for #15. That is what we in the research business call a trend.
This was the fourth book in a row that had WMMR sitting comfortably atop the 25-54 leaderboard. WXTU took over sole control of #2 with its best book in over a year while WMGK slipped back to #3 with a slight loss of share. There was a three-way logjam at the #4 position and all moved in from other spots. WDAS made the biggest leap – from #8 – with its best showing since SEPTEMBER. CCM+E Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) was actually off slightly but still moved up from #5. GREATER MEDIA Adult Hits WBEN (BEN) had its best book in over a year for the second month in a row to move forward two places. This would mark the first time in at least the last 14 books that WBEB was not in the top five with this demo. The station fell three spots to #7 with its fourth straight down book. WRNB had a very strong showing as it moved up three notches to #8. The station has more than doubled its share since the beginning of the year.
Well, it appears all the cool kids in the cheese-steak capital of the world are digging country music as WXTU was #1 18-34 for the third straight month. The station is threatening to break into the double-digit range and had more than a share lead over the new #2 WRFF. That station moved up from a tie at #3 with its highest share since FEBRUARY. CCM+E Urban WUSL (POWER) was flat as it slipped back to #3 while WMMR dropped a load of share to move back to #4. Back in JANUARY, WBEB was #1 in this demo. Since then, it has lost almost three shares and fallen to the #5 position.
For the second book in a row – and third time in the last four – WXTU was #1 18-49 as the station scored its strongest share in over a year. WMMR remained at #2 with a slight share loss while WRFF inched up to #3 with its best book since JANUARY. WUSL was flat for the second straight survey to remain at #4 while WBEB dropped two spots to #5 with its smallest number in over a year.
ATLANTA: Twin Sons Of Different Mothers
You will have to scrutinize the top of the chart rather closely so as not to be confused by what seemed to be a typo. Yes, the top-two stations share the same call letters – they just inhabit different spaces on the dial. COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) had its best book since the HOLIDAY season (6.2-7.0) to rocket up to #1 from the #4 position. Sliding back to the secondary position was COX RADIO Talk WSB-A, which had its smallest share since Yule time. Considering that there was no full-time CHRISTMAS station, this turn of events was more coincidental than by design. CBS RADIO Urban AC WVEE (V-103) was flat (6.5-6.5) yet dropped back a spot to #3. COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) landed its lowest share since NOVEMBER (6.5-6.3), which forced it to take two steps back to #4. Like a bovine in a china shop, CCM+E Country WUBL (THE BULL) charged its way into a tie at #4 with its best book in over a year (5.7-6.3). A year ago, the station was out to pasture with a 3.8 share in a tie at #12.
WVEE’s continued unabated run at #1 25-54 showed no signs of letting up. However, its lead shrank to its lowest point in over a year. That was due largely to WSB-F, which had a rather large increase as it moved up from a tie at #4. WUBL also had a strong upswing – for the second straight month – as it closed the gap while remaining at #3. COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) was up for the third consecutive survey yet fell back two spots to #4. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) was off slightly as it dropped a spot to #5.
Once again, WVEE crushed it 18-34 – its fifth straight stay at #1. And it extended its lead over #2 RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) to two full shares as that station was forced to endure its lowest number in over a year. WWWQ was flat but managed to move up to #3. CCM+E Alternative WRDA (RADIO 105.7) rebounded from two soft books to move from a tie at #8 to #4. Back in APRIL the station was tied at #3 so this may be a return to normalcy. WUBL could not duplicate its huge share from the previous survey and slipped two spots to #5 while CCM+E Top 40/M WWPW (POWER) also took a bit of a fall as it dropped to #6.
Though WVEE was off slightly it still held a commanding lead 18-49 over WUBL, which had its best book in over a year. As a matter of fact, exactly a year ago THE BULL was sitting at #11 with a significantly reduced share. WSB-F popped a big number as it moved up to #3 while WWWQ shed some share while slipping to #4. There was a tie at #5. WHTA remained in place despite posting its lowest share in over a year while WSRV flowed in from #9 with a modest increase. THE RIVER basically traded places with WWPW as that station suffered its lowest share since JANUARY.
BOSTON: A Big Fat Kiss
Is it because summer is a great time for Top 40 or because the RED SOX suck? Either way, it was a great month to be CCM+E Top 40/M WXKS (KISS). The station had its biggest share in over a year (7.9-8.2) to remain at #1 for the seventh book in a row. GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR made a bold move (5.3-6.3) – easily its best in over a year – to move from #6 to #2. Maybe it was something about catalog hits because CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX had its highest share since DECEMBER (5.8-6.2) to move up a notch to #3. GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB saw its four-book run come to a screeching halt (7.0-6.0) and it fell back to #4. This could have a lot to do with a new competitor coming to town. Cluster sister GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) stayed put at #5 with a small increase (5.7-5.9). CBS RADIO News WBZ-A reported a loss of share (5.9-5.1) and stepped back three paces to #6.
Boom went the dynamite for WXKS 25-54. The station was naturally #1 and got dangerously close to posting a double-digit share. It enjoyed a sizeable advantage over #2 WZLX, which also had a strong book. WMJX inched up to #3 with a small increase while WKLB dropped to #4 with its smallest number since the HOLIDAY book. GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) landed its biggest number in over a year to move up from #7 to #5. CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX) fell to #6 with a slight decrease. WROR moved up to #7 with another best-book-in-over-a-year performance.
WXKS’ huge 18-34 share got even huger as, once again, it posted its best book in over a year. CCM+E Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) moved back to its more familiar role as #2 while WKLB lost more ground in its fall to #3. Over the last two months, the station has lost almost three full shares. WBQT remained at #4 with its best book since MARCH while GREATER MEDIA Alternative WBOS (RADIO 92.9) was flat at #5. And, what of that new country station? CCM+E Country WBWL (THE BULL) jumped from #14 into a tie at #7, almost doubling its share in the process. We’re guessing PBR is more popular than ecstasy.
For the fourth month in a row, WXKS increased its 18-49 share and leads the #2 station by more than three shares. That position was taken over by a new player. WZLX roared in from #6 riding a four-book hot streak. WKLB sank to #3 with its lowest total since FEBRUARY while WJMN turned a small increase into a three-spot jump to #4. WBQT also made the three-step jump – to #5 – with its best showing since JANUARY. The two stations tied at #3 last survey were less fortunate this go around. WMJX suffered its third straight down book and dropped to #6 while WBMX ended a two-book run and landed at #7. WBOS shared the three-place fall after posting its lowest number since DECEMBER. It slid to #8. And, WBWL literally doubled its share in rising from a tie at #20 to a tie at #12.
Round two of our exclusive analysis is now complete. Again, a big shout out to the folks at XTRENDS for the assist. As always, if you wish to comment or cajole The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. – we’re easy to find. Just check out the platforms.
One more round to go. That will feature the travails of DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE, PHOENIX, and MINNEAPOLIS.E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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