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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive Oct. PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix And Minneapolis
October 29, 2014
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Detroit: Lions And Tigers And Ratings, Oh My
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Rounding third and heading for home, we present the final installment of our analysis of the OCTOBER survey. As always, The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. could not play our best without the assistance of the pros at XTRENDS. You should really check out their stuff.
The survey covered 9/11 through 10/8. This was prime time for the NFL schedule and the MLB playoffs. In addition, you had to factor in the ROSH HASHANAH holiday, which had an effect on week #3. Let us begin...
Detroit: Lions And Tigers And Ratings, Oh My
Here is a point to consider. Every LIONS game and every TIGERS game was on TV during this survey. Yet, the adventures of those two teams had a profound effect on radio listening. Witness CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET). Yes, the station was #1 for the sixth book in a row. But, it also scored its highest share in over a year (7.4-8.3). And, as you will soon read, this translated into all the demos we track. Lost in this sports hoopla were the gains shown by iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX). The station moved up to #2 with its best book since APRIL (6.4-6.9). CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC had its smallest number since another year was over and a new one had just begun (6.8-6.2) and slipped back to #3. CBS RADIO News WWJ-A was flat to remain at #4 (6.0-6.0) while CUMULUS Talk WJR-A moved up two spots to #5 with its best share since MAY (4.6-4.9). This may be sports-related as the station carries MICHIGAN STATE play-by-play. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) dropped back to #6 (5.3-4.8). The country battle has taken an interesting turn. For quite some time CBS RADIO Country WYCD was consistently landing in the top three. Then, around the beginning of the year CUMULUS Country WDRQ (NASH) debuted and things began to change. For the second month in a row, WYCD had its lowest share in over a year (4.8-4.7) as it slid back to a tie at #7. However, it does not appear to be the fault of WDRQ as that station dropped three notches to #20 (2.2-1.8) with its lowest share since the flip.
WXYT-F’s 25-54 number was just a bit outside of double digits – a tape measure blast to be sure. Its lead over #2 WMXD – which had its longest blast since MARCH – stretched to over two-and-a-half points. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF posted its best book in over a year to remain at #3 while WKQI lost a bit of share but held on at #4. WYCD had its smallest share since MARCH but maintained its presence at #5. WDRQ again had its lowest share since the flip and dropped two places to a tie at #19.
It is not often you see a Sports station put down a huge number 18-34 but that shows you the passion of the fans in the MOTOR CITY. WXYT-F ascended to the throne with its best book in over a year and just slightly outpaced #2 iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB, which had its largest share since JANUARY. WKQI had its lowest total in over a year and dropped from the top spot to #3. WRIF was up for the third month in a row and moved up to #4, which forced WYCD to take a step back to #5 as it again had its lowest share in over a year. Since last OCTOBER the station has lost almost half its share in this demo. While WDRQ remained at #16, it lost share, as well.
WXYT-F did to the market what the ORIOLES did to the TIGERS – sweep. The station was #1 18-49 for the third book in a row, and it was huge, and it was the best in over a year. WRIF continued its surge, moving up to #2 with its highest share in over a year. WJLB moved up to #3 with a slight increase while WKQI dropped two places to #4 with its smallest total in exactly a year. WMXD was down but remained at #5 while WYCD didn’t budge from #6 as it, too, lost share. WDRQ fell back two spots to #19 with – again – its smallest number since the flip.
Miami-Ft.Lauderdale-Hollywood: The Song Remains The Same
Every month we try to find new angles with which to examine the overall ratings here and we always come to the same conclusion. While the numbers may change, the players generally don’t. This was the seventh month in a row where the same stations populated the top five. As always, COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT was #1 – even with a down book (8.1-7.7). LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE FM) remained at #2. This was the fifth month in a row that the station was up. The number was also its highest in over a year (6.9-7.1). UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) held fast at #3 with its best book since JUNE (6.4-6.5). COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) also had its highest share in over a year (5.5-5.9) to hold on to its #4 ranking. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) ended a four-book slide with its best showing since MAY to maintain its anchor position at #5 (4.4-4.9)
Same players, different positions 25-54. Things were light and easy at the top as WLYF copped its second straight #1 book. The station has been on fire – gaining three full shares since MAY. WFEZ moved up two spots to #2 with its fourth straight up book. The rest of the players achieved parity at #3. WAMR remained in place with a slight increase while WHQT dropped a spot with its lowest share in over a year. WHYI moved up from #5 with its highest number since DECEMBER.
Again, the same five players appeared in the top five – just not the same five from the previous demos. BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) exploded with its best book since JUNE. That also happens to be the last time the station was #1. WHYI remained at #2 with its best book since MAY. COX RADIO Urban WEDR dropped to #3 with its lowest total in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) bounced back from a down book to remain at #4 while WHQT held fast at #5 with a loss of share.
Shockingly, there was a new entrant in the top five 18-49 sweepstakes. It was not WLYF, which was #1 for the third straight survey. Nor was it WHYI, which moved up to #2 with its highest share since JUNE. Couldn’t be WFEZ because it remained at #3 with its best share in over a year. It was WPOW, which moved up from #6 with its best book since JUNE. WHQT fell three places to #5 while WEDR dropped to a tie at #6 with its lowest share in over a year. Up until APRIL, this station had consistently been #1.
Seattle-Tacoma: Movin’ In The Right Direction
This is the tenth book of the year and HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) has been #1 in seven of them. This was the fourth in a row, and the station had its highest share in over a year (6.3-6.8). ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW was up for the third straight survey (5.0-5.2) to remain at #2. BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F may have reaped some benefit from the defending champion’s return as the station edged up to #3 with its best book in exactly a year (4.6-5.1). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) bounced back from its lowest book of the year (4.6-5.0) to remain at #4 while ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) was flat (4.8-4.8) and fell two spots to #5.
The same two stations as above took the top two spots 25-54 for the third book in a row. KQMV had its second straight #1 with its best book in over a year. Compared to a year ago, the station is three shares heftier. KISW has picked up two shares in the last three books and remained at #2. KIRO-F used the power of the shield to record its best score in over a year and moved up a spot to #3. There was a tie at #4. KKWF fell from #3 with its second straight down book while CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJAQ (JACK FM) moved up from a tie at #5 with its best showing in over a year. Last month’s #5 draw was broken and both stations fell back a bit. CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) landed at #6 while CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK ended up at #7.
Again, KQMV and KISW were the top players. This time it was 18-34. MOVIN was #1 for the sixth month in a row and cracked double digits for the first time. KISW remained at #2 with its best showing since MAY. KKWF protected its turf at #3 despite its lowest total since JUNE. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) seems to be doing well with its “#2minute promise.” The station remained at #4 but had a nice increase from last month’s down book. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) moved up to #5 with a slight increase. This bumped cluster mate iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R KUBE to drop into a tie at #7 with KIRO-F, which ran the ball well and moved up three places.
Completing the sweep, KQMV was #1 18-49 for the sixth straight survey. And, yes, it posted its highest share in over a year. Once again, KISW was #2 with its best book since APRIL. KKWF was down for the second book in a row but was still #3. Two stations were sharing space at #4. KCMS remained in place as it was up for the second month in a row while KJAQ took one small step forward with its best book in over a year. KBKS was flat and fell two places to #7. KIRO-F had a rather large increase thanks to the Legion of Boom and rose six places to #6.
Phoenix: Keep Calm And Play Old Stuff
Much like its sister station in NEW YORK, CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL has been on quite the tear – kind of like a rolling stone (see what we did there?). This was the fourth book in a row that the station was #1. Even though it was down a bit (6.2-5.9), it still held a comfortable lead over its nearest pursuers. That would be a couple of cluster mates who improved their lot this time.
iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) advanced one square to a tie at #2 as it rebounded from its lowest share of the year (4.9-5.1). Meanwhile, iHEARTMEDIA Talk KFYI-A, the other part of that #2 tie, advanced from #6 with easily its best book in over a year (4.5-5.1). The station is currently on a four-book run that improved it from a tie at #12. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX) was off a bit as it dropped two spots to #4 (5.1-4.9). There was a threesome waiting at #5. HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was the incumbent (4.7-4.6). Cluster brother HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD moved up from #8 with its largest number in over a year (4.3-4.6). CBS RADIO Country KMLE rode in from #7 with its best book in over a year (4.4-4.6). iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX fell four places to #8 with its smallest showing since FEBRUARY (4.8-4.4). That said, it trails the logjam by a mere two-tenths of a share.
For each of the last four books, KUPD has experienced share growth 25-54. Not coincidentally, the station has been #1 in those surveys. This was the best month yet. KNIX remained at #2, but with its lowest share since MAY, it fell farther behind the leader. The #3 position was twice as nice. KESZ ended a four-book slide to move up five places while KSLX advanced one square despite a down book. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) moved up to #5, which knocked cluster mate iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) back into a tie at #6. It was tied with KOOL, which moved up from #10. KMXP had its lowest share since that kid was banging on his drums and it dropped six spots to #9. As recently as JUNE the station was #1 in this demo.
Even though KUPD had its lowest 18-34 share since JUNE, the station maintained a commanding lead over the #2 position. That had a new occupant as KZZP posted its highest number since MAY to move up from #5. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KZON (LIVE 101.5) also had its best showing since MAY and climbed three spots to #3. KMXP had its lowest total since JANUARY yet remained at #4. It was tied with RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER), which took a big hit as it dropped from #2. KMLE ended a two-book surge and fell three places to #6. A couple of stations were bubbling under. ENTRAVISION Regional Mexican KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR) moved up seven spaces to #7 with its best book in over a year. KOOL had its best book since NOVEMBER and also climbed seven spaces – ending up at a tie at #9.
This was the fourth book in a row that KUPD had a positive 18-49 ratings experience, and this one was the highest in over a year. Naturally, it was #1 for the fourth straight survey. KZZP made another three-step jump, landing at #2 with its highest total since MAY. KNIX slid back to #3 with its lowest total since FEBRUARY while KYOT plateaued at #4 with a small decrease. KMLE remained at #5 with a slight loss of share. Two stations moving in opposite directions met up at #6. KMXP fell from #3 with its lowest share since all you wanted for CHRISTMAS was me. Meanwhile, KOOL advanced from #12 with its brightest number since NOVEMBER.
Minneapolis-St.Paul: Still The One
It was only a couple of books ago that shocked bystanders were wondering what happened to iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB. The station was in the midst of what would become a three-book slide and actually fell from the top spot. Calm has been restored as the station ended its slide and maintained its #1 ranking all at the same time (7.5-8.2). HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) also ended its five-book slide (6.7-7.1) and jumped three spots to #2. CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS was off slightly (7.1-7.0) but remained at #3 while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) dropped to #4 thanks to its lowest total since MAY (7.4-6.9). CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) experienced a slight loss of share (6.8-6.6) and slipped back to #5. No one will confuse the VIKINGS with any sort of playoff contender but they did have a positive effect on the ratings of iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN). The station had its best book since DECEMBER (4.2-5.5) and moved forward four steps to a tie at #8.
The top three 25-54 stations remained unchanged from the previous demo. KDWB remained at #1 and ended its five-book slide. KSTP was again #2 with its highest number since MAY. KQRS bounced back a little from a down book to hold on at #3. Two stations moved in perfect harmony and ended up at #4. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM) dropped from #3 with its lowest share since FEBRUARY while KQQL rose from #5 despite recording its smallest number since MAY. KFXN rode the purple wave six places to end up at #6 – its best ranking and share since hockey season.
Though KDWB always dominates 18-34, the station had been on a six-book downtrend. That finally ended this month. Last month, CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) joined KDWB in posting double-digit shares. That feat was not duplicated. The station remained at #2, but fell farther from the top and closer to the rest of the pack with its lowest total since MARCH. KSTP moved ahead two spots to #3 with its best book in over a year while KMNB dropped to #4 with a small decrease. KZJK also took a step back – to #5 – with its smallest share since FEBRUARY. While KFXN only moved up one place to #7, it did have its best book since DECEMBER.
For the last two months, KDWB was unable to crack the double-digit share barrier 18-49. The station did not make it three in a row and it extended its lead over the latest occupant of the #2 slot. That was KSTP, which rose from a tie at #4 with its most impressive outing since DECEMBER. KMNB took one step forward to #3 despite a slight loss of share. Two stations took steps back and ended up at #4. KXXR fell from #2 with its lowest number since ALVIN was serenading us while KZJK slid from #3 with its least productive book since JANUARY. KFXN moved up from #10 to #6 – its best rank since FEBRUARY.
Thank you for taking the time to wade through the prose. As always, if The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. can be of assistance in your numerical adventures, please do not hesitate to contact us. There are several options below. Also, a big tip of the hat to the crew at XTRENDS for greasing the data machine gears for us. We’ll be back in about a month with a look at what will be called NOVEMBER.
Email: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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