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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive May PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston
June 9, 2015
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Sunny Is Hot
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Like sands of time through the hourglass, these are the ratings of our lives. Once again, THE RATINGS EXPERTS from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., in cooperation with the fine folk at XTRENDS, present the latest in ratings hijinks. The month remains the same -- MAY -– only the markets are different. So we are all on the same page, this survey covered APRIL 23rd through MAY 20th.
HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Sunny Is Hot
iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY) continues to burn brighter and brighter. The station landed its best chestnut-free book in over a year (7.4-7.7) and landed in the #1 spot for the eighth straight survey. By comparison, a year ago the station was #2 with a 6.5. RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) was #2 again (6.8-6.5). The station has been either #1 or #2 for the last 12 books. Two stations improved their standing as they met at #3. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) took one step forward just by being flat (6.2-6.2) while COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) took a TEXAS two-step jump after landing its highest share since JULY (6.1-6.2). Cluster brother COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) flew south to #5 (6.4-5.6), which ended a four-book run. A couple of other stations had noteworthy performances. KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ ended a two-book slide to move up to #6 (4.4-4.9). CBS RADIO Top 40/M KKHH (HOT) scored its best book in over a year (3.2-4.2) to advance five spaces to a tie at #8.
In what is shaping up to be a theme for this market, KODA had its best book since JANUARY to break out of a tie at #2 to assume the position of market leader 25-54. This ended KLTN’s three-book run at #1 as the station slid back to #2. KKBQ took a step forward to #3 even though it was off a bit. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) also experienced a depressed share but managed to advance to #4. The other half of last month’s #2 tandem – KGLK – dropped to #5. KKHH had its highest share and rank in over a year as it leaped six places to #10.
For the longest time, RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) ruled the 18-34 roost. That sort of ended when iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) came on the scene. That said, THE BOX did repeat at #1 this survey though with its lowest share in over a year. KLTN was just this close as it moved up two spots to #2 with a small increase. KKBQ dropped back to #3 as it was off, as well, and it was joined by KODA, which moved in from a tie at #6 with its third straight up book. THE BEAT fell a couple of spots to #5 as it lost a chunk of share while cluster mate KTBZ stepped back to #6 with its least productive number since OCTOBER. KKHH had a huge increase from last month to move up to #7. The last time the station was ranked this high was in AUGUST.
Though KLTN was down for the second book in a row, it did manage to remain #1 18-49 for the fifth consecutive survey. The difference this time is that it was forced to share as KODA arose from #3 with its best Nick-free performance in over a year. KKBQ was flat and moved back to #3 while KTBZ remained at #4 with a slight decrease. KBXX was still #5 after posting its lowest share in over a year. KKHH was, well, hot as it moved up five spaces to #7 with its best book in over a year. As recently as JANUARY, the station was sitting at #17 in this demo.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: It’s News To Us
This is an information-hungry town. From afar you may think it’s all about the comings and goings of CONGRESS or the latest release from the WHITE HOUSE. However, on a more granular level, it’s more often about traffic and weather (usually together). Perhaps that is why HUBBARD News WTOP has been #1 6+ for 12 of the last 14 surveys (damn you, SANTA!). The station had a small increase this time (7.9-8.1). Nipping at its heels was AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU, which remained at #2 with its best book in over a year (7.1-8.0). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) was off slightly (6.5-6.2) but remained steady at #3. It’s somewhat older cluster sister – iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH – had its best RUDOLPH-free book in over a year to move up to #4 (5.3-6.0). HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR dropped back to #5 with its lowest share since the HOLIDAY survey (6.2-5.7). Last month, a couple of hard-nosed competitors were locked in combat at #13. Both made a move up the chart with their best books in over a year. CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC moved up to #7 (3.4-4.3) while RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) advanced to #9 (3.4-3.9). After landing its largest number since NOVEMBER, CBS RADIO Hot AC WIAD (FRESH) made a six-place jump to #10 (3.3-3.8).
Last year WIHT pretty much ran the table 25-54. Then this SANTA fella came along and changed everything. Well, it seems like HOT is back in fashion. The station was #1 for the second straight survey even though it was off slightly. WTOP remained at #2 with a modest increase and was joined by WASH, which advanced three places with its best elfless book since JUNE. WAMU again had its highest share in over a year but through the magic of math was sent back to #4. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC-101) bounced back from a down book to move up a slot to #5. Through an odd twist of cosmic metering, both WKYS and WPGC had their best books in over a year to land precisely at the #6 spot. WHUR was down for the third straight book and dropped five places to #8 – its lowest rank in over a year.
The only time over the last 14 surveys that WIHT did not hit double-digits 18-34 was when its sister station was playing BRENDA LEE records. The station was #1 – again – though with its lowest share since JANUARY. WKYS was #2 again but after posting its best book in over a year, narrowed the gap between the two stations from five and a half to about two-and-a-half shares. WPGC moved up a spot to #3 with its best showing since JULY. WWDC was flat, but not happy as it slid back one spot to #4. Coming up on the outside was WAMU, which picked up a very healthy increase to bolt from #11 to #5. This was easily the station’s best rank in the last 14 surveys. WASH also had quite the month as it advanced seven places to #6 with its best tinsel-free book since JUNE. Last month it looked like CUMULUS Top 40/M WRQX was poised to make a run as it moved up to #5. Alas, the ride was a short one as the station slid down to a tie at #9.
There was quite a bit of movement 18-49 but none of it affected WIHT. Though the station was down, it managed to cop its fifth straight #1 book. As previously noted, it was a very good month for WKYS and WPGC. Once again both stations notched their best books in over a year, which allowed WKYS to move up to #2 and WPGC to a tie at #4. In between those two was WASH, which attained #3 status with its highest BAND-AID-free number since JUNE. WAMU moved up to claim a share of the previously mentioned #4 position with its finest performance in over a year. With all these move-ins, a couple of stations had to move out. WHUR dropped four spots to #6 while WWDC slid to #7 -- even though it had an up book.
PHILADELPHIA: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
To quote an artist who is too old to be classic … CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL had its highest 6+ share since JUNE (6.0-6.8), which resulted in the station vaulting to #1. This ended the eight-book winning streak of JERRY LEE RADIO AC WBEB (MORE), which fell back to a somewhat distant #2 thanks to its lowest total in over a year (6.5-5.8). GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK slipped out of a tie at #2 and into a partnership at #3 with a small decrease (6.0-5.7). It was joined by CBS RADIO Country WXTU, which moved up from a tie at #6 with its best book since OCTOBER (4.9-5.7). The station had been in a bit of a funk ever since SANTA was tearing up SOUTH STREET – reaching its nadir at #11 just two books ago. It appears its fortunes have reversed. iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS took a step back to #5 with a slight decrease (5.7-5.6) while CBS RADIO News KYW-A slipped to #6 (5.4-5.3). However, compared to last year when the station was tied at #9 with a 4.0 share, this isn’t too shabby.
PHILADELPHIA is currently known for three things: the best cheesesteaks in the world, some of the worst baseball in the game, and a definite preference for rock music. For the fifth straight book, GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR was #1 25-54. The station was flat this time but still maintained a comfortable edge over iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5), which took over sole possession of second place with a small increase. WMGK fell back to #3 thanks to its lowest share since folks were dressed up like Eskimos. WBEB actually managed to move up a spot for a share of the #3 prize despite the fact that the station had its smallest share since SEPTEMBER. WXTU’s resurgence continued. The station had its best book since NOVEMBER and advanced five places to #5. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) dropped back to #6 with a small decrease. WOGL jumped five places to a tie at #8 with its best book since it was playing BING CROSBY records. WDAS dropped to that tie at #8 with its smallest number since JUNE.
For the fifth book in a row, iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER) was #1 18-34. The station was off a bit but remained comfortably ahead of WRFF at #2 as it was also off slightly. WXTU moved up to #3 with a rather large increase while WBEB slid back to #4 even though it was up slightly. WMMR returned to the top five as it ended a three-book slide while WIOQ dropped back to #6 with its smallest share since OCTOBER. Perhaps this had something to do with the station formerly known as WIRED? In its first full book in its new incarnation as CBS RADIO Top 40/M WZMP (AMP), the station actually slipped back to #7 even though it had its best book in over a year. These two now fierce rivals were separated by less than half-share. WOGL moved up to #9 with its best showing in over a year.
Make it five in a row at #1 18-49 for WMMR as the station had its best book since JANUARY. WRFF remained a solid #2 with its best book in over a year while WUSL moved up to #3 with a flat performance. WBEB slipped back to #4 with its lowest share since SEPTEMBER while WXTU used a rather large increase to move up to #5. WIOQ fell back to #6 thanks to a small loss. WOGL had its best showing since SEPTEMBER to advance five places to a tie at #9.
ATLANTA: You Can Only Hope To Contain Them
Much like LEBRON JAMES on the court, CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V-103) is going to get theirs (sorry, HAWKS fans). The station was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row after posting its best share in over a year (8.5-9.0). A year ago at this moment, the station was tied at #3 with a 6.0 share. COX RADIO Talk WSB-A remained a distant #2 (7.4-7.3). It had almost the exact same share as a year ago (7.4) when it was #1 overall. COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) remained at #3 with its best showing since the HOLIDAY survey (6.4-6.6). It just fended off SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (THE FISH), which moved up to #4 with its best book since it was featuring the Seraphim on the radio (6.2-6.5). COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) dropped back to #5 as it was off slightly for the second month in a row (6.3-6.1). iHEARTMEDIA Country WUBL (THE BULL) charged up to #6 with its best total since JANUARY (4.6-4.9).
For the 10th book in a row, WVEE was #1 25-54. To be more precise, the only time in the last 14 surveys when the station was not #1 was in AUGUST. This month’s total was its best in over a year. It held a lead of close to four shares over WALR, which advanced three spots to #2 with its highest total in over a year. WSB-F slid back to #3 after losing a chunk of share while CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) fell to #4 with its lowest share since Yuletide carols were being sung by a choir. WSB-A took one step back to #5 with a moderate loss of share.
This marks the fifth consecutive survey that WVEE topped double-digits 18-34. Though it was off slightly from last month’s monster high, it managed to hold a nearly five-share lead over iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WWPW (POWER) at #2. This, after POWER posted its best number in over a year. RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) moved up to #3 with a small increase. Two stations were lounging about at #4. WWWQ slid from #3 with its lowest share since the elves were in town while WUBL moved up from #7 with its highest total since JANUARY. WSB-F remained at #6 as it ended a two-book slide while WFSH swam downstream to #7 thanks to a small decrease.
Boom went the dynamite for WVEE as it hit double-digits 18-49 for the second book in a row. It extended its lead over #2 WSB-F to almost five shares as the “B” was off slightly. WHTA had its best book since DECEMBER to move forward two paces to #3. WWPW remained at #4 with a slight increase and it was joined by WWWQ, which was down for the third consecutive book as it slipped from #3. WUBL had its best showing since DECEMBER to move up a slot to #6 as it threatened to barge its way into the top-five club.
BOSTON: We Call Trend
When you notch your fourth consecutive #1 6+ book, it officially turns from anomaly to trend. That’s the skinny on GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR, which remained uber-hot (7.4-7.7) and led the rest of the market by a comfortable margin. Last month there were three players competing for the coveted role of runner-up. All were down and only one remained. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS) remained in place (6.3-6.0). GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) posted its smallest score since NOVEMBER (6.3-5.9) to fall back to #3. It was joined at #3 by the rapidly advancing GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB, which rose from #5 with its finest performance since DECEMBER (5.4-5.9). The third member of the trio formerly known as “number two” – CBS RADIO News WBZ-A – landed at #5 (6.3-5.8). One potential up-and-comer was CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX). The station had its best book in over a year (4.2-4.8) to move up three slots to #6.
Proving it was more than a one-demo wonder, WROR took the 25-54 leadership position for the third book in a row. Last month it was forced to share but that ended as WXKS dropped back to #2, thanks to its lowest total since the fire was so delightful. CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) remained at #3 but was down for the fourth book in a row. WBMX was up for the second consecutive survey to advance to #4 with another one of those best-book-in-over-a-year type performances. Three stations wanted to be in the top five so badly they met at #5. WMJX slid back from #4 with its smallest number in over a year. WKLB rebounded from its lowest score in over a year to advance from #11. And, coming in all the way from Wuh-stuh was ENTERCOM Active Rock WAAF, which was flat but still advanced two spaces. CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX fell three places to #8.
The back and forth we saw 18-34 for the last couple of months settled into the beginnings of a pattern (no, not a trend) as WXKS repeated as #1. Though it was down slightly, it did open up a bit of a lead as #2 WKLB was down even more. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) sat tight at #3 with its lowest total in over a year. WMJX was flat as it moved up to #4 while WBMX again had its largest share in over a year as it moved from a tie at #11 to #5. GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) cooled off a bit and slid a couple of spots to a tie at #6.
WXKS continued to hold a commanding lead 18-49 after posting its best total since JANUARY. WBMX’s dream book continues as it rocketed up the chart from a tie at #8 to #2. WKLB stepped back to #3 with a flat performance, and there was a three-station pile-up at #4. WBZ-F slipped from #3 with its lowest score since SEPTEMBER while WROR advanced from #6 even though it was flat. GREATER MEDIA Alternative WBOS (RADIO 92.9) stepped up from #5 with a down book. WMJX dropped four spots to #7 with its smallest share since JULY.
Round two of our exclusive ratings analysis is now officially in the books and on its way to the SMITHSONIAN. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. invite you to tune in for our next episode when we dissect the doings of DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE, PHOENIX, and MINNEAPOLIS. You may now click a different link ... like those below, perhaps.
E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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