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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive June PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston
July 8, 2015
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Sunny And Share
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When we last left our intrepid heroes -– the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. –- they were teaming up with the numbers crunchers from XTRENDS to perform CSI-like maneuvers on the results of the JUNE survey. This particular crime scene focused on the time frame of MAY 21st through JUNE 17th and featured one complete holiday weekend. Let’s snap on the Latex gloves and dive in …
HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Sunny And Share
Way back in NOVEMBER, iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY) ascended the summit of the 6+ ratings and has yet to come down. While part of this run was certainly fueled by a healthy dose of venison, the station has used regular old programming to maintain its lofty position. This was the ninth straight #1 for SUNNY as it maintained a healthy advantage over the rest of the field (7.7-7.6). COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) was off slightly (6.2-6.1) but was rewarded anyway with a move up to #2. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) was left behind at #3 as it was off a bit more (6.2-6.0). RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) had its lowest share in over a year (6.5-5.5) to fall two places to #4. COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) remained nested at #5 with its lowest share since the HOLIDAY book (5.6-5.2). This is the fourth book in a row that these same five stations populated the top five.
The 25-54 status remained primarily quo – with one alteration. KODA was flat but won its second book in a row while KLTN was off slightly at #2. KKBQ could not advance from #3 despite landing its biggest number in exactly a year. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) had its least buzz-worthy share in over a year, yet it did not move from #4. However, it was joined by KMJQ, which rose two spots despite a down book. KGLK, at #6, was asked to leave the top five after posting its smallest total since the sugar plum fairies were doing their thing.
Though it is no longer the dominant 18-34 force it once was, RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) still wields quite a bit of power. The station was #1 for the twelfth time in the last 14 surveys. It maintained a better-than-a-share lead over two stations duking it out at #2. KODA moved up from #3 with a small loss while iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) made a little noise as it moved in from #5. KTBZ also upped its game, moving forward two spaces to #4. It was joined there by KKBQ, which stepped down from #3. KLTN dropped four spots to #6 thanks to its smallest share since DECEMBER.
Things got pretty interesting atop the 18-49 leaderboard as the top three stations were separated by the slimmest possible margins. KODA copped the top prize for the second month in a row even though it was off a bit. KKBQ moved up to a very cozy #2 with its highest share in exactly a year. Close behind those two was KLTN, which dropped to #3 – ending a five-book stay at #1. KBXX used its best book since FEBRUARY to inch up to #4 while KTBZ stepped back to #5 with its third down book in a row.
WASHINGTON, DC: News Rules
For the sixth survey in a row, HUBBARD News WTOP was the #1 station 6+ in the most powerful city in the world. It was the station’s twelfth win in the last 14 books. It was also up for the second month in a row (8.1-8.5). AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU notched its seventh consecutive second-place finish but fell farther off the pace (8.0-7.3). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) landed its best book in over a year (6.2-6.9) but had to be content with remaining a solid #3. HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR ended a three-book skid (5.7-6.1) to move up a slot to #4. This dropped iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH back to #5 (6.0-5.7). CBS RADIO Hot AC WIAD (FRESH) made some noise with its highest share in over a year (3.8-4.4), which allowed the station to advance three squares to #7.
WIHT was, well, hot 25-54. It posted its best number in over a year and copped top honors for the third straight book. WTOP broke out of a second-place tie to assume the position to itself with its second up book in a row. WASH dropped back to #3 thanks to a slight decrease while RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) used a small increase to advance two spots to #4. A year ago the station was in a tie at #12 in this demo. WHUR halted its three-book skid and moved up three places to #5 while WAMU had its lowest total since holly boughs were a thing and slipped two spots to #6. WIAD again had its best showing in over a year to advance three steps to a tie at #7. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WWDC (DC-101) had its lowest score in over a year to drop five spots to #10.
Over the last 14 books, the only time WIHT was not #1 18-34 – and did not pass the double-digit threshold – was when its sister station was playing BRENDA LEE records. WKYS was again #2 and got very close to joining HOT in the double-digit club but still trailed the leader by almost three shares. CBS RADIO Top40/R WPGC held on at #3 despite taking a noticeable hit. WWDC was off – not as much as 6+ – but remained #4. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG (BIG) ended its three-book skid to move forward four paces to #5. WAMU could not quite match last month’s big book and fell from #5 to #8.
The top three positions 18-49 remained unchanged from last month. WIHT again scored its best book in over a year to remain at #1. WKYS continued to hold court at #2 as it, too, had its highest share in over a year. WASH was up slightly at #3 while WHUR moved up to #4. WAMU slid back to #5 with a small decrease. There were three stations knocking at the door from the #6 position. WPGC dropped back from #4 as it ended a nice four-book surge. WTOP advanced from #8 with a flat performance while WIAD vaulted from #9 with its best book in exactly a year.
PHILADELPHIA: More Is More
Last month, it appeared that JERRY LEE RADIO AC WBEB (MORE FM) had reached its nadir. The station was down for the fifth book in a row and had dipped to its lowest point in over a year. Well, it appears to have been merely a flesh wound as the station bounced back (5.8-7.2) and returned to the #1 position 6+ with its best book since JANUARY. This bumped CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL back to #2 even though it had its best book in over a year (6.8-6.9). The rest of the top five was packed closely together. iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS moved up a couple of spots to #3 (5.6-5.8) while GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK slid back to #4 (5.7-5.6). GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR moved up two spots to #5 with its best book in over a year (5.1-5.5). This knocked CBS RADIO Country WXTU back to #6 (5.7-5.4). The station that was formerly wired continued its growth spurt. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WZMP (AMP) moved up to #11 with its best book in over a year (3.0-3.6).
25-54 is WMMR’s domain and the hunting continued to be good. The station was #1 for the sixth book in a row with its best share in over a year. WBEB moved back up to #2 but, despite its strong showing, MORE trailed the leader by over a share. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) turned in its best performance in over a year to advance three spaces to #3. WMGK stepped back to #4 by being flat while WXTU remained at #5 despite posting its highest score since NOVEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) took a big share hit and dropped six places to a tie at #8.
Ever since SANTA left town, 18-34 has been controlled by iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER). The station was off a bit but remained #1 for the sixth book in a row. However, the station’s run could soon come to an end as WXTU moved up to #2 with its highest share since NOVEMBER to trail the market leader by the slimmest of margins. WBEB was up for the third book in a row and moved up to #3. WRFF’s share loss was less devastating here but the station did drop two spots to #4 with its lowest total since FEBRUARY. WMMR posted its best number since OCTOBER but had to be content with another #5 finish. WZMP joined the party, moving up to #6 with a rather large increase in share. As a matter of fact, AMP actually beat WIOQ, which slid back to #7 despite a small increase.
WMMR landed its best 18-49 book in over a year as it took its sixth #1 in a row. WBEB moved up two spots to #2 but was over a share behind the leader. WUSL remained at #3 with its best share since JANUARY while WIOQ moved up two spots to #4 with its highest total since NOVEMBER. WRFF dropped three places to #5 with its lowest number since trolling the ancient Yuletide carol (whatever that means). WXTU took a small hit and fell back to #6 while its cluster mate WZMP was up again and sitting at #8.
ATLANTA: Total Domination
Pull up a chair, make some popcorn, note the date because you will find the following story compelling and almost hard to believe. CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V-103) turned in one of the most dominating performances you will ever see. The station was #1 for the fifth book in a row with its best share in over a year (9.0-9.2). But, that was only the beginning. #2 COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) also had a good book (6.6-7.1) – its best in over a year. Yet, it still trailed by over two full shares. COX RADIO Talk WSB-A dropped back to #3 with its lowest share since the HOLIDAY book (7.3-6.8). SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (THE FISH) was still treading water at #4 even though its three-book surge came to an end (6.5-5.9). COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) held on at #5 even though it landed its lowest share since JANUARY (6.1-5.6). Three stations bubbling under the top five had nice books. iHEARTMEDIA Country WUBL (THE BULL) was at #6 with its best showing since NOVEMBER (4.9-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WWPW (POWER) kept still at #7 with a nice gain (4.8-5.2) while COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) retained its #8 status (4.3-4.9).
This was the third book in a row that WVEE was up 25-54. But that doesn’t tell half the story as the station cracked double digits and led #2 WALR by almost four shares! And, this was the best book WALR has had in over a year. WSB-F continued its reign at #3 despite posting its lowest score since DECEMBER. WUBL charged forward two spots to #4 with a nice gain. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) slid a spot to #5 with its smallest share since everything was pine scented. It was joined at #5 by WWPW, which advanced from a tie at #7 with a solid increase. WSB-A took a healthy cut and dropped four spots to #9.
Now things start getting interesting. For the ninth time in the last ten surveys, WVEE cracked the double-digit barrier 18-34. The station matched its highest score this time and led #2 WWPW by over four shares. And, POWER just had its best book in over a year. WUBL moved up to #3 with its best book in exactly a year while WSB-F climbed two rungs to #4 with its best performance since FEBRUARY. RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) had its lowest share since the chestnuts were roasting and dropped two spots to #5. WWWQ dropped to #6 on the strength of its smallest share in over a year.
Our final chapter in this riches-to-riches story finds WVEE hitting double digits 18-49 for the third straight month. WSB-F was a solid #2 but trailed the victor by over five shares. WUBL bulled its way to #3 with its beefiest share since SEPTEMBER. WWPW remained in place at #4 with a small increase. Two stations met headlong at #5. WHTA fell from #3 with a slight decrease while WALR moved up from #7 with its highest total in over a year. WWWQ was down for the fourth straight survey and dropped three places to #7.
BOSTON: Gold, Silver & Bronze
It was quite a month for GREATER MEDIA as its cluster swept the top three spots in the 6+ race. GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR was a dominant #1 for the fifth consecutive survey (7.7-7.2). GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB snapped a tie at #3 to move up to the runner-up position with its highest share since DECEMBER (5.9-6.0). GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) remained at #3 with a flat performance (5.9-5.9). When iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS) saw its long streak of #1 books end in DECEMBER, little did it realize it was not returning to the top for a while. The station slipped to #4 with its lowest book since you-know-who was coming to town (6.0-5.6). CBS RADIO News WBZ-A remained at #5 (5.8-5.4). ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F moved up to a tie at #6 (4.6-4.7), which was only one spot lower in the standings than the hometown nine (boom!).
The classic hits just keep on coming for WROR as the station secured the #1 ranking 25-54 for the fourth book in a row. However, WXKS was hot on their heels as it was up slightly at #2. WMJX jumped two spots to #3 while WKLB moved up to #4 with a solid gain. GREATER MEDIA Alternative WBOS (RADIO 92.9) moved up to #5 with its best score in over a year. Three stations fell out of the top-five club. CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) went from #3 to #7 with its lowest run total since SEPTEMBER. ENTERCOM Active Rock WAAF slipped to #8 with a small share loss while CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX) thudded to #9 with its smallest share since the swans were swimming (not a reference to the PUBLIC GARDEN).
After a two-book hiatus, WKLB returned to #1 18-34 and opened up a wide gap over WXKS, which dropped to #2 with its lowest share in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) was flat and steady at #3 while WBOS moved up to #4 with another big gain. As recently as MARCH, the station was sitting at #10. WMJX took a step back to #5 as it, too, was flat while WBMX could not quite replicate last month’s big number as it fell three spots to #8.
The sweet spot for WXKS seems to be 18-49 as the station was #1 for the fifth book in a row. WKLB had its best book since NOVEMBER to move up to #2 and still trailed KISS by almost a full share. WBOS moved up a spot to #3 with its highest number in over a year while WMJX made the three-step hop to #4 with a small increase. WROR slid back to #5 with its smallest total since JANUARY while WBZ-F dropped back to a tie at #6. WBMX took a rather large hit as it dropped from #2 to #10.
That’s a wrap for round two. As always, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. appreciate your patience. We have one more curtain call where we’ll dissect the performances found in DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE-TACOMA, PHOENIX and MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL. Watch this space.
E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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