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Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive July PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle/Tacoma, Phoenix, Minneapolis/St. Paul
August 5, 2015
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. DETROIT: Yea, That's The Ticket
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There may be a million stories in the naked city but we only concern ourselves with what is happening in radio. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., along with the numbers crunchers at XTRENDS, are here to launch another round of ratings roulette. Five more markets, four demos each – all spanning JUNE 18 through JULY 15 – henceforth known as the JULY survey. As all ratings are related in some part to market conditions, this particular survey was noteworthy for vacations and the long JULY FOURTH weekend.
DETROIT: Yea, That’s The Ticket
There was little movement among the top five players in the 6+ arena. Both rankings and shares were relatively unchanged. Oh, except for the fact that CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) moved back to #1 even though it was flat (7.1-7.1). Much how like the TIGERS are playing. This bumped its cluster brother CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC back to #2 (7.3-7.0). Two stations lost some share and ended up living together at #3. CBS RADIO News WWJ-A remained in place (6.3-6.0) while GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX moved up one notch (6.2-6.0). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX) was flat and stable at #5 (5.8-5.8). One station that showed significant positive momentum was CBS RADIO Country WYCD. The station had its best book since AUGUST (4.6-5.3) to move up three places to #6.
Things got a bit turned around 25-54 as GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF posted its highest share in over a year and moved up to the #1 position. This forced WXYT-F to take a step back to #2 as it was down for the second month in a row. WMXD had its best showing since DECEMBER yet remained mired at #3. WCSX held on at #4 despite scoring its lowest number since JANUARY. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB moved up a slot to #5 with a slight increase. This caused WOMC to take a step back to #6 where it was tied with cluster mate WYCD, which moved up thanks to its best performance since NOVEMBER.
Isn’t it funny how math works? WRIF moved up to #1 18-34 with the exact same share it had two books ago when it was tied for #3. Last month’s leader – WJLB – had its lowest score since SEPTEMBER and dropped back into a tie at #2 with iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955), which posted its lowest total since everyone was enjoying the melodious sounds of the HARRY SIMEONE CHORALE. CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD has been on a strong three-book run. The most recent addition to that streak was the station’s highest share in over a year and placed it firmly at #4. WXYT-F was off slightly and dipped to #5. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WDZH (AMP RADIO) moved forward five paces to #6 with its highest share since JANUARY. iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC ended a three-book slide and also advanced five places to a tie at #8.
WRIF made it two wins in a row 18-49 and landed its largest share in over a year. WXYT-F remained at #2 with a small decrease while WJLB had its smallest output since DECEMBER but was still #3. WKQI repeated at #4 while WDVD moved up to #5 with its best book in over a year. WMXD slid back to #6 with a slight decrease.MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Moving Day
There were some new faces gracing the pages of the top five 6+ yearbook. One of them was not ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) as it was #1 for the third book in a row. The station has been on a nice three-book growth spurt (7.3-7.5). COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) remained at #2 but drifted further behind the leader after posting its lowest share in over a year (6.8-6.5). This was also the eighth consecutive down book for the station. COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) moved up to #3 with its best showing since the HOLIDAY book (4.9-5.7). UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) made a huge move – advancing from a tie at #10 to #4 with what was easily its best book in over a year (4.2-4.9). Cluster compadre UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) slipped two spots to #5 with its lowest share in over a year (5.0-4.8). COX RADIO Urban WEDR (JAMZ) was off for the second straight survey (4.8-4.5) and dipped to #6. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBGG (BIG) had a nice month. The station moved up six places to #7 with its highest total in over a year (3.9-4.4).
For the ninth book in a row, WHQT was #1 25-54. However, even though the station was up slightly this time, its margin over the #2 station was at its lowest of any survey during this streak. WRTO was the challenger in question. It rose from #7 to #2 with its best showing in over a year. Only being slightly outdone was WFEZ. EASY made the jump from #11 to #3 with its best performance since JANUARY. WEDR was off slightly but still slid two spots to #4. Last month’s co-winners of the #4 trophy were neither tied nor in the same position. iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) slipped to #5 while WLYF ended up at #6. COX RADIO Top 40/M WFLC (HITS) was down for the third book in a row and dropped from a tie at #2 to #9.
WEDR was #1 18-34 for the fourth month in a row. Though it was off slightly, it managed to lengthen its lead because CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) moved up to #2 with a down book. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) dropped to #3 with its smallest share in over a year. Cluster brother iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) inched up to #4 even though it, too, was off slightly. WFEZ made a bold move – jumping five places to #5. In two books, the station has advanced nine places in the rankings and literally doubled its share in this demo. WMGE dropped to #6 with its lowest share since MARCH while WLYF moved up to a tie at #7 with its best book since FEBRUARY.
If you have been paying close attention, you may have noticed that a different station was #1 in each of the previous demos. That trend continued 18-49 as WRTO rocketed to the top spot. It advanced from a tie at #6 with its best book in over a year and just barely edged out WEDR, which was flat but down a notch at #2. WMGE was down but steady at #3 while WHQT advanced four places to #4 even though it was only up slightly. WLYF took one step forward to #5 despite a slight decrease. It was joined by WPOW, which dropped back from a tie at #4. WFEZ’s good fortunes continued here as the station rose five places to a tie at #7 with its best showing since JANUARY. WFLC’s woes continued as the station dropped seven places to a tie at #9 with its lowest score since JANUARY. WHYI also fell back, dropping seven spots to #11 with its lowest total in over a year.
SEATTLE-TACOMA: Sharing The Lead Together
This marked the seventh consecutive survey that HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) was the 6+ market leader. Because the station posted its lowest total since JANUARY (6.8-6.1), it was forced to hand over a share of the lead to CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK, which had its best performance in over a year (5.2-6.1) as it advanced from #4. ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) also had its highest share in over a year (5.6-5.8) yet it still dropped a slot to #3. BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F had its best book since NOVEMBER (4.9-5.7) as it moved up to #4. A year ago the station was in a tie at #10 with a 3.4 share. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET) remained at #5 as it soared to its highest number in over a year (4.9-5.5). ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW had its least productive outing since JANUARY (5.4-5.3) and slid three places to #6.
For the fourth book in a row, KISW and KMVQ executed a devastating one-two punch to the rest of the market in the 25-54 demo. Though both stations were down from the previous survey, they easily outdistanced KKWF at #3 – even though THE WOLF was baying about its best book in over a year. KZOK had its highest share in exactly a year to remain at #4 while KJR-F was flat at a cruising altitude of #5. A few stations lower in the standings made some nice moves. HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) remained at #6 but with its best book since it was giving NAT KING COLE a few spins. CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) was elevated to #7 as it ended a three-book slide. It was joined by KIRO-F, which moved up from a tie at #10.
As with the previous demo, 18-34 is the exclusive domain of two radio stations. The same two stations except in reverse order. KQMV was #1 for the fourth straight survey but with its lowest share since JANUARY. KISW ended a three-book slide and narrowed the gap a bit at #2. KKWF was off slightly at #3 while ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) remained a fixture at #4 with a nice increase. KZOK advanced three squares to #5 with its best outing in over a year. ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) dropped to a tie at #6 with a small decrease. Though KRWM only moved up one spot to #8, it did have its best Frosty-free share in over a year.
After trading punches and places in the previous two demos, KISW and KMVQ decided to hang out together at #1 18-49. KMVQ was there last time and posted its lowest share since JANUARY. KISW moved up from #2 despite landing its smallest number since FEBRUARY. KKWF again had its best book in over a year but had to be content with remaining a solid, if distant, #3. Once again KZOK had its highest score in over a year as it rose to #4 while KRWM made a three-step jump to #5. KHTP fell back two places to #6 even though it was flat. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) fell from a tie at #5 to #9 as it, too, was flat. KNDD also dropped from the #5 position. It landed at #7 with a slight increase and was joined by the rapidly ascending KJR-F, which rose from a tie at #11 with its best book in over a year.
PHOENIX: Lazy Daze Of Summer
Things were pretty much status quo this month. The top five 6+ remained the same with iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) taking top honors for the ninth book in a row (6.9-6.8). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX remained in the runner-up position for the second straight survey (6.1-5.8). iHEARTMEDIA Talk KFYI-A had its highest share since JANUARY (5.2-5.5) to move up to #3. CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL was off slightly as it backed off to #4 (5.4-5.3). HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD dropped back to #5 (5.2-4.9).
KUPD was the #1 25-54 station for the third book in a row. However, its margin has slipped each survey and #2 iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) narrowed the gap to less than half a share after posting its highest total in over a year. KESZ was off a bit at #3 while KSLX was in the same position at #4. KFYI-A had a lot to say as it jumped from a tie at #10 to #5. Truth be told, the station was up slightly and there were five other stations within two-tenths of a share of the #5 position. One of those was iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX), which dropped to a tie at #6 with its smallest share in over a year.
Things were getting heated up 18-34. KUPD was #1 for the fourth book in a row but lost a ton of share from last month. It was still the clear market leader with a two-plus advantage. As recently as MARCH, KYOT was #15 in this demo. It has more than doubled its share since then and this time moved from #8 to #2. iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX was up slightly as it moved up to #3. Talk about your Cinderella story. Take a look at FAMILY LIFE Christian Contemporary KFLR. Last month it was tied at #21. This month it was #4. That classifies as a big jump. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) dropped three places to #5 with its lowest share since the maids were milkin’. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KZON (LIVE 101.5) slipped to #6 as it was down for the fourth straight survey. KESZ lost its momentum as it fell from #3 to a tie at #9 with its least productive outing since NOVEMBER.
It was less hectic 18-49. KUPD lost a chunk of share but remained #1 for the third book in a row. KYOT moved up to #2 with its best performance in over a year. KESZ slid back to #3 with its third straight down book. KSLX also lost a chunk of share but remained at #4. There was a threesome on #5. KZZP remained in place with its third straight down book while the two stations that were tied at #6 last time moved up. KMXP had its lowest score since MARCH while CBS RADIO Country KMLE was off for the fourth straight survey.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: Our Trio’s Down To Two
Last month tongues were waggin’ and heads were turnin’ as there was a three-way tie atop the 6+ chart. Well, one of the trio bowed out this time. For the first time since the singing cowboy GENE AUTRY was playing through the speakers, iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB was not #1. The station slipped to #3 this survey with its lowest share since SEPTEMBER (8.5-8.0).
Meanwhile, there were still two stations at #1. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) and HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95). Both stations went 8.5-8.4. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K-102) was flat and happy at #4 (6.8-6.8) while its chief competitor – CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) – moved up to #5 with its best score since DECEMBER (5.3-6.3). CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS slid to #6 (6.5-6.0) where it was partnered with iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KTCZ (CITIES 97). That station moved up a spot with its best performance since FEBRUARY (5.5-6.0).
KSTP saw its run of double-digit 25-54 books end at two but the station remained firmly entrenched as the market leader for the fourth straight survey. #2 KDWB fell farther off the pace after posting its lowest share since SEPTEMBER. KQRS had its lowest share of the year yet remained at #3. It was teamed up with KQQL, which advanced from #4. KEEY was off slightly but stepped up to #5 where it was joined by CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM). JACK was down for the third book in a row. KMNB jumped four places to a tie at #7 with its highest score in over a year.
Approximately one out of every four radio listeners in the TWIN CITIES listens to either KDWB or CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X). Both stations were in double digits for the seventh book in a row 18-34 and both were well clear of everyone else. KSTP was up slightly and well back at #3. KEEY was off a bit but moved up to #4. It was joined in that space by KTCZ, which moved up a couple of spots. KZJK inherited that #6 position as it fell off the pace while KMNB had its best book since APRIL to move up to #7.
Though KWDB had its lowest score since OCTOBER, the station easily outdistanced the rest of the 18-49 field. KSTP had a small increase to remain a strong #2 and was well ahead of KXXR, which had its lowest total of the year at #3. KZJK was down but steady at #4 while KEEY took over sole possession of the #5 slot despite a slight decrease. KQQL returned its unused portion of #5 and dropped back a slot to a tie at #6 with its lowest total since JANUARY. KMNB moved up three spots to a tie at #8 with its best outing since JANUARY.
So it is written … this concludes another test of the emergency ratings system. Be sure to join the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. next month as we all do this to ourselves again. In the meantime, feel free to reach us via any of the platforms listed below. -
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