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Nielsen Audio PPM Analysis - January 20, 2016
January 20, 2016
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Santa Side Up
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A second round of HOLIDAY ratings analysis from The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and the data crunchers from XTRENDS. It’s like opening presents at home then going to Grandma’s … without the awkward hugs. The most recently completed survey ran from 12/3 through 12/30. All four weeks were foul with the presence of BURL IVES and his evil minions. How did that affect the listening habits of innocent civilians? Read on …
HOUSTON-GALVESTON: Santa Side Up
There were two FM sticks painted in candy cane colors. However, the bigger of the two was iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY). The station completed its clean sweep of 6+ for 2015 (8.0-11.9) but, alas, fell a bit short of last year’s 12.5 share. RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) was unfazed by all the holiday hoopla as the station held firm at #2 with a slight increase (6.5-6.6). COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE) snatched its best book since APRIL (5.6-5.7) to move forward one step to #3. The other seasonal station was KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ. The holiday halo was not very helpful as the station was flat (4.9-4.9). However, thanks to the attrition of others, the station advanced three squares to #4. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) dropped two spots to #5 thanks to its lowest share in over a year (6.2-4.8). COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) may have had a little egg nog hangover. The station dropped to #6 with its lowest share since the last time the big guy was in town (5.6-4.7). RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) was unwrapped to the tune of its smallest share since MAY (5.2-4.3) as it slid back to #7.
For the fifth month in a row, KODA was #1 25-54. Of course, thanks to the likes of ANDY WILLIAMS, the station topped the double-digit threshold. However, it was over a share and a half off last year’s total. Once again KGLK had its highest share since APRIL as it rose to #2. Just three books ago the station was at #7. KLTN’s woes continued here as the station fell back to #3 but with its lowest share in over a year. KMJQ remained at #4 but with its smallest total since AUGUST while KSBJ soared six spots to #5 with its best book since FEBRUARY. The two stations previously occupying the #5 position exited the building. CUMULUS Top 40/M KRBE ended up at #8 with its lowest score since SEPTEMBER while KKBQ ended up at #9.
The sun shone brightly 18-34 as KODA moved into the #1 position. The station was well ahead of last year’s pace. Meanwhile, KBXX dropped back to #2 with its lowest share in over a year. What a difference a year makes. At this point in 2014 THE BOX was #1 in the demo despite the presence of the elfin folk. iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) advanced two places to #3 with its highest score since AUGUST. KLTN’s theme continued here as the station dropped two notches to #4. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KKHH (HOT) made its first appearance in the top five this year thanks to a small increase. CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL slid three places to #7 with its smallest share since JUNE. KRBE also fell three steps, landing at #8 with its lowest total since JULY. KSBJ actually fell three spots to a tie at #17.
Though it was only a short trip from #1, KODA assumed control 18-49. A strong book but not quite the double-digit performance from last year. KLTN’s low number only dropped the station back to #2. KBXX remained at #3 though with its lowest score since MAY. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) advanced three places to #4 with only the slightest of increases. KRBE saw its six-book winning streak come to an end as the station took one step back to #5. Meanwhile, KKBQ was down for the sixth book in a row as it dropped to #7 – its first time out of the top five in exactly a year. KSBJ had a healthy increase and moved up three spots to #11.
WASHINGTON, DC: Christmas Was A WASH
If you lived in DC, your radio likely was a washing machine … iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH rode the sleigh to #1 6+ (7.0-12.0). A lofty number, to be sure, but not quite as large as last year’s 13.6. This dropped HUBBARD News WTOP from the top spot for the first time in a year (7.9-7.5). AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU dropped from a tie at the top to #3 with its lowest share in exactly a year (7.9-6.9). Perhaps this Santa fellow has an effect on spoken-word formats, too. HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR had its best book since SEPTEMBER (4.9-5.2) to move up a spot to #4. It was tied with the stationary iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT), which recorded its lowest score since JANUARY (5.8-5.2). It does seem that cluster sister WASH has an acute effect on HOT every holiday season. CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC dropped to #6 (4.9-4.7). GWET Classical WETA has been on a roll over the last few books. The station was up for the fourth book in a row (4.2-4.6) as it moved up to #7.
For the second book in a row, the power of the Claus propelled WASH to #1 25-54. The station’s noticeably large share bulge was not quite as prominent as a year ago. WTOP remained at #2 but with its lowest share since MAY. WIHT was also stable at #3 but with its lowest score since JANUARY. WPGC had its smallest share since JULY but managed to take a small step forward to #4 just ahead of arch nemesis RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS), which inched up to #5 despite a small decrease. WAMU again had its lowest share since the last time Frosty was nose nipping to drop two spots to #6.
WASH’s 18-34 performance was strong and robust and moved the station to #1. However, it was about a share short of last year’s final total. When was the last time WIHT did not reach double digits in this demo? (Hint: the air was thick with pine scent.) The station slid back to #2 but if the past is any indication, this is only a momentary setback. WPGC moved up to #3 with a small increase while WKYS stepped back to #4 with a small decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG ended a two-book slide as it rose two places to #5. This dropped cluster brother iHEARTMEDIA Country WMZQ back to #6 as the station posted its lowest number since SEPTEMBER.
It was a breakout performance 18-49 for WASH as the station took control of the demo. However, this year’s total was two and a half shares below the standard set in 2014. That said, double digits are double digits. WIHT expectedly dropped to #2. Both WPGC and WKYS remained at #3 and #4, respectively, as both stations were down. WHUR moved up two slots to #5 with its highest share since AUGUST. A couple of stations chewing the fat at #5 last time remained a duo but moved down to #6. WTOP had its smallest share since APRIL while WAMU reported its lowest total in over a year.
PHILADELPHIA: A Christmas Clash Of Titans
Ladies and gentlemen, our main event features two mainstream players channeling the power of the Claus. Coming in at #1 6+ was JERRY LEE RADIO AC WBEB (MORE), which checked in with a rather impressive number (10.7-16.3). It is hard to believe that the station was able to top last year’s 15.1. But wait, there’s, well, more. CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL was the other station on the Polar Express. It scored its highest share since AUGUST (5.5-6.2) to move up to #2. In case you’re keeping score (we do), that works out to a 22.5 share of Christmas listening in the market. For the entire four weeks of the book. That is impressive. With all this air being sucked out of the room, it makes sense that shares were lost elsewhere. iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS had its lowest score in over a year (5.0-4.8) yet moved up to #3. It was tied with GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK, which fell back from #2 with its smallest share in exactly a year (5.6-4.8). There was also a tie at #5. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR fell back a slot with its lowest total in a year (5.0-4.3) while CBS RADIO WIP-F moved in from a tie at #9 despite a down book (4.5-4.3).
For the second book in a row, WBEB hit double digits 25-54. This year’s final tally was over two and a half shares larger than last year’s impressive total. While WMMR did have its lowest output in over a year, the station remained #2. WDAS moved up to #3 with a small increase while WOGL used an impressive gain to jump six spots to #4. While this wasn’t the largest share the station has had in the last year, it was its highest rank. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) took a small hit and fell back to #5 while iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER) fell to #6 with its lowest score in over a year.
It was an impressive 18-34 performance for WBEB. Once again the station managed to top last year’s number by over a share. WIOQ was off a bit but still #2 while WMMR moved up to #3 despite landing its lowest share since SEPTEMBER. WUSL stepped back to #4 with its fourth straight down book. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) took a hit but remained at #5. WOGL easily had its best book in over a year to move up to #8 – a nice showing given the demo and the competition.
Completing the sweep, WBEB tore through the 18-49 demo like JEFFREY LAURIE did to CHIP KELLY (ouch). And, of course, the station exceeded last year’s total by almost two shares. We hope they sent a thank you card to the NORTH POLE. Last month’s tie at #2 was broken. WIOQ remained in place with a modest decrease while WMMR dropped back to #3 with its smallest share in over a year. WUSL remained at #4 with a down book and was joined by WOGL, which moved up from #8 with its best performance since JULY. WRFF dropped a slot to #6 with its smallest share in over a year and was tied with WDAS, which moved up from #9 thanks to a small increase.
ATLANTA: And The Christmas Presents Go To … COX
This is one of the few PPM markets without a mainstream station that dove into the deep end of the holiday pool. As such, the status remained relatively quo. CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V-103) was #1 6+ for the twelfth book in a row (8.9-8.1) though it had its lowest share since MARCH. Now starts the Christmas presents for COX. COX RADIO Talk WSB-A was not able to close the gap as it was down, but held at #2 (8.8-7.9). COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) was flat and steady at #3 (6.7-6.7) while cluster sister COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) moved up to #4 with its best showing since JUNE (5.2-5.6). Last month’s #6 duo remained together and advanced to #5. RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) had its best book in over a year (4.9-5.4) while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WWPW (POWER) did almost the same (4.9-5.4), its best book since FEBRUARY. RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) dropped three places to #7 (5.6-5.2). There was one station that made the seasonal switch – SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (THE FISH). While the station did move up to #8 with a nice increase (4.3-5.0), all it accomplished was moving back to familiar turf … or water … or something to do with aquatics.
Of the top four stations 25-54, three of them share the same format – Urban AC. WVEE was #1 – again – but with its lowest score since APRIL. WAMJ moved up to #2 with its best score in over a year but was still almost two shares off the lead. WALR ended a four-book slide and moved up to #3 where it was tied with WSB-A, which stepped back from #2. WHTA was off slightly to drop two slots to #5. WFSH moved up to #8 with its best book since MAY.
This one was a bit of a surprise upset. For the first time in over a year, WVEE was not #1 18-34. The station dropped to #2 as it ended a five-book double-digit string. Your new market leader was WHTA, which scored its best number in over a year. WWPW advanced to #3 with its best performance since JUNE. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) dropped a spot to #4 as it took on its lowest total since JUNE. It was joined by WAMJ, which rose from a tie at #10 with what was easily its highest share in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Country WUBL (THE BULL) was off a bit as it dropped back to a tie at #6. It was the best book since JULY for WFSH as the station moved upstream eight spots to #8.
After nine straight books in double digits 18-49, WVEE finally fell below that threshold. The station had its lowest score since JANUARY but remained #1 with a commanding lead over #2 WHTA, which was flat. WAMJ advanced four places to #3 with a rather large increase. WWPW remained at #4 despite landing its best book since JUNE. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #5. WSB-F took the shortest route as it came in from #6 with its highest score since JUNE. Meanwhile, WALR moved up three slots as it rebounded nicely from a down book. WWWQ dropped from #3 to #7 with its smallest share in over a year. And, finally, WFSH moved up a slot to #11 but with its best performance since MAY.
BOSTON: There Must Have Been Some Magic
For the fourth book in a row, GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) was #1 6+, but this time the station announced its presence with authority (8.0-14.8). This was not quite as dramatic as last year’s 16.5 but it got the job done. Not even the withering stares of Scrooge MCBELLICHEK could withstand the forces of good as CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) remained at #2 though in a somewhat diminished state (6.7-5.9). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS) held firm at #3 as its three-book surge came to an end (6.6-5.8). CBS RADIO News WBZ-A moved up to #4 despite a small decrease (5.7-5.5) and was tied with GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR (6.2-5.5), which had its smallest share in exactly one year. Wonder what caused that?
WMJX came close to doubling its share from last month as it easily topped the 25-54 chart. Still, the station was over two shares off last year’s pace. WBZ-F had its six-book streak of #1’s end as it landed at #2 with its lowest score since training camp in AUGUST. WXKS was off but steady at #3 while WROR claimed sole possession of the #4 slot despite landing its lowest number in a year. ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F had its third down book in a row as it stepped back to #5.
The 18-34 demo was kind of interesting. Oh, sure, WMJX was #1 with a big share (though almost two shares lighter than last year). But that seemed to have little effect on the next two stations. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WODS (AMP) – which surprised the market by rocketing to #1 two books ago – dropped back to #2 this time but with only a slight decrease. GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) actually had its best book in over a year to remain at #3. WXKS dropped two slots to #4 with its smallest share in over a year. WBZ-F had its lowest run total since JULY yet managed to move up two slots to #5 where it was tied with the stationary iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N), which posted its lowest number in over a year. GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB fell three spots to #8.
The top five 18-49 remained relatively unchanged. Except for the fact that WMJX almost doubled its share from the previous survey to move up to #1. The station was still nearly two shares off last year’s torrid pace. WXKS ended its three-book run and fell back into a tie at #2 with WBZ-F, which sported its smallest share since AUGUST. WODS was off a bit but steady at #4 while WBQT remained at #5 but with its highest share in over a year.
This concludes the content portion of today’s missive. Tune in next time as we delve into the ratings fortunes of DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE-TACOMA, PHOENIX and MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL. Until then, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. stand ready to serve
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