-
Exclusive March PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix And Minneapolis
April 13, 2016
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Detroit: Let’s Talk
-
Due to contractual obligations, the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., working cheek-by-jowl with the data divers from XTRENDS, bring you another thrilling round of NIELSEN ratings analysis. Pop some popcorn and join us on another tour of MARCH, which was precisely focused on 2/25 through 3/23. While local market conditions may vary, this survey was not particularly noteworthy for any event. Unless you consider Leap Day a cause to celebrate. We’ll drink to that.
Detroit: Let’s Talk
So, what’s up with CUMULUS Talk WJR-A? The station was up for the third book in a row and landed at #1 6+ with its highest share in over a year (5.8-6.7). The FLINT water crisis? The election circus? Sparty’s abbreviated run through March Madness? Whatever the reason, the station is on a roll. CBS RADIO News WWJ-A came back to more familiar turf (7.6-6.5) as it slid back to #2. Cluster compadre CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC was up for the second consecutive survey (5.8-6.1) as it moved up a slot to #3. The rest of the top five was harder edged and focused on a single cluster. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF slid to #4 with its second down book in a row (5.9-5.8) while GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX had its lowest share in over a year (6.6-5.7) and dropped three places to #5.
Speaking of clusters and rock, the 25-54 demo was led by that duo. WRIF was #1 again with a flat book. It led its older brother – WCSX, which was off a bit – by over two shares. Another station on a roll of late is iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955). The station has not had a down book since NOVEMBER and just posted its best share in over a year to move up to #3. CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) was anxiously anticipating opening day as it had its lowest score in over a year to fall back to #4. It was tied with iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB, which advanced from #7 with its highest share since JULY. The two former seasonally affected stations ended up in a tie at #7. WOMC dropped two places as it shed a chunk of share while iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC was down for the third book in a row to slip from #6.
For the third month in a row, WRIF surpassed the double-digit barrier 18-34. It was a flat #1 again but led #2 WKQI by over a share-and-a-half as CHANNEL 95.5 ended a strong three-book surge. WJLB was at its highest point since SEPTEMBER but remained at #3. WGPR INC. Urban AC WGPR (HOT) was down but remained at #4 where it was joined by CBS RARIO Top 40/M WDZH (AMP), which moved up a slot with its best book in over a year. CUMULUS AC WDVD was awarded its lowest score since APRIL and slipped back to #6.
Since last MAY the only one capable of keeping WRIF from being #1 18-49 wears red and cavorts with elves. WRIF was off slightly this time but maintained a rather large lead over #2 WKQI, which posted its best number in over a year. WJLB was comfortably nestled at #3 with its highest mark since MAY. WCSX moved up three places to #4 with its best showing since DECEMBER. WDVD was down for the second straight month to slip back to #5. WDZH moved up five slots to #6 with a strong increase. Last survey’s #5 duet became separate solo acts. WOMC slid to #7 while WXYT-F ended up at #8. First pitch is, well, it’s in the next survey.Miami-Ft.Lauderdale-Hollywood: They Saw The Lite
Things continue to be bright for ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE). The station was #1 6+ for the eleventh time in the last twelve books. And, it got back over the eight-share hump (7.9-8.1). COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) fell a little farther behind at #2 even though it was up slightly (7.6-7.7). Firmly ensconced at #3 was COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY), as it ended a nice three-book run (6.6-6.3). UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) saw its grip on the #4 position loosen a bit (5.8-5.4) because COX RADIO Urban WEDR (JAMZ) moved up to #5 with its highest score in over a year (4.5-5.2). For the second book in a row, SBS Tropical WCMQ (Z92.3) was flat (4.9-4.9) but this time it slid back a slot to #6.
For the sixth straight survey, the top two positions 25-54 remained unchanged. However, the gap narrowed to a mere share as demo leader WHQT was off slightly while perennial runner-up WLYF had its best performance since DECEMBER. The stations formerly known as #5 broke up and moved ahead. WEDR ended up at #3 with its best book in over a year. A year ago it was #10. UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) settled in at #4 with its second up book in a row. WFEZ fell two slots to #5 while WAMR had its lowest total since SEPTEMBER and fell three places to #7.
It was a good month to be WEDR. The station was #1 18-34 for the thirteenth book in a row. It also set a new high as it topped the double-digit mark for the second time in that span. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) also had its highest score in over a year as it took sole possession of second place, a mere two shares or so behind the leader. WLYF was off a bit and dropped back to #3. WHQT remained in place at #4 but with its lowest total since DECEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) was still a fixture at #5 but with its least productive outing in over a year.
WEDR was feeling it 18-49. Its best book in over a year took the station to #1 for the first time since NOVEMBER. WLYF may not have budged from its #2 position but it did land its highest share since OCTOBER. WHQT pulled a JORDAN SPEITH and fell from the lead to #3 as it lost a chunk of share (as opposed to chunking a shot). WRTO was up for the second month in a row to move up to #4 while WMIB took two steps forward to #5 with its best book in over a year. WFEZ slipped to #6 with a slight decrease while iHEARTMEDIA Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) gave back most of last month’s big gain and dropped three spots to #8.
Seattle-Tacoma: Movin’ Was Groovin’
For the second month in a row, HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) was the talk of the town … or, at least, the 6+ (and more) market leader. This time the station was down (7.6-6.9) but still held a comfortable lead over its closest pursuer. And, for the second straight survey that was iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET), which also had a down book (5.7-5.4). BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F moved up a couple of slots to a close #3 (5.1-5.3). The two stations sharing the space at #3 last month fell apart and down simultaneously. HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) continued to shed its seasonal shares (5.4-5.0) and landed at #4. CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK was down for the second month in a row (5.4-4.7) to finish at #5.
After two months in the rarefied double-digit stratosphere 25-54, KQMV came back to earth … a little. The station was still #1 by over two shares ahead of ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW, which lost a bit of its previous number. KJR-F moved up to #3 with its highest altimeter reading since SEPTEMBER. CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) was up for the third book in a row to climb three places to #4 while KRWM fell back two slots to #5. Curiously, the station had about the same share as NOVEMBER’s when it was #9. Gotta love that compression (turn it up to 11!). Speaking of which, four stations thought the number six would bring them luck. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) fell back to that position as it ended a solid three-book run. Cluster mate ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) advanced from a tie at #8 with its – ahem – hottest book since NOVEMBER. KIRO-F ended a five-book slide as it advanced from #10. Finally, SINCLAIR Hot AC KPLZ (STAR) stopped its four-book slide and jumped six places.
As with the previous demo, KQMV ended a two-book double-digit blast. This time it was 18-34 though the station remained #1 with slightly more than a share lead over KISW, which was up slightly. KJR-F continued to be a solid #3 despite a small loss. KHTP was up for the fourth book in a row – and, at its highest point in over a year – as it advanced three squares to #4. The station formerly known as KUBE – iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KPWK (POWER) was up slightly and at #5 for the fourth book in a row. KNDD dropped to #6 – its first time outside the top five in over a year.
The top four positions 18-49 remained unchanged from the previous survey. Yes, KQMV was #1 again but as we have seen before, its string of double-digit books ended at two. KISW was flat and steady at #2 while KJR-F was also flat and stable but at #3. KNDD ended a three-book run but held fast at #4. KHTP moved up to #5 with its best book since AUGUST. KRWM dropped five slots to #10 with its lowest number since OCTOBER.
Phoenix: Take It EZ
You can’t stop them. You can only hope to contain them. And, containment is not that simple as iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) continued to run roughshod over the rest of the market. The station was #1 6+ again with its best Rudolph-free book in over a year (7.1-7.7). HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was flat (6.1-6.1) but moved up a spot to #2 while its younger, more-inked brother HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD stepped up to #3 with its fourth straight up book (5.5-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) was off slightly (5.3-5.2) but still moved up to #4. All this upward mobility was caused – in part – by CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL. The station ended a strong two-book run (6.2-5.0) as it fell three places to #5. It was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX), which moved up from #6 (5.2-5.0). In case you were wondering about the Country war, we have declared a tie. CBS RADIO Country KMLE had its highest share since DECEMBER (3.1-3.6) while iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX was flat (3.6-3.6). Both ended up at #11.
For the third book in a row, KUPD was #1 25-54 with the exact same share each time. You couldn’t do that if you tried. KYOT was off a bit at #2 while KESZ rebounded from last month’s down book to move back up to #3. KSLX advanced to #4 with its highest score since DECEMBER. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) fell back to #5 as it returned much of the big gain it was given last month. In the Country battle, KMLE moved up to #9 with its best score since MAY while KNIX moved up to #12 with a flat performance.
There was quite a bit of turmoil atop the 18-34 chart. Last month KZZP had a huge book that led the market by over two shares. This time the station lost a big chunk of its number and dropped back to #2 behind CBS RADIO Top 40/M KZON (LIVE 101.5), which took the lead thanks to its best book in over a year. RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER) was at its highest point in over a year as it became the sole occupant of the #3 position. KMXP advanced two places to #4 with its best grade since OCTOBER. KESZ dropped back to #5 with its smallest share since NOVEMBER. KYOT ended a three-book run as it fell three places to #8. In the Country world, KNIX moved up to #9 as it ended a four-book slide while KMLE had a solid gain as it inched up to a tie at #10.
KUPD was flat but remained #1 18-49 for the third book in a row. KZZP remained at #2 but ended a six-book run and was joined by KESZ, which was flat but advanced two spaces. KYOT dropped back to #4 as its three-book surge came to an end. KKFR moved up a slot to #5 with its best book in over a year and shared the space with KZON, which moved in from #8 as it, too, had its highest share in over a year. KSLX was off slightly and dropped two spots to #7.
Minneapolis-St.Paul: The Racer’s Edge
It may take a second … for the third book in a row, HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) was the dominant player 6+. Though it was not quite able to hit last month’s double-digit mark (10.2-9.8), it managed to hold a sizeable lead over the next closest opponent. That happened to be iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL). It was up for the second book in a row as it recovered from its holiday inflation (7.1-8.0). CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS was flat but moved up to a somewhat distant #3 (6.9-6.9) while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB dropped to #4 as it ended a two-book surge (7.1-6.5). There was a confab at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K-102) remained in place as it was down for the second month in a row (6.1-5.9). It was tied with UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST.PAUL Christian Contemporary KTIS, which moved up one place (5.8-5.9).
KSTP was dangerously close to hitting double digits 25-54 for the second book in a row. Though the station fell a tad short, it reigned supreme with another market-dominant share. KQRS had its best showing since NOVEMBER to remain a solid #2. KEEY was off a bit but managed to cling to the #3 position. iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN) rebounded – a little – from last month’s tough loss to move up to #4. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK) had its best book since Santa was in town to take one step up to #5. A year ago KDWB had a double-digit share and was #1 in this demo. This time, the station was down and dropped to #6.
Over the last fourteen surveys the only time KDWB was not in double digits 18-34 – or #1 – was when we were all treated to the melodious stylings of ELMO & PATSY. (OK, to be exactly precise, it was #2 in NOVEMBER but it was still a double-digit #2.) The station did have its lowest non-HOLIDAY share this time and saw its lead dip to less than a share. That was largely due to CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X), which moved up to #2 with its best performance since AUGUST. KEEY slipped back to #3 as it lost a chunk of share while KSTP remained at #4 with its highest score in over a year. CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) moved up to #5 as it recovered from last month’s downturn. KZJK fell to #6 as it gave back some of last month’s big gain.
When jingle bells was all the rage, KSTP was sitting at #7 18-49. Since then the station has increased its share by about a third and moved to the top spot with its best number in over a year. This dropped KDWB back to #2 as it ended a strong two-book surge. KFXN returned to #3 as it recovered from last month’s downturn while KXXR was flat and happy at #4. KEEY dropped to #5 with its lowest Frosty-free book since OCTOBER.
Shameless plug time. If you are looking for deeper insight into your NIELSEN data – for Sales or Programming purposes – the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. stand ready to serve. We can be reached via any of the platforms below or you can just call us at 410-295-6619. We return you now to your regular station … see you next month.
Email: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
TWITTER: @ResearchDirectr
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ResearchDirectorInc
Web: www.researchdirectorinc.com -
-