Exclusive September PPM Analysis: San Francisco, Dallas And Houston

Exclusive PPM Analysis

ALL ACCESS presents SEPTEMBER PPM market highlights, compiled by the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and powered by XTRENDS, radio's #1 PPM and diary analysis tool. All numbers reflect subscriber only data. 

San Francisco: People Are Talking

There was a lot of talking going on by THE BAY during SEPTEMBER. First off, baseball has been berry, berry good to CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A as it rode the GIANTS pennant push to its best book in over a year (5.2-5.7) to secure #1 for the second straight month. What’s more, KNBR-A had more than doubled their shares since the beginning of SPRING training. Erstwhile market #1 KQED INC N/T KQED edged back to #2 (5.0-5.2). While this looked good on paper, its well off its pace from a year ago. Jumping up to #3 was CBS RADIO News KCBS-A (4.7-5.0), which was trying to rebound from a forgettable SUMMER. At this point last year it was a solid #2 and over a share higher than they are now. CCM+E Top 40/R KMEL gave up a two-book run at #1 by turning in itsworst month since MAY to FALL to #4. Meanwhile, ENTERCOM AC KOIT exploited a two-book surge (4.5-4.6) to return to the top 5 for the first time since APRIL. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (99.7 NOW) fell out of the top 5 for the first time since MARCH (4.7-4.3) and was a half-point below last year’s share. CCM+E Hot AC KIOI (STAR 101.3) cracked the top 5 last month for the first time in well over a year. Alas, that didn’t last as it fell to #7 (4.8-4.2). CCM+E Top 40/R KYLD (WILD 94.9) began the year at #3, but even with a bounce-back book (3.8-4.0), they stood at #8. In this survey, the top 10 actually ended at #9, with a tie between CCM+E Rhythmic AC KISQ (KISS-FM) and UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSOL (ESTEREO SOL). KISQ had been remarkably consistent over the last year (3.3-3.4), while KSOL (3.5-3.4) was noticeably ahead of its pace of a year ago when it was #16. The lone departure from the top 10, which went up to 11 last time, was CCM+E Classic Hits KOSF (3.3-3.3).

The folks at KQED were likely pleased with themselves as they returned to #1 25-54 after a two-month hiatus. It helped when you land your best book since MARCH. Last month’s title holder, KIOI, was not able to maintain its momentum and fell to #2 -- which was 10 spots and almost two shares better than it was last year. There was no question that baseball greatly benefited KNBR, as it made a giant leap to #3. A year ago, KMVQ was a solid #2. Now? It's a share lower and clinging on to #4. KOIT crashed the top 5 party for the first time since MARCH and was joined in a three-way tie for #5 with KSOL and KYLD. Which means the top 5 is really the super 7.

When it came to 18-34, you couldn’t stop KMEL, you could only hope to contain it -- or settle for battling it out for #2. Then again, KYLD made a strong case that the battle in this demo was really for #3. KMVQ was happy to hold that spot for now as they leapt 4 spaces, despite scoring its worst in-demo book since MARCH. KSOL and KIOI, respectively, maintained their holds on the rest of the top 5. Keep an eye on SBS Regional Mexican KRZZ (LA RAZA), which made huge strides, moving from a tie at #14 to #7.

KMEL, on a two-book slide, still reigned supreme in 18-49 -- for the seventh book in a row. KYLD inched back to #2 while KMVQ decided to toss out their its book since MARCH and landed at #3. KQED decided it was better to turn in their best book since MARCH and that gained it entry into the top 5 at #4. KSOL remained steadfast and true at #5, while KIOI followed its best in-demo book in over a year with something that landed it outside the top 5 at #6. Suffice it to say, it wasn’t its best.

Dallas-Fort Worth: Mind The Gap

It has been quite some time since CCM+E Top 40/M KHKS (KISS-FM) failed to score a 7 share. Nine months to be exact. Since then it has always been #1 and always had at least a one-share lead over any interloper (not to be confused with a jack-a-loper). Well, that tradition was shattered (7.3-6.9), as SALEM Christian Contemporary KLTY closed to within real striking distance (6.3-6.2) at #2. A year ago both stations were in the exact same positions, except KISS had almost a two-share point lead. The FALL could get interesting in DALLAS. Maintaining its stranglehold on #3 was CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF), which celebrated its best book in over a year (4.9-5.4). Making the leap-of-the-week to #4 was CCM+E Hot AC KDMX (NOW 102.9), which found itself in the top 5 for the first time in over a year (4.0-4.4). Despite scoring its worst book since MARCH (4.8-4.3) CCM+E Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR 92.5) dug in to hold on to #5.

UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (LA QUE BUENA) remained the #6 station (4.2-4.0). After a three-month run in the top 5, CBS RADIO Classic Hits KLUV fell into a tie for #7 by posting its worst book since MAY (4.4-3.9) with the flat-footed CUMULUS Country KSCS (3.9-3.9). SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) held on to #9 (3.3-3.6) while CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJKK (JACK-FM) barely avoided falling out of the top 10 (3.3-3.2). Keep an eye on CUMULUS Sports KTCK-A (THE TICKET), which recently climbed from #20 to #11 (2.7-3.1). It must be SMU football, just sayin’. Two stations are not saying very much right now as they took some serious plunges from the top 10. CCM+E Alternative KDGE (THE EDGE) dropped from a tie at #9 to a tie at #13 (3.3-2.8). But, that wasn’t nearly as a bad as CBS RADIO AC KVIL (LITE-FM), which experienced a serious loss of cabin pressure, falling from a tie at #9 to #18 (3.3-2.4).

When you are #1 25-54 for nine months in a row, life’s pretty good. Don’t believe us? Just ask KHKS. However, as we saw in 6+, its lead over #2 KLTY has shrunk to its lowest since this time a year ago. The folks at KDMX had reason to be proud by posting its best in-demo book in over a year to land at #3. KPLX saw its numbers rebound from a less than wonderful AUGUST to move up to #4, while KZPS had the complete opposite experience and staggered down to #5. As recently as MAY, KLNO was #2 in this demo, but its weakest showing in over a year drops it out of the top 5 for the first time in quite a while.

While KHKS just suffered its fourth down book in a row, it still held on to the top spot 18-34. However, in its rear view mirror, KPLX drew closer than it appeares. As recently as MAY, THE WOLF was barely a member of the top 10. Now, after its best book in, like, forever, it's a solid #2. A year ago, KLNO was a solid #2 in this demo. Unfortunately, it lost over two shares since then and were tenaciously holding on to #3. The top 5 has experienced a growth spurt by admitting a sixth member as three stations are vying for the coveted title of #4; KKDA, on a four-book slide; KDMX, on a two-book run; and KLTY, on a five-book run, are all seeing eye-to-eye.

Seriously, is there a demo where KHKS wasn’t #1? For sure, it wasn't 18-49. Maybe if we checked 65+! For the eighth time in the last eight tries, KLNO was #2. However, this time it had to share the space with not one but two other stations. Both KLTY and KPLX posted their best in-demo performances in over a year. Returning to the top 5 after a brief respite was KDMX, while KZPS fell out of the top 5 with itsworst book since APRIL.

Houston-Galveston: A Triumphant Triumvirate

RADIO ONE continues to own the market as they nailed down the top two spots for the fifth book in a row. RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) suffered its second consecutive down book (7.8-7.4) but wounds like that are easy to take when you’re #1. Fellow cluster member RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) experienced a similar decline in likeability (7.2-7.0) but no one’s feeling sorry for remaining #2. For the fifth book in a row, CCM+E AC KODA (SUNNY) was firmly entrenched at #3 (6.6-6.2), though a year ago at this time, it was #1. The slogan for KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ is "God listens." Apparently, He has company as the station posted their best numbers since APRIL and are now tied at #4 with UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO), which is a half-share better than they were a year ago (5.9-5.9).

Skipping over the technically vacant #5 position, we find that CCM+E Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) ended their recent flirtation with the top 5 (5.0-4.8) by slipping to #6. Way back in the chilly month of FEBRUARY, COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) was down the chart at a tie for #13, but it has slowly driven its way to #7 even with this most recent book (4.8-4.6). CCM+E Classic Rock KKRW (THE ARROW) grew 3.5-3.6 to forge a tie at #8 with COX RADIO Classic Hits KLGK (HOUSTON’S EAGLE) (3.8-3.6). In the tenth spot is CBS RADIO Top 40/M KKHH (HOT), which fell 3.8-3.5.

This marks the sixth book in a row that KLTN has topped the charts 25-54 as they have grown by over a share in the last year. KBXX experienced a period of exhilaration by jumping from #4 to #2, forcing KTBZ to vacate the premises and move back to the exact same position it held a year ago -- #3. KMJQ also fell one slot -- from #3 to #4 -- while KODA held firm at #5. Unfortunately, a year ago at this precise moment, it was holding firm at #1. Watch out for KSBJ, which posted its best in-demo book in over a year and was dangerously close to cracking the top 5.

There are few stations in AMERICA that dominated 18-34 the way KBXX has. It has been #1 for as far back as the eye can see itstheir dominance is akin to how, say, the TEXANS would handle a local high school team. It’s almost unfair. Still, someone has to be #2 and we’re sure KLTN was happy to occupy that space -- especially since it was #3 last book. Of course, that means someone had to fall and that dubious honor went to KTBZ, even though it had its best book since MARCH. Sometimes, life isn’t fair. CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA) and KKHH performed the famous ratings two-step by trading places at #4 and #5. Was there something happening at LIBERMAN Regional Mexican KTJM (LA RAZA)? It had a huge increase and moved into the top 10.

Despite being on a two-book slide, KBXX’s dominance of 18-49 should never be doubted. Though not quite as mind numbing as its hold on 18-34s, The BOX continude to win this demo by a landslide. KLTN and KTBZ continued to jostle each other for #2 with ESTEREO LATINO winning this round. KMJQ had seen its star rise of late, rising from #6 to #4 over the last three books. There was a dead heat at #5. KODA posted its worst book in well over a year while KSBJ performed the leap-of-the-week to rise up all the way from #10.

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