Exclusive October PPM Analysis: Boston, Detroit, Miami

Boston, Detroit, Miami

ALL ACCESS presents OCTOBER 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.

BOSTON: Things Are Tightening Up   

It has become axiomatic to assume that CCM+E Top 40/M WXKS (KISS 108) would be the #1 station in Boston.  It would also be a safe bet to assume that the station’s lead over any #2 station would be huge. Both assumptions came true -- again -- this time even though KISS posted its lowest number in over a year (8.9-8.2).  While the gap between the top two spots may have widened, the race for #2 just got a little tighter.  GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) held on despite a two-book slide (7.2-6.5).  Cluster-mate GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB (COUNTRY 102.5) was #3 (6.5-6.3) and was as close to being the #2 station as it’s been since it was actually the #2 station in MAY.  Not to be outdone, the other cluster brother -- GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR -- bounced back nicely (5.6-6.2) to move up a notch to #4.  CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX had the misfortune to experience its lowest number since FEBRUARY (6.3-5.4) to fall into a tie at #5 with CCM+E Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N), which finally ended a five-book slide (5.3-5.4).

When a station posts its best book since MARCH, you would think it would deserve a raise.  Alas, despite this strong performance, CBS RADIO News WBZ-A remained at #7 (4.6-5.3).  The exploits of TOM BRADY and Company continued to fuel CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) as the station remained locked in at #8 (4.5-4.6).  Moving back into the top 10 with its best book in over a year was CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX) (3.8-4.2), just ahead of CBS RADIO Top 40/M WODS (AMP), which enjoyed its best number since the format flip (3.6-4.1).  With the possible exception of BOBBY VALTENTINE, no one was more disappointed with the RED SOX season than ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F.  The station tumbled out of the top 10 to a tie at #13 (4.1-2.8).

Another book, another demo, another #1 for WXKS.  This time the victim WAs 25-54. Though WMJX WAs on a significant two-book slide, the station deftly held on to #2 ahead of the recently surging WKLB.  By posting its highest number of 2012, WROR was able to forge a tie at #4 with the PATRIOTS-led WBZ-F, which posted its best number since JANUARY’s play-offs.  WZLX picked a bad time to stop taking amphetamines as it posted its lowest number in over a year to fall from #3 to #9.

When it comes to 18-34, two stations continueD their market domination.  WXKS (naturally) at #1 and cluster-mate WJMN at #2.  GREATER MEDIA Alternative WBOS (RADIO 92.9) had a very strong showing and moved up to a tie at #3 with its cluster brother WKLB.  WODS was all amped up after posting its strongest showing in the new format and made its debut in the top 5 at #5.

WXKS continued to cruise along as the clear market leader with 18-49 at #1 and widened its gap over #2 WJMN, which had been suffering steady ratings declines since APRIL.  WKLB jumped up a slot to #3, flip-flopping positions with WMJX, which moved to #4.  Two stations crashed the top 5 and are tied at #5 – WBMX with its best number in over a year and WBOS with its highest ratings since MAY.  WZLX followed its best number of 2012 with its lowest rating in over a year to skyfall (not a paid product endorsement) from #5 to #10.

DETROIT: Many Bests, A New First

As we approach the beginning of the new model year, there iwa a new #1 in the Motor City.  Proving its ratings are much hotter than the TIGERS’ bats in the World Series, CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) not only posted its best number in over a year (7.4-8.9) to reclaim the top spot, it did so in commanding fashion.  Cluster brother CBS RADIO Country WYCD came off its best performance of 2012 (7.7-6.9) by scoring its lowest number since MARCH to slip back to #2.  Another cluster member, CBS RADIO News WWJ-A gathered in its best ratings since JANUARY to take over #3 and pushed its stable mate, CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC, down to #4 (6.2-5.9).  Crashing the top 5 with its best ratings in over a year was CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD, which made the leap from #7 to #5 (4.6-5.2).

CUMULUS Talk WJR-A had its best showing since FEBRUARY (4.7-4.8) to hold on firmly to #6.  CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX) ended a three-book stay inside the top 5 (4.9-4.6) and slid to #7 just ahead of GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF (4.1-4.3) at #8. Cluster bro GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX posted its best showing since MAY (3.5-3.9) and moved back into the top 10 at #9.  As recently as MAY, CUMULUS Adult Hits WDRQ (DOUG-FM) was mired in a tie at #19 but by equaling its best book of 2012 (3.5-3.8), it moved up to #10.  Things were not as rosy for BELL MEDIA Alternative CIMX (89X), which was deported out of the top 10 (3.8-3.3) to land in a tie at #15.

The combination of TIGERS baseball and LIONS and MICHIGAN football led WXYT-F to post its best number in over a year and completely dominate 25-54.  Imagine what will happen if the RED WINGS play this year?  WYCD held firm at #2 while WRIF posted its best number of 2012 to stay active at #3.  WDVD had its best showing in over a year, which granted it sole possession of #4.  WOMC leapt from #8 to a tie at #5 with CIMX.

Anyone still wondering whether or not DETROIT is a great sports town?  WXYT-F was an absolutely dominant #1 18-34.  However, there was a new #2 in town.  WDVD was on a five-book power glide that brought it all the way up from #10.  CCM+E Urban WJLB remained solidly affixed to the #3 slot while cluster-mate CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) moved up a slot to #4.  Last month, WYCD was #1.  This month the station tumbled into a tie at #5.  By posting its lowest number of the year, CIMX fell out of the top 5.

Completing the quadruple-play, WXYT-F was well ahead of the pack 18-49.  Let’s not ignore WDVD, which, on a six-book tear, posted its best number in over a year to edge up to #2.  This forced WYCD to take a step back to #3.  Taking sole ownership (and personal responsibility) for #4 was WRIF.  As recently as MARCH, WJLB was #1 in this demo but the station has slipped to #5.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: It’s Always Hot In Miami

While doing these analyses, we only look at the last 14 books and in that time COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) had consistently dominated South Beach and beyond.  Even when the station had a "down" book (9.8-9.2), it remained in command.  Cluster-mate COX RADIO Urban WEDR scored its best book in over a year (6.4-6.9) and rode a four-book wave to strengthen its hold on #2.  UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) continued to remain the market’s #3 station (6.1-6.0).  A year ago, COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) was in a tie at #8, but now the station was at #4 (5.7-5.6).  At this point a year ago, LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE FM) was #2 in town but currently found itself hanging out at #5 (5.0-5.2).

CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) fell out of a tie at #5 to slip into #6 all by itself (5.0-4.8).  Back in MAY, BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) was tied at #10 but the station has methodically worked its way up to #7 (4.5-4.3).  Meanwhile, SBS Spanish Adult Hits WCMQ (Z92) was on a two-book slide (4.3-4.2) and fell into a tie at #8 with COX RADIO AC WFLC (COAST FM), which posted its second up book in a row (4.1-4.2).  We’ll skip the number 9 this time and proceed directly to a tie at #10.  LINCOLN Classic Hits WMXJ (MAGIC) performed the death-defying leap-of-the-week to jump from a tie at #14 (3.2-3.6) while CCM+E Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) reversed a three-book slide (3.5-3.6).

The top five 25-54 remained unchanged, though there was a bit of a rearrangement.  WHQT was still #1 and WEDR was predictably #2.  WLYF recovered from its poorest performance in over a year to jump from #5 back to #3.  This forced WPOW to slip into a tie at #4 with WAMR, which posted its best performance in well over a year.

Wow, WEDR just crushed it 18-34 with its best book this year; it continued to treat this demo like its own personal fiefdom.  WHYI could not close the gap at #2 despite posting its best book since APRIL.  Despite a three-book slide, WPOW remained at #3, well ahead of #4 WHQT.  WMGE bounced back from its worst book in over a year to maintain its hold on #5.  UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) was down for the second book in a row and fell out of the top 5 to #8.

Over the last four months, WEDR added over three shares to its already impressive totals and was #1 18-49 for the fourth book in a row.  WHYI was up for the second straight book and jumped from #4 to #2.  WPOW remained at #3 but was tied with WHQT, which slipped from #2 last book.  Way back in AUGUST, WAMR was tied for #10 in this demo but is #5 for the second straight survey.

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