Exclusive October PPM Analysis: Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis

Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis

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.

SEATTLE-TACOMA:  Everybody’s Shufflin’

Strange days, indeed,  as stations move all over the place.  One thing that remained the same was ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW (THE ROCK).  Despite scoring its lowest rating of 2012 (5.4-4.8), the station remained #1 for the third book in a row.  After that, things got weird.  SANDUSKY AC KRWM (WARM) was on a three-book slide (4.7-4.6) yet it moved up into a three-way tie at #2.  BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F posted its lowest number since sleigh bells were ringing (4.8-4.6) yet it also moved up, from #3 into a tie at #2.  Not to be outdone, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW landed its lowest book since APRIL (5.1-4.6) but remained at #2, albeit in the company of others.  Launching itself back into the top 5 for the first time since JUNE (3.9-4.3) was CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS FM).

Way back in JULY, BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A was playing as well as the MARINERS and were tied at #17.  This time, the station leapfrogged from a tie at #9 to #6 (3.8-4.1).  What followed was another three-way tie -- this time at #7.  CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) posted its best book in 2012 (3.8-4.0).  SANDUSKY Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) rode a two-book slide (4.3-4.0) while CCM+E Classic Hits KJR-F matched its best book of the year (3.6-4.0).  But wait, there’s more.  Two stations were tied at #10. CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK took a bit of a tumble (4.6-3.9), dropping down from its previous position at #5.  ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) was on the road to recovery as it rose from a tie at #13 (3.6-3.9).  FISHER Hot AC KPLZ (STAR) was not shining as brightly as it plummeted from #7 to a tie at #15 (4.2-3.4)

Things were only slightly less turbulent 25-54.  For the tenth book in a row KISW was #1.  CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJAQ (JACK FM) moved up a notch to #2, flip-flopping with KZOK.  As recently as JULY, KIRO-A was #16 in this demo.  By posting its best number in over a year, it rose to #4.  There was a three-way tie at #5.  KBKS rocketed up from #11 while KCMS posted its best showing in over a year to perform the leap-of-the-week from a tie at #12.  KKWF’s rebound continued as it moved up from #9.  Two stations had the misfortune of being excused from the top 5 -- KUOW and KPLZ.

The shufflin’ continued 18-34 as KBKS was back on top for the first time since JUNE.  Last month, CCM+E Top 40/R KUBE and KQMV were tied at #1. This month both stations maintained their togetherness routine and were tied at #2.  KISW was off a bit and fell from a tie at #3 to a tie at #4 with KPLZ, which had the most enormous book it has seen in over a year.

It is now 10 books in a row that KISW had been #1 18-49. KBKS was the new #2 as it inched up from #3, swapping places with KQMV, which was on a pretty noticeable three-book slide.  KKWF reared its ugly head (that’s a wolf joke, not a personal attack) and sprinted from #5 to #4.  Two months ago, KPLZ was #13 but now found itself in a tie at #5 with ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END), which did an end-around from a tie at #11.  Dropped from the top 5 roster was KUBE, which fell into a tie at #7.

PHOENIX: A Kool Breeze In The Desert

Witness the progression of CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL.  Over the last five months, the station has methodically marched from a tie at #8 to #6 to #4 to #3 and, finally, all the way to #1 (4.9-5.4) -- a place it last occupied in APRIL.  CCM+E Talk KFYI-A followed its best book of the year with something a little less appealing (5.3-4.9) but managed to remain in the #2 slot, though it now shares space with last month’s #1 station -- CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) (5.4-4.9).  Despite experiencing a wave of flatness (4.4-4.4), CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (JAMZ) was lifted from #6 to a tie at #4 with cluster brother CBS RADIO Country KMLE (COUNTRY 107.9), which burned rubber on its rise from #10 (3.9-4.4).

Flatness often has its benefits as witnessed by CCM+E Country KNIX, which rose from #7 (4.2-4.2) to a tie at #6 with cluster sister CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX), which endured a bumpy ride over the last few months (4.8-4.2). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KHOT (LA NUEVA) decided to leave the top 5 (4.6-4.1) and set up shop at #8.  This forced CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS FM) to move down one rung to #9 (4.1-3.9).  Peeking its head into the top 10 again was BONNEVILLE Adult Hits KPKX (THE PEAK) (3.8-3.7).  For the first time in over a year, SANDUSKY Classic Rock KSLX wasn't in the top 10 thanks to its lowest number in that same time span (4.1-3.6).

Despite posting its second down book in a row, KHOT extended its #1 25-54 streak to three.  Meanwhile, FARMWORKER Regional Mexican KNAI (CAMPESINA) is riding a three-book surge that deposited it at #2, supplanting KMXP, which was on a rather dramatic four-book slide.  ENTRAVISION Regional Mexican KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR) was still #4 but was joined there by KSLX.  Watch out for CCM+E Rhythmic AC KYOT (EVA), which seemed to be reaping the benefits of its recent flip and was easily within striking distance of the top 5 at #6.

It is now six books in a row that KHOT led the way 18-34.  This time, the station even lengthened its lead on #2 KZON, which actually jumped into that spot from #4.  KMXP was on a three-book down trend but held fast at #3.  There was a three-way tie at #4.  KNAI took a bit of a tumble from #2 while KNIX came charging in from #8.  Completing the triumvirate was KZZP, which edged up from #5.

Despite throwing down its lowest book since APRIL, KHOT extended its #1 18-49 streak to six.  KNAI took over sole possession of #2 just ahead of two stations tied at #3.  KLNZ moved up a bit from #4 while KPKX moved up a lot from a tie at #6.  KMXP threw up its lowest number in over a year to tumble to #5. Dropping out of the top 5 was KZZP.

MINNEAPOLIS – ST. PAUL: Same Time, Last Year

What a difference a year makes.  At this point last OCTOBER, CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB was the #4 station in the Twin Cities.  Now, it is enjoying its third straight stay at #1 (8.0-7.7).  CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS was also happy that time marched on.  Last year, it was #5 and thanks to its highest number since then (6.5-6.9), it climbed all the way to #2.  HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) posted its lowest total of 2012 (7.6-6.7) and slipped into a tie at #3 with CBS RADIO Talk WCCO-A (6.4-6.7), which moved up from #5.  Gazing longingly into the past would reveal that last year CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) was #1 with a 9.5. Sprinkle in a little direct competition and the station slipped from #3 to #5 with its lowest book of the year (7.2-6.5).

CCM+E Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) was being brought to you by the number 6.  This was the sixth book in a row that the station was #6 and its shares were in the same range (6.2-6.4).  Meanwhile, CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZN) caught another buzz and moved up from a tie at #9 to #7 (4.6-5.0).  As ROGER GODDELL is quick to point out ... everyone loves the NFL.  Witness the sudden rise of CCM+E Sports KFXN (KFAN) from a tie at #13 to #8 (3.4-4.8).  Funny, but the same exact thing happened last year.  NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE Christian Contemporary KTIS was on a three-book slide and fell to #9 (5.3-4.7).  Three stations tied for the coveted title of Mr. #10.  Two approached from different directions: CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM), which posted its best book of the year (4.1-4.5) and CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X), which had its lowest number since MAY (5.0-4.5).  Completing this triad was MPR N/T KNOW (4.6-4.5).

By virtue of its best in-demo performance in over a year, we dub KQRS the new #1 station 25-54.  This relegated KDWB to the not-so-coveted Miss Congeniality role at #2.  That caused a ripple effect on KSTP, which was on a dramatic four-book slide.  VIKINGS fever ... catch it!  KFXN jumped from #11 to a tie at #4 with KEEY, which saw its drive stalled by its lowest number since MARCH.  KXXR dropped out of the top 5 for the first time since FEBRUARY.

KDWB was #1 18-34 for the 10th book in a row, which, if our math is correct, means all of 2012.  We’re fact checking that.  KXXR was a solid, if slightly distant, #2.  A year ago, KEEY was far and away the market leader in this demo.  Now, it is a solid #3.  KQRS made a mad dash from a tie at #7 to #4 with its best book in over a year while KSTP landed its lowest grade during the same time frame to slide to #5.  A good book was kind of a buzz kill for KMNB as it slipped out of the top 5.  KFXN was driving, moving from a tie at 14 to #7.

Consistency, KDWB is thy name as the station continued to own 18-49 -- now 10 books and counting. Three stations (count ‘em) were tied at #2 -- last year’s champion KEEY, the slumping KSTP, and the suddenly resurgent KQRS.   KXXR was on a bit of a two-book slide and fell a slot to #5.  Surprise, KFXN ended four straight stays at #11 to move up to #6.

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