Exclusive November PPM Analysis: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago

The Top-3 Markets

ALL ACCESS presents NOVEMBER 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.

NEW YORK: The Shortest Month Of The Year 

No, we did not magically fast forward to FEBRUARY. Thanks to the devastation wrought by SuperStorm SANDY, the NOVEMBER survey consisted of only three weeks as opposed to the usual four. However, much like a baseball game called after six innings, the results still count in the standings.

The top three spots remained unchanged for this survey. CCM+E AC WLTW (LITE) continued to reign supreme (7.2-6.5) despite posting its lowest number of 2012. The station widened the gap over #2 CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F, which was off from its best performance of the year (7.1-6.2). Slowly closing the gap on the leaders at #3 was YMF MEDIA Urban AC WBLS, which returned to the 6 share arena for the second time this year (5.9-6.1). Charging into the top 5, CBS RADIO News WCBS-A clearly benefitted from the need for storm-related information. The station posted its best number – by far – in well over a year (3.8-5.3). The top 5 expanded to six places as CCM+E Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100) endured its fifth consecutive down book (5.3-4.8) to fall into a tie at #5 with the information-fueled CBS RADIO News WINS-A, which made its first appearance in the top 5 in well over a year (4.0-4.8).

After an all too brief stay in the top 5, SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA) slipped a couple of spots to #7 (4.6-4.2) just ahead of the slumping CCM+E Top 40/M WKTU. That station endured a fourth consecutive down book to land at #8 with its lowest number in over a year (4.4-4.1). CCM+E Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3) maintained its version of the status quo (3.8-3.8) to claim sole ownership of the #9 position, while UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WXNY slipped a couple of notches to #10 (3.9-3.7).

SANDY’S effect on 25-54 seemed to be less pronounced. WCBS-A did manage to leap from #15 to #9 but the effect on cluster brother WINS-A was not nearly as dramatic. WLTW continued its unbeaten string of #1 books despite posting its lowest number of 2012. WBLS moved up to #2, trading places with WHTZ, which suffered its lowest number since MARCH. WSKQ held fast at #4 while two stations were thumb wrestling for the #5 spot: WKTU, which extended its slide to four books, and WCBS-F, which inched up from #6.
While the need for information did have an effect 18-34, it was minimal. Both WCBS-A and WINS-A posted gains in excess of a share point but it was not enough to drive either station into the top 10. WHTZ held firmly to #1 despite its lowest number in 2012. EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT) posted its lowest rating in over a year but remained a solid #2. WSKQ jumped all the way from #6 to a tie at #3 with CCM+E Urban WWPR (POWER), which is experiencing the unpleasant side effects of a four-book slide. WLTW endured its lowest number since SANTA left town and fell into a tie at #5 with the resurgent WKTU.

In 18-49, the News stations saw increased benefit from market dynamics as both WINS-A and WCBS-A posted their highest numbers in over a year but were left with their noses pressed up against the top 10 glass. WHTZ was down in this demo, as well, but is still #1. WLTW remained #2 despite losing an entire share point. WBLS, on the other hand, surged from #5 up to #3 – its best ranking since the competitive landscape changed. Rounding out the top five was a tie at #4 between WKTU and WSKQ.

LOS ANGELES: No Surprises Here

No drama in LOS ANGELES? We color that irony. For the fourth book in a row the same four stations own the top four spots. CCM+E Top 40/M KIIS (KISS FM) was #1 for the eighth consecutive time (5.6-5.5). However, its hold on the top spot became a little more tenuous as CCM+E Talk KFI-A posted its best number of 2012 (5.1-5.3) to remain firmly entrenched at #2. A year ago at this very same moment, CCM+E Hot AC KBIG (MY FM) was fighting it out for a share of #11. Now, the station is a solid #3 (5.0-5.0). Its cluster sister CCM+E AC KOST was #4 for the fourth straight month (4.3-4.3). Bursting into the top 5 soiree was EMMIS Top 40/R KPWR (POWER), which successfully reversed a three-book slide (3.8-4.0). 

Through no fault of its own, CBS RADIO Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH) was nudged out of the top 5 only to land at #6 (3.9-3.9). As recently as MAY, CCM+E Rhythmic AC KHHT (HOT) could not buy a ticket into the top 10. Now, despite a slight bump in the road (3.5-3.3), it is in full possession of the #7 spot. Sometimes, small movements can yield larger results. Witness CBS RADIO Top 40/M KAMP (AMP RADIO), which leapt from a tie at #10 into sole proprietorship of #8 (3.1-3.2). This caused cluster-mate CBS RADIO Alternative KROQ to move down a slot (3.3-3.1) into a tie at #9 with another cluster brother – CBS RADIO News KNX-A. Whether it was election news or concern for its brethren on the East Coast, the station performed leap-o-the-week honors by moving from a tie at #15 into a tie at #9 (2.7-3.1) with UNIVISION Spanish contemporary KLVE (KLOVE) (3.1-3.1). There was one top 10 dropout – UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSCA tumbled from #9 to a tie at #12 (3.2-3.0).

Last month, KBIG saw its five-book #1 25-54 streak come to an abrupt end at the hands of cluster sister KIIS. Well, this time the tables turned as the stations, once again, flipped positions. Both stations have a substantial lead over KROQ, which, for the fourth book in a row, is a solid #3. KOST is just biding its time at #4 until the milk and cookies kick in next month. KPWR rebounded from its lowest in-demo performance since APRIL by leaping from #8 to #5. Two stations are thiiiis close to cracking the top 5 – KFI-A and CBS RADIO Adult Hits KCBS-F (JACK FM).

Last month, KIIS ended KPWR’s three-book run at #1 18-34. This has been a pattern over the last year as each station takes a turn at being #1 before ceding the territory to its opponent. This time KPWR ended up on top as both stations take turns dominating the demo. KAMP posted its highest ranking since AUGUST as it moved up from #5 to a tie at #3 with KBIG. KROQ slipped to #5, posting its lowest number since MARCH.

The last time KIIS was not #1 18-49, JACK FROST was surfing off the pier at SANTA MONICA. The old boy may be waxing his board but KIIS is still #1, comfortably ahead of cluster sister KBIG at #2. Last month, two stations were tied at #3. They decided to break the tie by going in different directions. KPWR went up to own #3 while KROQ took the opposite approach to land at #4. There is now a three-way tie at #5 in this demo between KOST and two stations that were tied at #7 – KSCA and KAMP. It was almost a five-way tie at #5 as both KCBS-F and SBS Regional Mexican KLAX (LA RAZA) are in at #8. Can it only have been two months ago that LA RAZA was tied at #17? Why, yes, it can.

CHICAGO: A Bit Of Rearranging Of The Order

What LOS ANGELES lacked in ratings drama last month is more than made up for by events in the WINDY CITY. To begin with, there is now a tie atop the leaderboard as CBS RADIO News WBBM-A moves up to forge that tie (5.2-5.5) by posting its best number of 2012. Meanwhile, CCM+E Urban AC WVAZ (V103) rebounded from a down book (5.3-5.5) to make sure it kept its share of #1. TRIBUNE N/T WGN-A ended a string of flat performances (4.3-4.5) and was rewarded with another month at #3. For the third month in a row, UNIVISION Regional Mexican WOJO (LA BUENA) experienced the heady feeling of increased ratings (4.2-4.3) to maintain its hold on #4. A couple of stations made some serious noise last month. First, CUMULUS Talk WLS-A posted its best number in over a year (3.7-4.1) to leap from a tie at #8 into sole possession of the #5 slot.

Only to be slightly outdone, CBS RADIO Country WUSN (US 99.5) jumped from its half of the tie at #8 up to #6 (3.7-4.0). With every action there is an equal and powerful reaction. We read that on a fortune cookie once. This cause and effect made HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (THE MIX) tumble out of the top 5 for the first time this year (4.1-3.9) to #7. CUMULUS Oldies WLS-F scored its lowest number of 2012 (4.0-3.8) and fell from #6 to #8. CCM+E Top 40/M WKSC (KISS FM) is now on a four-book slide (3.9-3.7) that has seen the station fall from #2 to its current residence at #9. Last month, three stations were tied at #8. You’ve heard the stories of two of them, now for the third. HUBBARD Classic Hits WDRV (THE DRIVE) is also on a four-book slide (3.7-3.5) and is now tied at #10 with CCM+E Urban WGCI (3.4-3.5), which moved up from #12.

Remember last month when WOJO surprised the market by claiming #1 25-54? Trust us, it happened. Well, the station continued its surge by posting its best number in over a year while simultaneously widening its lead over #2 WTMX. WVAZ endured its fourth straight down book and slipped into the #3 slot while WDRV moved from #5 to more familiar turf at #4. WGCI earned its best number since JUNE and that caused the station to spontaneously rise from a tie at #8 to #5. As recently as AUGUST, WKSC was #1. Now it has fallen completely out of the top 5 and is tied at #6 with WBBM-A.

For three straight months WGCI has seen its 18-34 numbers increase. By some strange twist of fate, the station has also been #1 in each of those months. Funny how that works. Earning leap-of-the-week honors was WUSN, which bolted from #8 all the way up to #2 with its best book since APRIL. WTMX saw its fortunes fade a bit and slid down to #3 just ahead of WOJO, which dropped down to #4. There is a dead heat at #5 between WKSC, which was tied at #3 previously, and CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96), which is off over two share points since JULY. Two stations were tied at #5 last survey but now tumble into a tie at #8 – MERLIN Alternative WKQX (Q87.7) and CCM+E Regional Mexican WNUA (EL PATRON).

Check out this line score 18-49: #8, #7T, #4T, #2 and now #1. That is the path WOJO has been on since JULY as the station now claims demo dominance by edging out former #1 WTMX. WGCI is on a return path to glory as it nudged up to #3 with its best number since JUNE. A four-book slide has taken WKSC from a dominant #1 to a less assertive #4 while WUSN broke out of a tie at #6 with its best month since APRIL to claim the #5 position. WBBM-F is down for the fourth book in a row and fell out of the top 5 for the first time in over a year.

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