Exclusive November PPM Analysis: Washington, D.C., Philadelphia And Atlanta

Exclusive PPM Analysis

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.

WASHINGTON: People Were Talking

There was a lot to talk about in our Nation's Capital last month, what with this election thing and a storm named SANDY. These twin events had quite the effect. For the third month in a row, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU was #1 (8.7-8.4). The hunger for news propelled HUBBARD News WTOP back to #2 (7.2-8.2) as the station matched its second-best number of the year. This knocked CCM+E Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) down a peg to #3 (7.4-7.2). Still, the station is over a share point stronger than it was a year ago. Despite posting its lowest number since JUNE, HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR (6.7-6.1) maintained its hold on #4. CCM+E AC WASH is certainly excited about the upcoming holiday season as the station just scored its lowest share in over a year (5.4-4.9), yet it remained entrenched at #5.

RADIO ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC) is on a three-book slide (4.6-4.4) that has the station residing at #6. A year ago, CUMULUS Talk WMAL was tied for the #20 station in the market. Given the buzz of the recent election cycle, it is probably no surprise that the station’s five-book run (3.4-4.2) has placed it in the top 10 for the first time in a very long time. The station is in a tie at #7 with RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS), which also experienced the elation of ratings elevation (3.6-4.2). CCM+E Alternative WWDC (DC-101) was solid and steady at #9 (3.6-3.6). Earning leap-of-the-week honors was WA ADVENTIST U Christian Contemporary WGTS, which returned to the top ten from all the way back at #15 (3.0-3.5). Two stations bid not-so-fond farewells to the top 10. CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC posted its lowest number since APRIL (3.9-3.4) and fell to #11. CCM+E Classic Hits WBIG is on a pretty dramatic two-book slide (4.6-3.3) and fell from a tie at #6 to #12.

In 25-54 WIHT decided to turn it up to eleven, as in eleven straight books at #1. Fueled by a healthy dose of SANDY coverage, WTOP matched its best book of 2012 to climb a couple of notches to #2. This caused a bit of displacement as WHUR fell to #3 and WAMU to #4. As recently as APRIL, WKYS was tied at #13. This book the station jumped from #7 to #5. Meanwhile, WASH tossed out its lowest number in over a year to fall out of the top 5. Keep an eye on CBS RADIO Hot AC WIAD (FRESH), which leapt from a tie at #13 to #8.

For something like the gazillionth book in a row (give or take a few bazillions) WIHT is #1 18-34. However, that object in the rear view mirror is suddenly larger as WKYS posted its best book in over a year to capture #2. WWDC moved up a notch to #3 while WPGC tumbled a couple of slots to #4. Despite accepting its lowest number since MARCH, WASH maintained its hold on #5.

As you would expect, WIHT is #1 18-49 and the station is now on a four-book ratings surge. WKYS did a great job rebounding and moved from a tie at #4 to #2 while WWDC enjoyed its third straight ratings increase to remain at #3. Speaking of surging (we were), WTOP forced its way into the top 5 by climbing from #8 to #4. WAMU, on the other hand, slid from #2 to #5. Finally, WASH is eagerly anticipating the arrival of sleigh bells as it fell from the top 5 all the way to #8.

PHILADELPHIA: The Sandy Effect

Though Superstorm SANDY did not affect how Arbitron collected the data from PHILADELPHIA, it sure seemed to have an effect on listening behavior. CBS RADIO News KYW-A was #1 for the fourth book in a row but the station put up its biggest number in over a year (7.0-8.4). The race is clearly for second place, and this time two stations captured that prize. CCM+E Urban AC WDAS moved up a notch (5.5-5.6) while WEAZ-FM RADIO AC WBEB (B101) scored its lowest number of the year (6.0-5.6). BEASLEY Country WXTU continued its recent hot streak (5.2-5.4) and inched up to #4 while GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR returned to the top 5 (4.8-5.0).

This forced cluster mate GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK to slip from #4 to #6 (5.3-4.9). CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL suffered its fifth consecutive down month and slid to #7 (4.8-4.7). CCM+E Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) is on a four-book skid but managed to hold fast at #8 (4.7-4.5). CCM+E Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) gained a bit (4.2-4.4) but not enough to move out of the #9 position. Another beneficiary of the market’s thirst for information was MERLIN Talk WWIQ (IQ), which earned leap-of-the-week honors (2.7-3.6) by rocketing up from #18 to #10. Considering the station debuted in a tie at #39 in MAY, this is quite the accomplishment. CBS RADIO Sports WIP-F ended its all-too-brief stay in the top 10 and fell to #14 (3.9-3.2).

Last month, WMMR ended an eight-book run at #1 25-54. Well, that is now history as the station returned to the top spot. WDAS popped its best number since APRIL to claw its way up from #5 to #2. The two former co-leaders fell off their lofty perch as WXTU slid to #3 and WRFF was deposited at #4 after posting its lowest number since the beginning of the year. WMGK slid ever so slightly to #5. The information need was a true benefit to KYW-A, which scored its best number in over a year to soar from #16 to #7.

The status quo was maintained 18-34 as the top 5 stations remained in the exact same positions they had last month. WRFF has been #1 all year while CCM+E Urban WUSL (POWER) was #2 for the fourth book in a row. WMMR scored its best rating in over a year to remain at #3. WIOQ is still #4 and BEASLEY Top 40/R WRDW (WIRED) held fast at #5.
While WRFF posted its lowest 18-49 number since MAY, it still held on to #1 for the sixth straight book. WMMR wrestled control of the #2 position while WIOQ jumped a slot to #3. There is a tie at #4 as WUSL moved up one and WDAS returned to the top 5. The picture was not as rosy for WXTU as it fell from a tie at #2 all the way to #6 -- the first time the station has been out of the top 5 since MAY.

ATLANTA: Look Who’s Talking

For the previous ten surveys, CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V103) was not just #1, it was a crushing, dominant, "I own you" #1 station. While the streak is now at eleven (8.4-8.6), there is now a station that is breathing down V103’s neck. That would be COX RADIO Talk WSB-A. To say the station had a huge book would be a poor use of that adjective. When you go 6.8-8.3, huge doesn’t quite cut it. Cluster roomie COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) is now the sole owner of position #3 (6.4-7.0) and, in the process, pushes RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) back to #4 (6.4-6.5). COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) did not budge from #5 but the station is not complaining too much as it just had its best book of 2012 (5.8-6.2).

COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) matched its best book of the year (5.2-5.2) to hold on to #6 while CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) edged up a spot to #7 (4.5-4.7). RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) has cooled considerably during a six-book slide (5.1-4.5) and is now tied at #8 with CCM+E Top 40/M WWPW (POWER), which is riding a five-book surge (4.3-4.5). LINCOLN Hot AC WSTR (STAR) experienced some flatness (4.4-4.4) and now finds itself tied at #10 with SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (THE FISH), which swam upstream from #11 (4.2-4.4).

Oh, look, WVEE is #1 25-54 -- again -- by a lot. WAMJ maintained its presence at #2. Two stations are sharing bunks at #3 -- WALR and WSB-F. Meanwhile, one could surmise that all the pre-election rhetoric at WSB-A was compelling enough to move the station from #8 to #5. In MARCH, WWPW was #15 in this demo. Slowly, but surely, the station has clawed its way up in the standings and is now in a tie with WSRV at #6.

If you’re 18-34 and live in ATLANTA and don’t listen to WVEE, then you are obviously not cool, as the station is -- once again -- a dominant #1. Despite its lowest rating of the year, WHTA remained a distant #2. WWPW was happy to edge up to #3 while WWWQ suffered its lowest total of the year to slip to #4. CCM+E Top 40/R WWVA (WILD) is now on a four-book slide but is still entrenched at #5.

We won’t keep you in suspense any longer -- WVEE is still #1 18-49. They should just retire the trophy, or at least rename it. WAMJ was able to move up to #2 in part because WHTA posted its lowest book in over a year to fall to #3. WSB-F is just minding its own business at #4 while WSTR returned to the top 5. For the first time in over a year, WWWQ is not in the top five as it slips to a tie at #6 with the powering up WWPW.

« see more Net News