Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive July PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix And Minneapolis

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ALL ACCESS presents JULY 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.

We wrap up our look at AMERICA’s biggest markets with this analysis.  As always, you can share your opinions or corrections with us.  We’re on TWITTER (@researchdirectr) and FACEBOOK (facebook.com/researchdirectorinc).
Now, back to the show …

DETROIT: CBS Owns The Motor City

No, the Tiffany Network is not bailing MOTOWN out of its financial crisis.  It is merely doing its best to seize complete control of the radio market.  It all starts at the top as CBS RADIO Country WYCD easily scored its best number in over a year (7.5-8.1) to claim the #1 position for the second straight book.  Though it suffered its third straight down book (6.6-6.5), CBS RADIO News WWJ-A managed to move up one slot to #2.  The non-cluster-related interloper was CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX), which posted its lowest number since FEBRUARY (6.7-6.3) and stepped back one spot to #3.  We round out the top 5 with CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) at #4 (6.5-6.1) and CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC (5.7-6.0), which ended a four-book slide to remain at #5.

CBS claimed the top two positions 25-54 as WYCD had another monster book to remain at #1 while cluster brother WXYT-F held on at #2.  These two stations lead the rest of the pack by a comfortable margin.  Coming in at #3 again was WMXD as the station ended a two-book slide.  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF was up sufficiently to climb from #6 to #4.  CCM+E Urban WJLB was off slightly and slipped a slot to #5.  As recently as MARCH, CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD was the market leader in this category for the third book in a row. However, a six-book slide has caused the station to drop, most recently from #5 to #9.

Last month, WYCD took control of 18-34 with a huge number. This time, the number was even huger as the station stretched its lead over #2 CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) to over three full share points! WJLB scored its lowest number since NOVEMBER but remained at #3.  WGRP INC Urban WGPR (HOT) dropped a bit farther back from the pack but was still #4. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WDZH (AMP) was up for the fourth straight book to climb from #7 to #5.  As recently as MARCH, the station was sitting at #13. WXYT-F slipped out of the top 5 and landed at #6.

Make it a clean demo sweep for WYCD as the station was #1 18-49 for the second straight survey.  WJLB was off slightly but managed to elevate its stature one spot to #2.  WKQI did the exact same thing in moving from #4 to #3.  WXYT-F slid down the standings by moving from #2 to #4 while WRIF returned to the top 5 for the first time since OCTOBER, climbing from #7 to #5.  Last month, two stations were locked in a dead heat at #5 but both vacated the position and moved down the chart.  WMXD ended up at #6 while WGPR landed in a tie at #7.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE: The Status Is Quo

Summer in the tropics, where things move at a slower pace and change is hard to come by.  This certainly describes the ratings tree as there was no discernible movement at the top of the charts.  As per usual, COX RADIO Urban AC WQHT (HOT) led the way (8.8-8.5) even though it posted its lowest number in over a year. This meant that its wide lead shrunk to a mere two shares over #2 COX RADIO Urban WEDR (6.6-6.5). UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) scored its best number in exactly one year (6.0-6.3) to remain a fixture at #3.  COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) held on to its traditional #4 position (5.9-5.8). LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE FM) had its best book in over a year (4.5-5.4) and was rewarded by breaking out of a tie at #5 to … well, being the only station at #5. One of last month’s other co-residents of that position – BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) – popped its lowest number in over a year (4.5-4.1) to slip to #9.  Keep an eye on COX RADIO Hot AC WFLC (COAST), which secured its highest total in over a year (3.9-4.5) to climb from a tie at #10 to #6.

Another book, another 25-54 win for WHQT and the lead over #2 WEDR remained sizeable. WFEZ was up for the third straight survey to remain at #3. WLYF had been on a three-book slide that had taken the station from a tie at #3 to a tie at #10. Well, it bounced back nicely this book, jumping from that #10 tie back up to #4. This forced UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) to take a step back to #5.  CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) had its lowest book since OCTOBER to drop from #5 to #8.

As much as WQHT dominated the previous two demos, WEDR has that level of control over 18-34 as it routinely leads the pack by three shares or more. However, this time WHYI actually cut that lead to under three as it posted its best book since MARCH to climb from #4 to #2.  WPOW landed its lowest book in over a year to drop from #2 to #3 where it is now tied with WLYF, which literally doubled its share from last month to rocket up the chart from #12.  WRTO saw a rather impressive six-book run stall as it fell from #3 to #5.  CCM+E Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) had its lowest number since FEBRUARY to drop from #5 to #7.

Once again, WEDR was the market leader 18-49 and actually saw its lead over #2 WHQT widen a bit though both stations were down slightly. WHYI was flat but managed to climb out of a tie at #4 to take over the #3 position, bumping WRTO back a slot to #4 in the process.  WPOW slid out of a tie at #4 to #5.  Yes, WLYF’s hotness continued here as the station rose from #13 to #7.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Rockin’ The Sound

Over the last 14 surveys, five different radio stations have been #1 in SEATTLE-TACOMA.  The latest addition to that quintet was CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK, which took a giant leap from #2 with easily its best book in over a year (5.2-6.5).  This brought the four-month run at #1 for SANDUSKY Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) to an end as the station moved down a notch to #2 (6.2-5.7).  Meanwhile, another former #1 – ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW – had its best book since SEPTEMBER (4.4-5.4) to jump from a tie at #7 to #3.  This forced a member of its cluster pack – ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) – to drop a slot to #4 (5.1-4.7).  Yet another station came charging up the ranks as CCM+E Classic Hits KJR-F posted its best book in over a year (4.2-4.6) to leap from #10 to #5.  This is impressive in light of the fact that after the HOLIDAY book, the station was sitting at #18.  The other two members of the #1 club did not fare as well.  SANDUSKY AC KRWM (WARM) scored its lowest number since NOVEMBER (4.8-4.5) to drop a spot to #6 while UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW reported its lowest book in over a year (4.9-4.2) to drop from #4 to #9.

The two-way tie at #1 25-54 has been broken.  KZOK wrestled control of the market by posting a huge number – the biggest non-Christmas number the market has seen in the last year.  KISW had its best book since OCTOBER to rise from #4 to #2.  The other leader from last boom – KQMV – slipped enough to fall to #3.  KKWF was off for the second straight survey to slide a spot to #4.  Meanwhile, KJR-F had its best book in over a year to jump from a tie at #12 into a three-way tie at #5.  The other members of that triumvirate also climbed the chart.  FISHER Hot AC KPLZ (STAR) rose from #9 while CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) moved up from #6 despite being down for the third book in a row.  CBS RADIO Country KMPS saw its two-book surge come to an end as it stumbled from #5 to #10.

Despite a slight loss of share, KQMV held on to the top spot 18-34 for the second straight month.  KKWF continued to nip at MOVIN’s heels from the #2 position while CCM+E Top 40/R KUBE got a bit closer, at #3, after posting its best book since FEBRUARY.  KISW had its highest number since SEPTEMBER to rise out of a tie at #6 to #4 while CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) slipped back a slot to #5.  KMPS dropped out of the top 5 (to #7) after scoring its lowest number since JANUARY.

For the first time since APRIL, KISW is back on top 18-49 as the station bolted up from #3 with its best book since (R)OCTOBER.  This ended the two-month run at the top for KQMV as the station dropped back to #2.  KZOK is on a four-book tear that has taken it from #14 to its newly minted position at #3.  KKWF was down for the second straight survey and slipped from #2 to #4 while KUBE had its best book in over a year to climb from #7 to #5.  KBKS slipped a bit to fall a spot to #6.

PHOENIX: Back In The Saddle ... Again

Last month, CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) saw its impressive seven-month run at #1 come to an end at the hands of CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL.  Well, this time the tables were turned as KESZ returned to the top (5.8-6.0) sending KOOL back to #2 (6.0-5.2).  CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX) had its best book since JANUARY (4.4-5.0) to climb from #5 to #3.  SANDUSKY Active Rock KUPD had an even more impressive showing (3.7-4.8) to claw its way up from #12 to #4.  What is even more amazing about this is that exactly one year ago, the station was sitting at #20 with a 2.5 share.  There was three-way deadlock at the #5 position.  SANDUSKY Classic Rock KSLX was flat (4.7-4.7) yet slipped a slot from #4.  CCM+E Talk KFYI-A posted its best number since JANUARY (4.3-4.7) to move up from a tie at #6. CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (JAMZ) had its best book since AUGUST (4.3-4.7) to also move up from a tie at #6. All this upward mobility had a negative effect on the ranking of CCM+E Country KNIX.  Even though the station’s share was only off a bit (4.8-4.6) it dropped from #3 to #8.

There was a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on 25-54 – especially compared to last month.  At that time, there were three (count ‘em) three stations knotted at #1. This time?  Not one of those three was on top.  Let’s begin with the big story – KUPD. In APRIL, the station was tied at #12.  Now, after an amazing book, it finds itself at #1 – moving all the way up from #7.  Only to be slightly out done, KMXP had its best book since MARCH to leap from #6 to #2.  Two of the three former #1 stations took the exact same path to end up in a tie at #3 – KNIX and KSLX.  BONNEVILLE Adult Hits KPKX (THE PEAK) was off enough to drop from #4 to #5.  The other former #1 – KOOL – dropped enough share to fall into a tie at #6 with KESZ, which slipped from #5.

A third demo, another new #1 station that has also come from the back of the pack.  KMXP was the new leader 18-34 after scoring a huge book.  It was only two months ago that the station was sitting at #11, and has more than doubled its share since then.  KUPD posted its best book since JANUARY but had to settle for remaining at #2.  Last month’s market leader – KNIX – actually had a better book than last time but still dropped to #3.  Sometimes life is just not fair. CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) matched its best book of the year yet it, too, was forced to take one step back, to #4.  KZON was also up slightly but dropped from a tie at #4 to #5.  UNIVISION Regional Mexican KHOT (LA NUEVA) posted its lowest number since JANUARY to fall from a tie at #4 to #7.

Finally, some consistency.  For the fifth month in a row, KUPD was the #1 station 18-49 as it scored a number that was more than twice as large as what it had at this point a year ago.  KMXP had its best book in exactly one year to move from a tie at #6 to #2 – its highest rank since it was tied with KUPD at #1 in MARCH.  KNIX moved from a tie at #2 to #3 despite having an up book, while KZZP moved out of that same #2 tie to #4 despite being flat.  KZON was off a bit to fall from a tie at #4 to #5 while KOOL was off significantly to drop from that #4 tie to #9.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: No More Ties

Last month, we had several ties in the top 5 but they have all been broken. JUNE’s co-leader – CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB – is now the lone leader after it scored its best number since APRIL (8.1-8.4).  HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) lost its share of the lead after posting its lowest score since FEBRUARY (8.1-7.9) and fell to #2.  Both stations that were tied at #3 had up books but they are no longer tied.  CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) remained at #3 with its best book in exactly a year (7.5-7.7) while CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS slipped to #4 (7.5-7.6).  Despite having its best book of 2013, CCM+E

Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) remained at #5 (7.1-7.4). This marked the fifth straight book with KSTP and KDWB being #1 and #2, respectively, 25-54.  Both stations were up slightly and the gap between the two is very narrow.  KQRS ended a slight two-book slide to remain at #3.  CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM) had its best book in over a year to move from a tie at #5 to #4.  This bumped KEEY back a spot to #5 as the station posted its lowest number since FEBRUARY.  CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) took a bit of a tumble as it dropped from a tie at #5 into a tie at #8.

It is not unusual for KDWB to be #1 18-34. It is unusual when its lead over whomever is #2 dips below, say, 4 shares.  KEEY had its best book since SEPTEMBER to climb from a tie at #4 to #2 – a mere three shares behind the leader.  KXXR was off slightly and slipped a spot to #3.  Meanwhile, CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) gave its best performance in over a year to climb from #6 to #4.  KSTP scored its lowest total since JANUARY and fell from a tie at #4 to #5.  KZJK didn’t exactly do what it wanted as it ended a three-book surge to fall from #3 into a tie at #6.

KDWB had another dominating performance 18-49 and widened an already impressive lead over #2 KSTP, which had its lowest number since FEBRUARY.  KEEY was up for the third straight month – posting its highest number since SEPTEMBER – to move up a spot to #3. KQRS had its best book since JANUARY to move from #6 to #4.  In JANUARY, KMNB was ranked at #11. It is riding a pretty strong three-book surge and moved up from #7 to #5.  Two stations exited the top 5. KZJK dropped from #3 to #6 while KXXR slid from #5 to #7.

Thank you for reading RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.’s exclusive ratings analysis.  See you again next month!

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