Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive August PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta And Boston

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ALL ACCESS presents AUGUST 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.

Round two (of three, in case you’re counting) of our exclusive ratings analysis for ALL ACCESS.  Our mission is to give you an inside look on how the top markets are performing in various demo cells.  As you are well aware, we can only quote actual numbers for the 6+ demo. However, if you read between the lines, you’ll have a pretty good idea as to how stations are performing in the other demos we investigate.

As always, the observations contained within are based on the analysis performed by The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.  If you have any questions or comments on what you read here, feel free to contact us in a variety of ways:
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E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com

Now, back to the countdown …

HOUSTON-GALVESTON:  Radio One And Radio Two

This is the third straight month that one group has held the top two positions in town.  As has been the case for the entire year so far, RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) dominated the market.  Sure, one could quibble that the station was down for the second straight month (8.3-8.0) but when you’re still posting numbers in the eight-share range in a market this size, there really is not much to quibble about.  Cluster sister RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) has been the #2 station in 11 of the last 14 surveys, and this month’s number was in line with its usual stellar performances (6.2-6.5).  UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATNINO) slipped out of a tie at #2 with MAJIC and found itself all alone at #3 (6.2-6.1) after posting its lowest number of the year.  CCM+E AC KODA (SUNNY) remained at #4 despite suffering its fourth consecutive down book (6.1-5.9).  COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) remained at #5 and ended a minor three-book slide (5.4-5.7).  Something is brewing at CCM+E N/T KTRH-A.  Though the station is not an immediate threat to crack the top 5, it did just post its best book in over a year (4.0-4.3) and has risen from a tie at #10 to #6 in the last couple of books.

So far in 2013, two stations have taken turns topping the 25-54 chart.  Actually, this trend has gone on even longer but SANTA will often interrupt this duel.  For the second month in a row, KLTN reigned supreme – this despite losing its mid-day show (PIOLIN) early in the survey.  KBXX posted its lowest number since FEBRUARY yet remained at #2.  KKBQ had its best book since MARCH to break out of a tie at #4 and become the sole owner of #3.  KMJQ was up slightly and also broke out of a tie at #4 to, well, remain at #4.  KODA had its lowest number since MARCH to slip from #3 to #5.  The move of the month went to UNIVISION Spanish Adult Hits KOVE (RECUERDO), which jumped from #11 to #7 with its best book in over a year.

There is never any drama in the 18-34 arena.  KBXX owns it lock, stock and, well, box.  The station matched its best book of the year and raised its lead over #2 KLTN to – get this – over SIX share points!  This, despite the fact that KLTN scored its best number since JANUARY.  KKBQ remained at #3 but closed the gap on #2 by posting its best number of the year.  The station has almost doubled its share since the year began.  CCM+E Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) was up slightly to remain at #4 while CBS RADIO Top 40/M KKHH (HOT) had its best book of the year to rise to #5.  As recently as MAY, the station was sitting at #11.

This is the eighth book of 2013. For six of those surveys, KBXX has had double-digit shares 18-49.  Needless to say, that guarantees it will continue to be the dominant #1 station – now, with over a two-share lead on #2 KLTN.  Once again, KKBQ had its best book in over a year but had to settle for remaining a very solid #3.  KTBZ was flat but swapped positions with #5 KODA as SUNNY had its lowest book since FEBRUARY.

WASHINGTON, DC:  News Rules

For the entirety of 2013, our Nation’s Capital ratings parade has been led by one of two stations and each specializes in power of oration.  For the second straight month – and sixth time in the last eight – the ruling party belonged to AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU, which was flat from the previous survey (7.6-7.6).  It was also able to widen its lead over #2 HUBBARD News WTOP, which posted its lowest number of the year (7.2-7.0).  Coming in as the third-party station for the seventh month in a row was CCM+E Top 40/M WIHT (HOT), which posted its lowest total since FEBRUARY (6.6-6.3).  Meanwhile, HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR had its best book of the year (5.5-5.8) to move out of a tie at #5 to claim the #4 position.  This knocked format rival – RADIO ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC) back one square to #5 even though it had its second-best book of 2013 (5.6-5.7).  CCM+E AC WASH dropped out of the top 5 for only the third time in the last year after posting its lowest number since APRIL (5.5-5.1).  Keep an eye on RADIO ONE Gospel WPRS (PRAISE).  The station seems on the road to redemption over the last three surveys (3.1-3.8) as it has ascended from a tie at #15 to #14 to its current position in a tie at #9.

For the third time in the last four months, WIHT was the market leader 25-54 even though the station shed a bit of share.  Two stations moved up the ranks to lodge themselves into a tie at #2.  WTOP was completely flat yet moved up a spot while WHUR had its best book since DECEMBER to move up from #4.  WASH saw its three-book surge grind to a halt as the station slipped a couple of spaces to #4.  WMMJ was up just enough to climb out of a tie at #6 to claim #5 to itself. This caused its cluster mate – RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) – to take one step back as it saw its version of the three-book surge also come to an end.

Make it five straight months that WIHT landed atop the 18-34 chart.  This was also the thirteenth time in the last fourteen surveys that the station scored double-digit shares.  WKYS remained at #2 but the gap between the two became considerably larger as KISS scored its lowest book since OCTOBER.  CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC remained a solid and steady #3 even though it landed its lowest number of the year.  CCM+E Alternative WWDC (DC 101) just barely ended a two-book slide to inch up a spot to #4, which forced its cluster cousin – CCM+E Country WMZQ – to take one small step back to #5.  Lots of movement beyond the top 5 from many stations that are usually not part of the conversation in this demo. WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY Christian Contemporary WGTS had its best book in over a year – actually more than doubling its share since MARCH – to jump from #11 to a tie at #7.  WAMU moved into the top 10 for the first time in over a year, and, CCM+E Classic Rock WBIG lost over two shares from last month’s “best book of the year” to slide from #6 to #11.

Though WIHT matched its lowest book of the year, it still managed to widen its 18-49 lead on the rest of the field.  The only time in the last fourteen surveys when the station was not #1 was when the SANTA groove was playing.  WKYS also matched its lowest number of the year but remained at #2.  WASH was down slightly but kept its hold on #3 for the third straight book.  WHUR had its best book since SEPTEMBER to move out of a tie at #5 to #4, which sent WWDC back one step to #5 as it could only manage a flat book.

PHILADELPHIA:  The Ties That Bind

Since assuming control of the market back in APRIL, WEAZ-FM RADIO AC WBEB (B101) has yet to let go of the top spot.  By our count, this was its fifth straight month at #1 (7.6-7.2).  The rest of the top 5 is all knotted together like a nice, soft, hot pretzel … with mustard, of course.  To begin with, we had three stations sharing space at #2.  CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL (6.1-5.9) was there last month.  Cluster sib CBS RADIO News KYW-A moved up a notch from #3 (5.8-5.9) while CCM+E Urban AC WDAS posted its best book since MARCH (5.6-5.9) to jump forward two squares from #4.  But wait, there’s more.  Two other stations came from outside the top 5 to find themselves knotted at #5.  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR ended a two-book slide (5.2-5.5) to move up from #6. Cluster bro’ GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK scored its best book in over a year (4.8-5.5) to leap from #7.  Meanwhile, BEASLEY Country WXTU experienced its third straight down book (5.3-5.0) to slip from #5 to #7.

You can’t stop them, you can only hope to contain them.  For the fifth straight month, WMMR led the pack 25-54, widening the gap over #2 WBEB in the process.  Ties were broken and forged in this survey.  CCM+E Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) took sole possession of the #3 position, despite suffering its second consecutive down survey.  Its cause was helped by WOGL, which dropped out of that tie at #3 to #4 after posting its lowest number since MARCH.  Two stations moved up the chart to share the #5 slot.  WDAS inched up from #6 while WMGK charged in from #9 with its best book since JANUARY.  WXTU saw its four-book surge come to an end as it fell from #5 to #7.

For the second month in a row – and the fifth time in the last six – WRFF was #1 18-34, though it did post its lowest number since FEBRUARY.  There was another tie as two stations, moving in opposite directions, were deadlocked at #2.  CCM+E Urban WUSL (POWER) scored its lowest number of the year to remain where it was.  WMMR bounced back nicely from its lowest number of the year to move up from #3.  WXTU was off slightly from last month to remain at #4 while WBEB also shed some share to stay at #5.  The WMGK express continued its strong run as the station jumped from #11 to #6 – its highest ranking since OCTOBER.

Last month it looked like WRFF was this close to knocking WMMR off the 18-49 perch.  However, the stations went in opposite directions.  WMMR ended a two-book slide to strengthen its grip on the #1 position while WRFF drifted farther back after posting its lowest number since FEBRUARY.  WBEB also was down a bit but kept its solid hold on the #3 spot.  This should come as no surprise – there were three stations all vying for the coveted title of Miss #4.  WUSL did not move an inch despite suffering its second straight down book.  WXTU was down for the third month in a row yet moved up from #5.  And, WDAS ended a two-book slide to jump up from a tie at #7.

ATLANTA:  The Race Tightens

While the BRAVES may be making a shambles of the race in the National League East, the radio version has gotten quite a bit tighter.  It was only two months ago that CBS RADIO Urban AC WVEE (V-103) lost its hold on the top spot.  Now, the station reclaimed the crown and has held it for the second straight month (7.6-7.3) but there are three other stations that have a legitimate shot at moving up.  The closest pursuer was COX RADIO Talk WSB-A, which had its highest share since NOVEMBER (6.4-7.0) to move from #4 to #2.  Exactly one year ago the station was mired at #9 with a 4.8 share.  Last month’s #2 station – COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) posted its lowest number since MARCH (7.1-6.8) to slip into a tie at #3.  The other resident of that position was RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC), which had a strong rebound from its lowest book of the year (6.0-6.8) to move up from #6.  All this upward mobility forced a couple of stations to take a step or two back.  COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) was off slightly (6.8-6.7) to drop from #3 to #5.  Cluster companion COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) also dropped enough share (6.3-6.1) to slip from #5 to #6.

One thing that remains constant in ATLANTA is WVEE’S dominance over 25-54.  Though the station just matched its lowest book of 2013, it still maintained a healthy lead over #2 WSRV, which did experience a second consecutive down book.  Last month, WAMJ suffered its lowest number in over a year.  This month the station rebounded sufficiently to move from #5 to #3.  WSB-F had its second straight down book but did not budge from #4.  Things were not as rosy for WALR as it posted its lowest score since MARCH to slide from #3 to #5.  Normally not much of a player in this demo, WSB-A had its best book since the election-infused month of NOVEMBER to rise from #11 to a tie at #7.

The players, the order, and the relative differences between them remained the same for 18-34.  Despite posting its first non-double-digit performance of the year, WVEE maintained its commanding lead.  RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) remained at #2 but has shed over two shares worth of ratings in the last two months.  CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) was up slightly to remain at #3.  LINCOLN Hot AC WSTR (STAR) followed its best book of the year with its second best one to stay at #4.  CCM+E Alternative WRDA (RADIO 105.7) did the exact same thing, though its berth was still #5.

Normally, when a station posts its lowest number of the year, you would think that would open up gaps in its defense.  Not so with WVEE and 18-49 as it remained #1 with a two-share lead over #2 WSRV.  Meanwhile, WWWQ had its highest number since SEPTEMBER to move up the ranks from #5 to #3.  This bumped WSB-F back a spot into a tie at #4 with WAMJ – which recovered from a bad month to jump up from #7.  WALR was excused from the top 5 club as it slipped from #4 to #6.

BOSTON: History Repeats

From the Department of Redundancy Department, lightning did indeed strike twice as GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB was the top dog for the second straight month (8.1-7.8).  However, its lead over #2 CCM+E Top 40/M WXKS (KISS 108) did shrink a bit (7.6-7.6), which should set the stage for a rather interesting fall season.  CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX ended a three-book surge (6.8-6.1) but remained at #3.  Cluster brother CBS RADIO News WBZ-A ended a two-book surge of its own (6.3-5.7) but remained at #4, though it is now in a flat-footed tie with GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC), which inched up from #5 (5.8-5.7).  The sports battle was in full bloom as CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) posted its lowest number in exactly a year (4.5-3.9) to remain at #8.  However, ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F is now just percentage points behind at #9 as it had its best book since SEPTEMBER (3.2-3.8).  Pretty soon, GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) will shed its new-kid-in-town label.  In the meantime, the station had its best book in its current incarnation (3.1-3.6) to move from #13 into a tie at #10.

Last month the race for the 25-54 prize was, well, actually a race instead of the usual WXKS tour-de-force.  Well, this time KISS remained at the top with the exact same share for the third straight month while WKLB slipped enough to widen the gap between the two stations.  WZLX remained at #3 despite losing a full share, and WMJX claimed sole possession of the #4 position even though it was off ever so slightly.  CBS RADIO Hot AC WBMX (MIX) was down for the second straight month to fall out of a tie at #4 and into a tie at #5 with GREATER MEDIA Alternative WBOS (RADIO 92.9), which was up for the second straight survey.  WBQT again posted its best number since the flip to move from #12 to #9.  The sports competition was not quite as hotly contested as we saw with 6+.  WBZ-F did have its lowest number since FEBRUARY to slip from #6 to #7 but WEEI-F was only able to move the needle enough to climb from #13 into a tie at #10.

Okay, so WXKS posted its lowest 18-34 number of the year.  So what.  The station is still in double digits, remained #1, and actually widened its lead over the rest of the field.  After a brief hiatus, CCM+E Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) returned to its customary spot at #2 even though it had its lowest book in over a year.  WKLB dropped back a slot to #3 while WBQT easily scored its best book of the new format to move up a notch to become a very close #4.  WBOS was off only slightly but still fell a spot to #5.  The sports race is not very close with this particular demo.  WBZ-F had its lowest total since APRIL but remained at #6 while WEEI-F had its best total since that same month but only climbed from #18 to #15.

WXKS was its usual dominant self 18-49 despite scoring its lowest number since JANUARY.  WKLB remained a solid, though a bit more distant, #2 and was comfortably ahead of WBOS, which charged up from #6 to #3 with its best book since MAY.  There is now a four-way tie at the #4 position.  WZLX ended a two-book surge to slip from #3 while WBZ-F remained at that spot despite scoring its lowest number since FEBRUARY.  WJMN had its lowest total since APRIL yet managed to move up from #5 while WBQT set another new format high to jet in from #9.  WEEI-F was up but only moved from #16 to #14.

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