Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive Sept. PPM Analysis For N.Y., L.A,, Chicago, San Francisco And Dallas

Top-5 Markets

ALL ACCESS presents SEPTEMBER 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.

Once again we return into the fray to examine the comings and goings of the top markets in America, and how our brethren in the radio station community have fared in their most recent report card, courtesy of the NIELSEN AUDIO PPM.

The SEPTEMBER survey, which could more appropriately be called Augtember, covered the dates of 8/15 through 9/11. Keep in mind that week three of this particular book was neatly bisected by the LABOR DAY holiday, which would have an impact on listening patterns.
The following analysis comes courtesy of The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.  If you wish to correct, cajole, or otherwise opine about our conclusions or observations, please feel free to reach out to us.  Through the magic of the World Wide Web we can be found …

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And now, on with the countdown …

NEW YORK: Well, That Was Fast

It seems like only yesterday (okay, last month) that CCM+E AC WLTW (LITE FM) had abdicated its perennial hold on the top spot 6+, ceding control to CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F.  That did not last long as LITE returned to its most familiar turf at #1, rebounding nicely from its lowest output of the year (6.1-6.6).  YMF MEDIA Urban AC WBLS maintained its status quo ratings-wise (5.9-5.9) but still managed to move up a spot to #2.  WCBS-F followed its #1 performance by posting its lowest number in over a year (6.2-5.5) and fell into a tie at #3 with CCM+E Top 40/M WHTZ (Z100), which was off slightly (5.8-5.5) yet managed to jump up a spot from #4. Consistency is a virtue and SBS Tropical WSKQ (MEGA) embodied that spirit by remaining at #5 with a flat book (4.8-4.8).  Though the YANKEES were limping through a rare non-postseason season, perhaps all the A-ROD hub-bub was a benefit, as CBS RADIO News WCBS-A scored its best book in over a year (3.8-4.3) to move from #9 into a tie at #7.

Things got very crowded atop the 25-54 leaderboard as three stations could legitimately chant “We’re #1!”  Last month’s market leader – WHTZ – was off slightly while WSKQ was up the minimum amount to move up from #2.  Once again, WLTW reasserted its authority by bouncing back from its lowest book of the year to join the #1 parade from #3.  WBLS was off slightly yet remained at #4 while CCM+E Top 40/M WKTU had its best book in exactly one year to rise a spot to #5.  WCBS-F was less fortunate as the station landed its lowest number in over a year to drop two spots to #7.

Last month, it appeared we had a true pennant race 18-34.  That changed rather abruptly as WHTZ posted its best number since JUNE to open up a two-share lead over WSKQ, which scored its lowest total since MAY.  EMMIS Top 40/R WQHT (HOT) remained at #3 despite securing its lowest number since FEBRUARY while CCM+E Urban WWPR (POWER) recovered nicely from its lowest total of the year to move up two spots from #6 to #4.  WLTW was up a tad yet slipped a spot to #5.  UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WXNY (X96.3) had its lowest showing since NOVEMBER to drop out of the top 5 to #7.

For the second month in a row, WHTZ ruled the 18-49 roost though it now has a new immediate pursuer as cluster mate WLTW moved up one position to #2.  WSKQ is on a bit of a two-book slide and, as a result, slid a spot to #3.  WKTU was solid as a rock and remained at #4 for the sixth consecutive survey. WBLS was up slightly for the second straight month to remain at #5 though it is hearing footsteps from WWPR as that station had its best book since MARCH to move from #10 to #6.

LOS ANGELES: The Flop Flipped

From an audience-share perspective, LOS ANGELES is a very compressed market.  From month to month we see very little change in the relative rankings of the stations … except at the top of the chart.  For the entirety of 2013 two cluster mates have taken turns as market leaders.  This time, CCM+E Top 40/M KIIS (KISS) returned to the top spot for the first time since JUNE, thanks in large part to its best book in over a year (5.4-5.9).  This ended CCM+E Hot AC KBIG’s (MY FM) five-month run at the top as the station slipped to #2 (5.9-5.7).  For the rest of the market, the quo remained status.  CBS RADIO Top 40/M KAMP (AMP) was flat (4.5-4.5) to remain at #3 while CCM+E AC KOST remained at #4 despite earning its lowest number in over a year (4.4-4.1).  EMMIS Top 40/R KPWR (POWER) maintained a slim hold on the #5 spot with a flat book (4.0-4.0).  Two stations are knocking at the door demanding entry into the exclusive top-five fraternity.  UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary KLVE (K-LOVE) had its best book in over a year (3.7-3.9) to remain at #6 where it is now tied with CBS RADIO Classic Hits KRTH (K-EARTH), which had its highest total since JANUARY (3.5-3.9) to move up from a tie at #8.

2013 has been the year of KBIG, at least in the 25-54 arena.  The station continued its #1 run despite a down book, though its lead over #2 KIIS shrank to less than half a point. SBS Regional Mexican KLAX (LA RAZA) had its best book in over a year to take over sole possession of #3 while CBS RADIO Alternative KROQ fell back a spot to #4 despite a flat book.  Last month, two stations were sharing lattes at #5. KAMP is still sipping away but UNIVISION Regional Mexican KSCA dropped to #9 with its lowest book since NOVEMBER.

Last month, KPWR was thiiiiis close to unseating KIIS as the #1 station 18-34.  The margin was the slimmest it could be.  Well, while POWER was flat to stay still at #2, KISS opened up a big can of, you know, to widen its lead dramatically.  This had a lot to do with KIIS posting its best number since MARCH.  KBIG saw its numbers dip a bit.  The station remained at #3, though it is now tied with KAMP, which scored the exact same number for the third straight month to move up one spot.  KROQ was up a bit yet slipped a spot to #6, trading places with KLAX – which as recently as MAY was #11.

KIIS and KBIG keep trading spaces at the top of the 18-49 leaderboard.  It was KIIS’s turn this time as the station scored its best book since MARCH to move up a spot to #1, relegating its cluster mate to #2.  KPWR was flat to remain at #3 while KAMP was up slightly to hold on to #4.  A year ago, KLAX was in a tie at #17 in this demo, but after posting its best number in over a year, it moved up a spot to #5.  This forced KROQ, which was off slightly, to take one step back to #6.

CHICAGO: Bubbling Under

Very little changes at the very top of the WINDY CITY charts from book to book.  As per usual, CCM+E Urban AC WVAZ (V103) was #1 for the ninth straight book despite posting its lowest number since JANUARY (6.7-6.2).  However, every station below V found itself in a new position.  CBS RADIO News WBBM-A had its best book since APRIL (4.9-5.4) to move up one spot to #2.  HUBBARD Hot AC WTMX (MIX) ended a three-book slide (5.0-5.2) yet dropped back one place to #3.  CBS RADIO Country WUSN (US 99.5) was completely flat (there might be a TAYLOR SWIFT singing joke in there ) yet moved up two spots to #4 (4.5-4.5).  CCM+E Top 40/M WKSC (KISS) had its best showing in over a year (3.9-4.3) to move up two places to #5.  With all this influx of new entrants into the top 5, there were bound to be a few exits.  CCM+E Urban WGCI slipped a couple of spots to #6 (4.7-4.2) while TRIBUNE N/T WGN-A secured its lowest number in over a year (4.6-4.0) to drop from #7 to #5.

At the beginning of the year, WTMX surged to the top of the 25-54 charts and has been there ever since. This time, the station widened its lead over #2 WVAZ to two full share points as the latter station was down for the second straight month.  Once again, WKSC had its best book in over a year to move out of a tie at #4 to #3, which dropped WGCI back one slot to #4.  There was a bit of drama and surprise at the next position, as three stations can now legitimately shout “We’re #5!”  WUSN was down for the second straight book and slipped out of a tie at #4 while UNIVISION Regional Mexican WOJO (LA QUE BUENA) moved up from #6 despite a slightly down book.  A name we have not called in quite some time – CBS RADIO AAA WXRT – had its best book in over a year to move up from a tie at #8.

Make it now four straight books that WGCI has been #1 18-34.  Though its number dipped slightly, the station still has a commanding lead over the new #2 – WKSC – which moved up a spot on the basis of – again – its best book in over a year.  WTMX was flat to remain at #3 while CBS RADIO Top 40/M WBBM-F (B96) moved up a slot into a tie at #4 with CRAWFORD Urban WPWX (POWER), which had its best book since APRIL.  Over the last four surveys, CCM+E Regional Mexican WNUA (EL PATRON) has been on quite a roller coaster as it has gone from #10 to #6 to #2 to its current position at #7.

Last survey, WGCI ended WTMX’s seven-month run as the #1 station 18-49.  Turnabout is fair play as the stations swapped positions once again with MIX coming out on top this time around.  WKSC took over sole possession of the #3 slot with its best book in exactly one year.  WBBM-F was up for the second book in a row to move up one spot to #4 while WVAZ was down for the fourth straight month to drop two places to #5.

SAN FRANCISCO: News Rules

Make it three straight months at #1 for CBS RADIO News KCBS-A as the station posted its best number since MAY (5.2-5.3) to wrestle control of the top spot all to itself.  CUMULUS Sports KNBR-A, which had a share of first place last month, scored its lowest number since MARCH (5.2-4.9) to slip back to #2.  CBS RADIO Top 40/M KMVQ (NOW) continued its strong recent showing (4.6-4.7) to move up one spot to #3. CCM+E Hot AC KIOI (STAR) had the move of the month as it landed its best number in over a year (3.6-4.6) to shoot up the chart from #8 to #4 – its first appearance in the top 5 since MARCH.  Back in JUNE, ENTERCOM AC KOIT was sharing time at #1 but has slipped a bit since then.  Its most recent showing (4.9-4.5) dropped the station from #3 to #5.  CCM+E Top 40/R KMEL bounced back from its lowest book of the year (4.1-4.4) but still dropped a position to #6.

KIOI was certainly the shining star 25-54 this survey as the station hit a tape-measure blast – increasing its shares by a point-and-a-half to zoom from #6 all the way to #1.  Last month’s leader – KMVQ – was flat and strong but still dropped to #2.  KQED INC N/T KQED moved out of a tie at #4 back to #3.  The station was #1 as recently as APRIL.  Yet another former #1 draft pick – KNBR – slipped from #3 to #4 where it found itself in a three-way tie.  CCM+E Top 40/R KYLD (WILD) was there last time, and because it was flat, it was there again.  KOIT, which was #1 in JUNE, posted its lowest total since APRIL to drop into that tie from #2.
18-34 is generally drama-free as KMEL tends to dominate here – and the station held true to form, rebounding from its only single-digit number of the year with another double-digit performance.  KYLD remained at #2 though it is over three shares in arrears.  KMVQ was off slightly to remain at #3 while CBS RADIO Alternative KITS (LIVE 105) had its best book since MARCH to move up one to #4.  KIOI’s magic month continued as the station had its highest number since APRIL to move from a tie at #8 to #5. KNBR’S wild-card hopes faded as it scored its lowest total since MARCH to sink in the standings from #4 to #7.

This marked the ninth consecutive month that KMEL was #1 18-49 and the station was able to widen its lead slightly over #2 KMVQ.  If you’ve been following along, you can probably guess that KIOI had its best book in over a year to jump two places to #3.  KYLD was off for the second straight book to slip a spot to #4.  KQED had its best number since MAY to advance two squares to #5.  KOIT had its lowest showing since FEBRUARY to drop from #4 into a tie at #6.

DALLAS-FT. WORTH: Nine For Nine

It has been a clean sweep – so far – in 2013 for CCM+E Top 40/M KHKS (KISS) as the station continued to dominate the market despite a slightly down book (8.0-7.8).  SALEM Christian Contemporary KLTY remained at #2 and managed to narrow the gap after raising its highest number since the HOLIDAY book (5.1-5.9).  CUMULUS Country KPLX (THE WOLF) was flat (4.7-4.7) to continue its hold on #3 though it is now sharing space with CCM+E Hot AC KDMX (NOW), which moved up from #4 with its second-best book of the year (4.4-4.7).  SERVICE Urban KKDA (K104) had a monster book (3.7-4.6) – easily its best in over a year – to raise its profile from #8 to #5.  CCM+E Classic Rock KZPS (LONE STAR) was off slightly (4.3-4.2) and was asked to take one small step back to #6.

KHKS is on a two-book surge and just landed its best 25-54 share in over a year to maintain its three-share lead over #2 KLTY, which had its best book since APRIL.  KDMX was off for the second straight month yet managed to move up one spot to #3.  This certainly turned out to be KKDA’s month as the station scored another killer book to take a giant leap from #10 to #4.  In the past year the station has never ranked higher than #9.  KPLX was up enough to break out of a tie at #5 and take the position all to itself while KZPS, which was also up but not as much, slid from that #5 tie to #6.  UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLNO (LA QUE BUENA) took another tumble to fall from a tie at #2 to #7. Only two months ago the station was tied at #1 25-54.

It seems we say this every month, but it was another dominant performance 18-34 for KHKS as the station was up significantly for the second month in a row.  KKDA remained at #2 but that does not paint the complete picture.  The station had a huge increase and actually closed the gap on KISS to less than two-and-a-half points.  KLTY has had an interesting run this summer.  Its last four books landed it at #10, #10, #3 and #3 – again.  KDMX had its best showing since APRIL to move from a tie at #9 into a tie at #4 with KPLX, which had its best book since MAY to move up from a tie at #5. CUMULUS Country KSCS was the other half of that #5 tie but it slipped into a tie at #6 despite earning its best number since FEBRUARY.  KLNO’s rough ride continued as it landed its lowest number since OCTOBER to tumble four spots to #8.

The top five players 18-49 remained unchanged though there was one alteration to the order.  KHKS kept its foot on the gas to keep its commanding lead while KKDA became the new #2 station as it moved up from #5 with another “best book in over a year.”  KLTY had its best book in exactly one year to remain at #3 while KDMX rebounded from its lowest book of the year to stay at #4.  KLNO ended an eight-book run at #2 and drifted down to #5.

This wraps up round one of our exclusive analysis for ALL ACCESS.  Stay tuned for our next action-packed episode as we examine the fates and fortunes of HOUSTON-GALVESTON, WASHINGTON, DC, PHILADELPHIA, ATLANTA and BOSTON.

But first, this important message …

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