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

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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.

Welcome back to our third – and final – round of SEPTEMBER ratings analysis.  By now we’ve all become accustomed to saying the “Nielsen Audio Ratings” instead of that other company name … which we have already forgotten.

As a reminder, this book covered 8/15-9/11 so it really was more about AUGUST.  Also, week three of this survey was neatly bisected by the three-day Labor Day weekend and that will always have an effect 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, here’s the news …

DETROIT: Imported From Nashville

Apparently, the MOTOR CITY has become CBS RADIO’s personal playground as the company – once again – owns the top four spots.  Leading the parade for the fourth consecutive month was CBS RADIO Country WYCD, which was down slightly (8.1-7.9).  It was followed closely by its cluster brother CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET), which had its best book since NOVEMBER to remain at #2 (7.2-7.8).  (Side Note: This was the first full month in format for GREATER MEDIA Sports WMGC but the station failed to reach the top 20.)  CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC had its highest number since MARCH to move up one slot to #3 (6.0-6.8), which forced its cluster sibling, CBS RADIO News WWJ-A, to drop back a step as it reported its lowest book since DECEMBER (6.5-6.3).  The one non-CBS interloper in the top 5 was – once again – CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX), which scored its lowest number since JANUARY (5.9-5.4).

For the last five books, either WYCD or WXYT-F was the #1 station 25-54. It was WXYT’s turn this time as the smell of mink oil and pennant fever drove the station to its highest share since NOVEMBER.  WYCD was down slightly to slip to #2 but both stations are well ahead of the rest of the pack.  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF had its best book in over a year and moved up a slot to #3 while CCM+E Urban WJLB had its best showing since MARCH to advance two spaces to #4.  WMXD again had its lowest total since JANUARY to drop a couple of places to #5.  CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) landed its lowest share since APRIL to fall three spots to #8.

Another demo and another dominating performance by a CBS station.  For the fourth straight book, WYCD scored double-digit shares 18-34 to continue to lead the race by a hefty margin.  WKQI was off a bit but remained at #2 while WJLB was nipping at the station’s heels as it scored its best number since APRIL to stay at #3.  Once again, WRIF had its best book in over a year and climbed one spot to #4.  Two stations going in opposite directions collided at #5.  WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR slipped from #4 with its lowest total in over a year while WXYT slid hard into second to move up from a tie at #6.

In case you were wondering, yes, CBS owned 18-49, too.  WYCD was #1 for the fourth time in a row while WXYT-F was up noticeably for the second straight book to remain at #2.  WJLB bounced back from an uncharacteristically low book to move up a spot to #3, which forced WKQI to take a small step back to #4.  WRIF was up for the fifth straight book but had to settle for #5 again.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: It’s Always Hot In Here

The tropical breezes, the sun-tanned bodies, the sounds of the surf … these have absolutely nothing to do with the radio ratings in MIAMI but we have completely run out of “hot” clichés. COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) used to routinely throw 9 shares on the table and completely dominate the market.  Well, now it only throws 8 shares (8.9-8.6) but it still completely dominates the market. UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) had its best book in over a year (6.2-6.4) and all it got was a second place trophy. COX RADIO Urban WEDR (JAMZ) matched its lowest book of the year (6.1-6.1) and was allowed to stay right where it was at #3. LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE) also had its best book in over a year (5.6-5.7) and was told it could keep its #4 medal for another month.  CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y 100) had its best book since MAY (5.0-5.3) and was actually allowed to advance one square to #5.  This forced COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) to take one step back to #6 as the station matched its lowest total of the last year (5.1-5.1).

WHQT showed off its best 25-54 book since FEBRUARY to stretch its lead over #2 WEDR to over two shares. By virtue of landing its best book in over a year, WAMR moved up two spots in the ranks to #3 while WHYI kept a firm grasp on #4 with its best book in over a year.  BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) had fallen on some lean times recently as the station fell to as low as #11 just two months ago.  However, it bounced back with a vengeance this book to climb three spots to #5.  WLYF saw its two-book surge come to an end as it slipped three places to #6.

As dominant as WHQT is overall, WEDR just completely owns the 18-34 demo. The station is consistently (read: always) in double digits and usually leads the field by a wide margin. Those statements still ring true but WPOW is on a serious two-book surge and is now within shouting distance of the top spot.  WHYI was flat to remain at #3 while UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) ended a two-book slide to move up a spot to #4. WHQT was actually down but it moved up one to #5 in large part because WLYF took a big drop to fall from #4 into a tie at #6.

WEDR continued its unabated run at #1 18-49, ending a two-book slide while it was at it.  WHYI had its best book since MAY to remain at #2 and close the gap with WEDR to almost a share point.  This is the closest anyone has been to that station in over a year.  WHQT scored its best number in exactly one year but had to settle for another stay at #3. WPOW’s best book since APRIL allowed the station to take one step forward to #4 while WAMR slipped back one space to #5 even though it posted its best book in over a year. WRTO was flat, but alas, that was not enough to prevent the station from dropping out of a tie at #5 to the #6 position.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Is It Warm In Here, Or Is It Just Me?

We are nine months into 2013 and, in that time, three different stations have taken turns leading the market 6+. This time, two of those three ended up in a tie at #1. CBS Classic Rock KZOK was there last month but it is on a two-book slide (6.0-5.4), which opened the door for HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM). The station had its best book since FEBRUARY (5.2-5.4) to jump three places to share the #1 medallion.  The other station to spend time at the top – HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) was unmoved by its lowest number since JANUARY (5.7-5.1) and slipped a spot to #3.  CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) flew back into the top 5 for the first time since APRIL (4.2-4.7), climbing two spots to #4.  ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW ended a two-book run (5.6-4.6) to drop a couple of spots to #5.  CCM+E Classic Hits KJR-F had spent the last two months at #5 but was handed its lowest number (4.3-3.8) since that most wonderful time of the year to drop five places to #10.

In the 25-54 arena, five different stations have taken #1 for a spin in 2013.  And, for the second straight month, your winner is KISW.  However, the station’s once huge lead has shrunk to the lowest edge that is mathematically possible in ARB-uh, NIELSEN AUDIO as two stations are right there at #2.  KZOK was there last month but posted its lowest number since APRIL while KQMV was down slightly but still managed to move on up one space.  Two other stations are all tied up at #4.  KRWM was the incumbent and had its best book since FEBRUARY while ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) rebounded from its second-lowest book of the year to claw its way up from #6.  FISHER Hot AC KPLZ (STAR) had its lowest number since APRIL to fall from #5 into a tie at #8.

For 18-34, the choice to lead has been focused on three stations this year.  For the fourth month in a row, that choice was KQMV even though it had its lowest showing since APRIL.  KKWF had a three-book run at the top earlier in the year and is attempting a comeback as it moved up two notches to #2.  CCM+E Top 40/R KUBE began the year on top but posted its lowest number since MAY to drop back one to #3.  

Cluster buddy CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) is on a three-book slide yet managed to pull itself up a spot to #4.  CBS RADIO Country KMPS ended a three-book slide to also take one step forward to #5.  KISW scored its lowest number since MARCH and fell four places to #7.

By contrast with the other demos, 18-49 has been relatively stable as KQMV and KISW have jockeyed back and forth for the leadership position.  This time, KQMV moved back to #1 even though it had its lowest book since APRIL.  KISW ended a pretty robust two-book surge to drop back to #2.  KKWF ended its three-book slide to bound up a spot to #3 while KRWM had its best showing since JANUARY to jump three places to #4.  Two stations were knotted at #5.  KBKS was down for the third straight survey and did not change position while KZOK had its lowest number since APRIL to drop two places.  KUBE was tied at #5 last month but was down for the second straight survey and slid to #7.

PHOENIX: It’s Your Turn

For the last eight months, two stations have been alternating their time between the #1 and #2 positions 6+.  This month, CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) moved to the head of the class by rebounding from its lowest number of the year (5.6-5.8).  Last month, CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL appeared to have a commanding lead as the market leader but that quickly evaporated as the station could not quite maintain that torrid pace (7.0-5.7).  Meanwhile, cluster brother CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (LIVE) scored its best number in over a year (4.4-4.9) to leap frog three spaces to #3.  CCM+E Country KNIX was in a tie at #4 last month and the station finds itself in the same position (4.5-4.7) though it is now a solo act.  Now being supplied with a fresh corporate logo, HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX scored its lowest number since APRIL to fall from #3 to #5.  BONNEVILLE Adult Hits KPKX (THE PEAK) was in a tie at #4 last survey but hit a bit of a valley (4.5-3.9) to slide from one tie to another – this time at #10.

There was a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on 25-54 as every station ended up in a new position this month.  Acting like it has been there before (which it has) KESZ zoomed from #5 to #1 with its best book since APRIL.  HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD was perfectly flat but through the miracle of modern math actually took two steps forward to land at #2. Two stations, headed in different directions, were hangin’ out at #3 – KNIX and KSLX.  KSLX slipped from its lofty perch at #1, while KNIX bounded up three spaces.  KOOL and BONNEVILLE Talk KTAR also joined at one spot from different directions.  KOOL dropped from #2 into a tie at #5, and KTAR moved up from #7 with its best book in over a year.  KPKX picked up its lowest total since MAY to fall from #3 to #9.

KUPD is riding a pretty strong hot streak 18-34 as the station was up for the third straight book and, for the second month in a row, found itself at #1.  It had a pretty substantial lead over new #2 KZON, which moved up one spot based largely on having its best book in over a year.  As recently as JUNE, CBS RADIO Country KMLE was sitting at #10 but the station has been on a roll of late and scored its best book in over a year to get over the hump from #7 to #3.  CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) slipped a bit so it dropped from #2 to #4 while KNIX had its lowest total since MARCH to drop back one place to #5.  Last month, two stations were locked in combat at #5.  They remain tied but now reside at #8.  CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX) had its lowest book since MAY while KOOL could not quite match last month’s second-best book of the year.

The 18-49 leader remained unchanged as KUPD had a solid showing and continued to dominate the market.  Beyond that, everything changed.  KZON scored its best book in over a year to leap from #5 to #2 while KESZ landed its best total since FEBRUARY to move up four spots to #3.  Only to be slightly outdone, KNIX improved its fortunes sufficiently to climb from #6 to #4.  With all this upward mobility, it stands to reason a few stations had to move in the other direction.  KZZP had its lowest book since MAY to drop from a tie at #3 to #5.  KPKX could not match its best book of the year from last month and fell from #2 to #6.  KOOL has been on a rollercoaster the last four books, going either up or down by a full share each month.  This was a down trend as it fell from a tie at #3 to #8.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: It’s Tight At The Top

This looks an awful lot like the American League Wild Card race over the last few weeks of the season (sorry, TWINS fans) as four stations are tightly packed at the top.  CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB returned to #1 for the seventh time in the last nine books with its best number since APRIL (8.3-8.6).  However, three stations are very close behind as they share space at #2.  HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS 95) slipped back from the top spot with a down book (8.5-8.0).  CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) was also down slightly (8.2-8.0) yet managed to move up from #3.  CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS secured its best number in over a year (7.8-8.0) to move into the battle from #4.  NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE Christian Contemporary KTIS raised its best total since MAY (5.9-6.5) to climb three spots to #5.  A couple of stations that were tied at #5 last month fell a bit farther back in the race.  CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) was off a bit (6.5-6.1) to drop to #6 while CCM+E Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) had its lowest number in over a year (6.5-5.5) to drop to #8.

Things are slightly less compressed 25-54 but KSTP remained the runaway market leader, topping the chart for the seventh book in a row.  KQRS again had its best book in over a year to move up one spot to #2 while KDWB had its lowest number since DECEMBER to slip back one space to #3.  KEEY was flat and happy to remain at #4.  Three stations decided to room together at #5.  CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM) was there last month and is there again.  CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) was up for the second straight month to join the party from #7 while KTIS put on its best showing since APRIL to move in from #9.

Two stations continue to rule the 18-34 roost.  KDWB is never a surprise as the station always throws down double-digit shares but KXXR has become a bit of a playah the last couple of months by joining that lofty club, as well.  KEEY had another solid book to remain a distant #3 while KSTP slipped slightly yet still moved up two spots to #4.  KMNB ended a pretty dramatic four-book surge and took one small step back to #5.  KZJK did not do exactly what it wanted as it shed a bit of share to drop from #5 into a tie at #6.

As per usual, KDWB was the dominant station 18-49 as it was flat – albeit with a monster share – from last survey.  KSTP was #2 again – something it has done in every survey this year.  KQRS scored its best number in over a year to move out of a tie at #6 and claim the #3 position.  KEEY was down ever so minimally yet did drop back one place to #4.  KXXR was also down the minimum amount but it actually moved up one spot to #5.  KMNB dropped from #4 to #6 while KZJK took a couple of steps back to #7.

So concludes our action-splattered production of the SEPTEMBER 2013 NIELSEN AUDIO numbers.  Thank you for playing and be sure to pre-set your computer so you can join us again next month.

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