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

Final 5 Market Analysis

ALL ACCESS presents OCTOBER 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 to the third and final installment of our ratings analysis.  As with our previous editions, this covers the misleadingly named OCTOBER survey, which actually covered 9/12 through 10/09.  As always, we will bow to local market knowledge so if you wish to illuminate, magnify, or correct any of our observations, please feel free to reach out to us through a variety of platforms:

E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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Web: www.researchdirector.com

Now, on with the show …

DETROIT: Yeah, That’s The Ticket

This is the third straight month that CBS RADIO has held the top four spots in the rankings 6+.  And for the entire year – so far – one of their own has been the #1 station.  Quite the impressive accomplishment.  A combination of TIGERS, WOLVERINES, LIONS and RED WINGS propelled CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) back to #1 (7.8-8.0) for the first time since NOVEMBER.  This sent cluster brother CBS RADIO Country WYCD back one square to #2 (7.9-7.6) – ending the station’s four-month stay at #1.  CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC matched its third-best book of the year (6.8-6.8) to remain at #3 while CBS RADIO News WWJ-A came in at #4 again (6.3-6.4).  The one interloper in the top five that is not under DAN MASON’s watch was CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX), which held firm at #5 (5.4-5.5).  All the gnashing of teeth and waving of arms around the government shutdown and Obamacare likely fueled CUMULUS Talk WJR-A as the station had its best book since last NOVEMBER’s election frenzy (4.4-5.4) and moved from a tie at #10 to #6.

There was a bit of shufflin’ around in the 25-54 ranks but the top two players remained unscathed.  WXYT-F had its best book since NOVEMBER to remain on top for the second straight survey while WYCD had a slight increase and stayed at #2.  WMXD also experienced a slight bump but that was enough to move the station forward two spaces to #3.  CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD had its best showing since JUNE to move up three spots to #4.  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF had its lowest number since SANTA  was rockin’ and dipped from #3 to #5, where it was tied with RADIO ONE Urban AC WDMK (KISS), which moved up from #9 with its best book in over a year.  CCM+E Urban WJLB registered its lowest score since AUGUST to drop three spots to #7.

For the fifth consecutive survey, WYCD cracked the double-digit barrier 18-34.  Needless to say, the station was #1 again and maintained a solid two-plus share lead over #2 CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955).  WJLB remained at #3 despite posting its lowest number since AUGUST.  Last month, two stations were spending some time together at #5.  WXYT-F, again, had its best book since NOVEMBER, which enabled it to move up a spot to #4, while WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR – despite an up book – stayed still at #5.  WRIF experienced enough of a ratings loss to slide from #4 to #6.

WYCD set another 18-49 high water mark and captured the #1 spot for the fifth consecutive survey.  The recurring theme of WXYT-F having its best book since NOVEMBER continued here and kept the station at #2 as it crept up on its cluster mate.  WKQI was off slightly but actually moved up one spot to #3 in large measure because WJLB matched its lowest number of the year and slid a spot to #4.  Though WRIF posted its lowest number since JUNE, the station kept its hold on the #5 position.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: Cox Rox

Up until AUGUST, COX RADIO owned the top two spots 6+ in every single survey.  After a two-month hiatus, a new streak has begun.  COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) was in its usual position at the head of the class with another solid book (8.6-8.8).  Cluster-mate COX RADIO Urban WEDR (JAMZ) had its best showing since JUNE (6.1-6.6) and moved back to more familiar turf at #2.  This dropped UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) back to #3 as the station had its lowest number since JUNE (6.4-6.1).  LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE), at #4, is making a bid to crack the top three as the station secured its best book in over a year (5.7-5.9), which also happened to be its fourth straight up book.  CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) was off slightly (5.3-5.2) to hold on at #5.

For every survey of 2013, WHQT and WEDR have been #1 and #2, respectively, and that trend continued.  HOT had its lowest number since APRIL while WEDR had its best since that same month to measurably narrow the gap between the two.  WHYI was down slightly but managed to elevate its rank by one spot to #3.  Three stations were wrestling for control of the #4 position.  WAMR dropped some share to fall from #3 while BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) was flat, yet moved up from #5.  WLYF added enough share to advance two squares from #6.  A couple of stations further down the chart had noteworthy books – their best in over a year.  CCM+E Classic Rock WBGG (BIG) moved from #12 into a tie at #9 with LINCOLN Classic Hits WMXJ (MAGIC), which advanced from a tie at #13.

For the first time in over a year, there was a new #1 station 18-34.  WPOW was up for the third straight month – topping double digits – and took the crown away from WEDR, which had its lowest total in over a year.  This has the makings of a real donnybrook – watch this space.  WHYI was flat for the second straight book to remain a distant #3.  UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) remained at #4 despite shedding some share.  WHQT was down for the second straight book to remain at #5.

WEDR continued to lead the way 18-49, posting its best book since APRIL, while WHYI was down slightly to remain a more distant #2.  WPOW had its best book since MARCH to move up a slot to #3, while WHQT dropped back to #4 after posting its lowest total since APRIL.  WAMR was also off a bit but remained a solid #5.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: It’s A Cinderella Story

You may need a pen and paper to keep track of the goings and comings for this survey.  We begin at the beginning where for the second straight month, there was a tie at the top.  Both HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) (5.4-5.4) and CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK (5.4-5.4) matched each other blow for blow.  Then, things started to get interesting.  As recently as JUNE, Bonneville Talk KIRO-F was sitting at #16 with a 3.0 share.  It has been on an upswing since then, and its most recent performance (4.2-5.1) – easily its best in over a year – has rocketed the station up the chart from #8 to #3.  ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW had enough of an increase (4.6-4.9) to move up a slot to #4.  One of the great things about PPM is that it can – and often does – register sudden changes in the marketplace.  On AUGUST 30th, ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) – formerly known as KMTT – changed format.  So, this was the first full survey with the new sweepers.  The station doubled its share (2.2-4.6) and moved an astounding 18 spots – from #23 to #5.  All this upward mobility did produce a couple of casualties.  HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN’) – which was #1 as recently as JUNE – posted its lowest number since the SANTA book (5.1-4.4) and moved itself down four spots to #7.  CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) received its lowest number in exactly one year (4.7-4.1) to descend from #4 to #10.

For the third straight book, KISW was atop the 25-54 leaderboard but it now has a brand new challenger.  KHTP made spectacular strides moving from a tie at #19 to #2.  Last month’s two-way tie at #2 ended as KZOK dropped to #3 with its lowest total since MARCH and KQMV ended up at #4 with its smallest number since JANUARY.  ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) was up slightly but still fell from a tie at #4 to #5.  KRWM also fell out of a tie at #4 but ended up at #7.  KIRO-F had a stellar showing in this demo, as well, climbing from #16 into a tie at #8.

It has been a very long time since anyone could legitimately claim the title “worst to firs,” but the moniker aptly applied to KHTP as the station went from #13 18-34 to #1.  Okay, so #13 is not exactly “worst,” but you get the idea.  KKWF was up for the second straight book to remain at #2 but trails the new leader by a full share.  Last month’s #1 – KQMV – had its lowest book since the CLAUS gang was in town and dropped two spots to #3.  KISW increased its share sufficiently to move up three places to #4 while CCM+E Top 40/R KUBE received its lowest number in over a year to drop two places to #5.  CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) also felt the sting of the market changes and had its lowest book in over a year to drop from #4 to #6.  CBS RADIO Country KMPS dropped two spots to #7 after posting its lowest score since JANUARY.

There was a new #1 station 18-49 but it was not who you may have thought it was.  KISW bounced back to the top for the third time in the last four books.  The new market darling – KHTP – did make things interesting as the station charged up the chart from a tie at #18 to #2.  KQMV fell from the top with its lowest book since jingle time and landed at #3.  KKWF was off slightly and dropped a spot to #4 while KRWM was in the same boat, as it dropped from #4 to #5.  Last month’s tie at #5 was no more as both stations moved down.  KBKS was actually up slightly yet ended up at #6 while KZOK scored its lowest book since MARCH to land in a tie at #7.

PHOENIX: Flip, Meet Flop

Ever since FEBRUARY, two stations have moved back and forth – trading places at #1 and #2.  It was CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL’s turn to drive the bus as it posted a flat book (5.7-5.7).  CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9 KEZ) landed its lowest book since NOVEMBER (5.8-5.1) and took one step back to #2.  HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX matched its best book of the year (4.5-4.9) to move up a couple of places to #3, while CCM+E Country KNIX remained at #4 as it, too, equaled its best performance of 2013 (4.7-4.8).  Cluster buddy CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) landed its largest share in over a year (4.1-4.7) to jump four places to #5.  CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (LIVE 101.5) dropped four spots to #7 with its smallest total since JUNE (4.9-4.3).

For the fifth straight month, a different station occupied the top spot 25-54.  KSLX had alternated between #1 and #3 every month during that span so the pattern dictated that it retake the lead, though it held on by the slimmest of margins over cluster bro’ HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD.  KNIX remained in a tie at #3 though it now has new partners -- KESZ, which dropped down from #1, while KZZP had its best book in over a year to move up from #8.  The two stations that were tied at #5 last month were both flat and remained tied, though they ended up at #6 – KOOL and BONNEVILLE Talk KTAR-F.

Make it three months in a row for KUPD as the #1 station 18-34, though its once huge lead had been whittled down to a manageable level as KZZP moved up two spots to #2 with its best showing in over a year.  #3 RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER) moved up three spaces from #6 on the strength of its best number since MAY, while KZON dropped two spots to #4.  KNIX had its smallest total since the stockings were hung but remained at #5, though it now has company in the form of KOOL, which moved in from a tie at #8.  CBS Country KMLE shed about a share to drop from #3 to #7.

A little movement but the players remained the same in the top five 18-49.  KUPD dropped some share but still held a strong advantage over the new #2 – KZZP, which moved up from #5 with its best book in over a year.  KZON was off a bit to drop down one to #3 while KNIX remained at #4 even though it, too, shed some share.  KESZ ended a three-book surge and fell back a couple of places to #5.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: #9 Dream

CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB finally did it – the station cracked the 9-share plateau (8.6-9.0) to remain the #1 station.  Last survey, three stations were densely packed at #2 but that tie was eliminated.  HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) had its best book in over a year (8.0-8.6) to claim the #2 position for itself while CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS saw its three-book surge come to an end (8.0-7.6), which deposited it at #3.  CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) harvested its lowest number since MAY (8.0-7.3) and worked its way down to #4.  Are the GOLDEN GOPHERS really that hot?  Well, something propelled CCM+E Sports KFXN (KFAN) as it scored its best book in over a year (3.8-5.6) to jump seven spaces from #12 into a tie at #5.  It shared that space with CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N), which moved up from #6 despite its second straight down book (6.1-5.6).  NORTHWEST COLLEGE Christian Contemporary KTIS had its lowest total since NOVEMBER (6.5-5.3) and tumbled from #5 into a tie at #8.

While it has come dangerously close before, KSTP finally cracked the double-digit barrier 25-54 and was #1 with a huge book.  However, KDWB moved up a spot to #2 and is just this close to joining KSTP in the double-digit club.  KQRS saw its three-book surge come to an end as it fell a spot to #3, while KFXN hit a tape measure shot to grind its way from #9 to #4.  Last month there was a three-way tie at #5.  This month the tie featured two stations but, out of all this movement, only one station stayed on the number.  CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) was the culprit though its numbers sagged slightly.  KEEY had its smallest showing since JANUARY to move down from #4.  CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM) chose its lowest number since APRIL to fall to #7 while KTIS received its smallest book since NOVEMBER to fall to #10.

KDWB posted a ridiculous number 18-34 to remain at #1.  How big was it?  Well, KXXR (at #2) cracked the double-digit mark for the third straight book and still trails KDWB by over three shares!  KSTP had its best performance since MAY and was rewarded with a move up from #4 to #3.  For the first time in 2013, KMNB beat KEEY in this demo.  The former moved up a spot to #4 even though it was off slightly from last month while the latter had its lowest score since APRIL to drop two spots to #5.

KDWB continued to dominate 18-49 and just posted its best book in over a year.  KSTP remained at #2 with its best number since MAY but still trails by almost three shares.  KXXR moved up two notches to #3 after securing its best book in over a year while KQRS slipped a spot to #4.  You can’t stop KFXN, you can only hope to contain them – the station jumped from #10 to #5.  KEEY’s woes continued as it dropped from #4 to #7 and trails KMNB in this demo, too, even though BUZ’N was down a bit as well.

Thank you for spending part of your radio day with our ratings analysis.  We will see you again same time, same platform, next month.

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