Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive Dec. PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta And Boston

Christmas Presents

ALL ACCESS presents DECEMBER 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.

After a bit of a delay so we could check our well-hung stockings, we return with round two of our analysis of the DECEMBER survey – which really was all about the month of NOVEMBER.  Specifically, it covered the period of 11/7 through 12/4.  As stated previously, there were several “real world” events that had an impact on listening patterns and habits in this book.  First, there was that great American holiday of THANKSGIVING, which spread like a gravy stain over weeks three and four.

Then, there was the annual march of the wooden soldiers as stations across the country rejiggered their line-ups in order to accommodate a heavy dose of holiday cheer.  As you will see, this formatic alteration generally yielded some strong results.

We now present the fruit of the RESEARCH DIRECTOR. data elves ….

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: It’s Lovely Weather

Things certainly got shiny and bright in H-TOWN as CCM+E AC KODA (SUNNY) turned on the Christmas lights on 11/22 and used the back half of the book to propel it to #1 (7.1-8.5).  This actually exceeded the station’s 8.4 it received this time last year.  This also brought to an end the run of RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) at #1 as the station slipped to #2 even though it had its best book since AUGUST (7.8-7.9).  Cluster mate RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) was #3 for the third straight month (6.3-6.1) while COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) was a solid #4 again by matching its best number of 2013 (5.9-5.9).  UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) was also flat to remain at #5 (5.0-5.0).  There was a second entrant into the all-CHRISTMAS sweepstakes as KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Christian Contemporary KSBJ flipped on 11/30 – likely too late in the book to have a measurable effect as the station remained at #6 (4.6-4.0).

For the fourth straight survey, KBXX was #1 25-54 though the station’s share dipped a bit.  That was enough to allow KODA to move up from #3 into a tie at the top of the tree – with a share slightly better than last season’s.  For the second straight survey, KKBQ had its best book in over a year and was rewarded for its efforts by being demoted one spot to #3.  KLTN was flat and remained at #4 while KMJQ was down slightly but held on at #5.

And what to our wondering eyes should appear?  A lack of the CHRISTMAS music effect 18-34.  KBXX had its usual monstrous share to lead the field by a wide margin – to the tune of six-plus shares over new #2 KLTN, which moved up two places.  KKBQ remained at #3 despite being down for the fourth straight survey.  CCM+E Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) posted its lowest number in over a year to drop two spots to #4 while CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA) had its best book in over a year to climb from #9 to #5.  Cluster mate CBS RADIO Top 40/M KKHH (HOT) was off for the second consecutive month and slipped three spots to #8.  And, what of our SANTA station?  Well, KODA was actually flat and dropped one spot to #7 -- a better share but a lower ranking than a year ago.

The top four spots remained unchanged 18-49 starting with KBXX and another double-digit performance.  KKBQ matched its best book of the year while being flat and stayed at #2, while KODA remained at #3 even though it had its highest share since the HOLIDAY survey.  It is in a much stronger position than it was a year ago.  KLTN was up slightly to hold on at #4.  KTBZ posted its lowest share in over a year to remain at #5 though it is now tied with KLOL, which moved up from #8 on the strength of its best showing since SEPTEMBER.

WASHINGTON, DC: So Hop Aboard The Turntable

Yes, NORTHERN VIRGINIA, there is a SANTA CLAUS and he returned to his usual radio locale on 11/22.  But, before we find out how well he performed, we must point out that there has been another change atop the chart.  Last month, HUBBARD News WTOP rode a multitude of important local stories to the top.  With a relative return to normalcy, the station dropped back to #2 this survey (9.3-7.5).  For the fifth time in the last six months, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU was the #1 station (8.3-7.7) – a feat we do not routinely see with any other non-commercial station.  Now, about that rotund elf – CCM+E AC WASH rode the sleigh and rode it hard (4.6-6.3) to move up two places to #3.  Last year at this frozen moment in time, it was #2 with a 7.8 share.  Cluster sister CCM+E Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) was up for the second straight month (6.0-6.1) yet fell a spot to #4.  HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR ended a two-book slide (5.3-5.5) but also fell one place to #5.  RADIO ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC) ended a three-book slide (4.6-5.1) but was also forced to take a step back to #6.

For the last two months, WIHT was forced to take a back seat to WTOP 25-54.  That all changed as HOT scored its best book since MAY to move back to the #1 position.  WHUR ended a mini two-book slide and moved from #3 into a tie at #2 with WASH, which benefitted from the presence of BURL IVES and his evil minions.  However, the station’s number was a full two shares lighter than a year ago.  WTOP saw its two-book run come to a screeching halt as the station dropped three places to #4.  WAMU was completely flat but had to drop a spot to #5.

Neither government shenanigans nor gay happy greetings could prevent WIHT from being its usual dominant self 18-34 as the station hit double digits for the eleventh straight survey.  RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) had its lowest book in over a year to remain at #2 but as recently as MARCH, it had actually beaten HOT.  CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC was up slightly to remain at #3 while CCM+E Alternative WWDC (DC101) received a small boost to hold on to #4.  Last survey, three stations were occupying the same #5 space at the same time.  They are no longer tied even though all three had positive ratings experiences.  As you might expect, WASH stayed at #5 with a solid showing but one that was still lower than last year’s. CBS RADIO Hot AC WIAD (FRESH) was up for the fourth straight month – posting its best number in over a year – yet dropped a spot to #6.  CCM+E Country WMZQ was up slightly yet dropped to #7.

WIHT had its best 18-49 book since MAY to remain #1 while WASH went up the chimney three places to end up at #2 – though its share was well off last year’s pace.  WKYS landed its lowest number in over a year to drop one spot to #3 while WHUR was flat for the second straight month to stay at #4.  WWDC ended a two-book slide to hold on at #5 while WTOP shed enough share to fall three places to #6.

PHILADELPHIA: … Was Alive As He Could B …

You know, it’s not like WEAZ-FM RADIO WBEB (B101) needed the help.  After all, the station has been #1 in 10 of the previous 13 surveys.  But, by flipping to the FROSTY format, it really piled on (7.3-10.9).  While it was also #1 a year ago, it was so with a relatively puny 9.5 share.  Speaking of puny, it looks like the surprise run of the EAGLES left a nice surprise under the tree of CBS RADIO Sports WIP-F.  A year ago it was tied at #11 with a 3.3 share.  This time, it moved from a tie at #3 to #2 (5.6-6.0).  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR also was moving up – three places to #3 (5.4-5.6), while its older cluster brother GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK also moved up one to #4 despite a flat book (5.5-5.5).  A surprise second entrant into the world of RULDOPH radio was CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL, which flipped on 12/2 – a little late to have much impact on this survey.  The station did unwrap its lowest number since JANUARY (6.6-5.3) to fall three spots to #5.  Hot off the presses, CBS RADIO News KYW-A had its lowest number in over a year (5.6-5.1) to drop from a tie at #3 to a tie at #6 with BEASLEY Country WXTU, which climbed from #8 on the strength of its second consecutive up book (4.8-5.1).

For the first time since MARCH, WBEB is back on top 25-54 with a number that precisely duplicated what it had a year ago.  WMMR had its lowest number since APRIL to drop back to #2 though it is still ahead of WIP-F, which was up for the sixth straight survey and climbed a spot to #3.  WMGK dropped one place to #4 while WXTU ended a two-book slide to move up two places to #5.  WOGL found a lump of coal in its stocking as it dropped four spots to #9.

It looks like all the cool kids decided to look up from their smartphones and listened to the radio as WBEB added over four shares to its already large 18-34 number and moved up a spot to #1.  The station is two full shares larger than it was a year ago.  CCM+E Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) was down for the sixth consecutive survey – posting its lowest number in over a year – and dropped out of the top spot for the first time since JUNE.  WXTU slipped from a tie at #2 to #3 but the station’s number was exactly double what it had a year ago.  WMMR moved up a spot to #4, trading spaces with CCM+E Urban WUSL (POWER), which landed its lowest total in over a year.

Wondering eyes will not be surprised to read that WBEB moved from #2 to #1 18-49 with a double-digit share – easily eclipsing its lofty total from a year ago.  WMMR posted its lowest number since FEBRUARY and saw its eight-month run at #1 come to an end.  WXTU had its best book since JUNE to remain at #3 while CCM+E Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) was flat and happy at #4.  WRFF was also flat and remained at #5 though it was tied with WIP-F, which scored its best book in over a year to move up from a tie at #6.

ATLANTA: Up On The House Top …

Last year, ATLANTA was one of the few markets not to have a mainstream SANTA station and it looks like history will repeat itself.  More on that in a bit.  First, after three months spent wallowing at #2, CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V-103) was back up on top with its best book since APRIL (7.2-8.0).  This forced COX RADIO Talk WSB-A to take one small step back to #2 (8.1-7.5).  Fellow cluster member COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) had its highest number since AUGUST (6.4-6.8) to remain at #3 while another brother from the same cluster – COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) – was still at #4 even though it landed its lowest total in over a year (6.3-6.1).  RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) held on at #5 even though it also had its lowest showing in over a year (6.0-5.8).  As for that CHRISTMAS stuff, SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (THE FISH) flipped on 11/27 and saw no immediate impact as it was flat as a flounder (3.8-3.8) to remain at #11.

WVEE continued its unabated run to #1 25-54 with its best book since SEPTEMBER and leads new #2 – WAMJ – by over two and a half shares.  COX RADIO Classic Hits WSRV (THE RIVER) dipped a bit to drop a spot to #3 while WSB-F – which is now on a three-book slide – held steady at #4.  WALR had its lowest total in over a year to remain in a tie at #5 though it had a new partner in CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100), which moved up from #7 despite posting its lightest share since APRIL.  WSB-A dropped out of its share of #5 and landed at #9 with its tiniest number since JULY.  WFSH saw a bit of action by posting its best number since the HOLIDAY book and moved up three spots to a tie at #10.

Though RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) had a down book, it still posted a double-digit share 18-34 and continued to lead #2 WVEE – which was flat – by a considerable margin.  WWWQ had its lowest showing in over a year yet managed to move from #4 into a tie at #3 with CCM+E Regional Mexican WBZY (EL PATRON), which moved up from a tie at #8.  WSB-F saw its three-book surge come to an end as it slipped two spots to #5.  LINCOLN Hot AC WSTR (STAR) was not shining as brightly as it dropped five places to #10.

Things remained relatively status quo 18-49 as WVEE held on to its customary and lofty perch at #1 and WHTA assumed its familiar role as #2.  WAMJ was up for the third straight book and gained a position in the standings at #3, which forced WSB-F to step back to #4.  WSRV was still the #5 station though WWWQ forged a tie by moving up from #6 despite scoring its lowest number since FEBRUARY.

BOSTON: Mom’s Smooching With Santa

Last survey, for the third time in five months, the ringing bells were alarms as CCM+E Top 40/M WXKS (KISS 108) was dethroned by two different stations.  Well, just ahead of the seasonal onslaught of roasting chestnuts, the station returned to the top despite having a flat book (6.8-6.8).  GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) switched to SANTA on 11/22 and caught enough elfin, ahem, magic to move up two places to #2 (5.8-6.7) with a number that was just off last year’s 6.8 share.  CBS RADIO Classic Rock WZLX, which surprised everyone by claiming the top spot last month, dropped back to more familiar turf at #3 (6.9-6.2).  GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB – which led the market in both JULY and AUGUST – ended a four-book slide (5.8-6.0) to remain at #4.  CBS RADIO News WBZ-A moved up a spot to #5 with its best book since AUGUST (5.5-5.6).  The end of the RED SOX dream season was a bit of a nightmare for sports radio.  CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) ended a nice three-book winning streak (6.7-5.1) to fall four spots in the standings to #7. Meanwhile, ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F had its lowest number since JULY (5.0-3.2) to fall from #8 to #13.

While WZLX may have abdicated the overall #1 throne, it remained in the #1 spot 25-54 for the second straight month with yet another strong performance.  WXKS was flat yet managed to elevate its position by one to #2.  WMJX was ring jing jingling to the tune of a one-position elevation to #3 – with a number that exceeded last year’s share.  WBZ-F dropped two spots to #4.  Coming from out of the blue was CBS RADIO Top 40/M WODS (AMP) as the station scurried from a tie at #13 all the way to #5 with easily its best book in over a year.  WKLB was down for the fifth straight month and dropped from a tie at #5 to #6.  WEEI-F dropped a little bit farther and harder – falling from a tie at #5 to a tie at #14.

For the second straight survey, CCM+E Top 40/R WMJN (JAM’N) led the league 18-34 after posting its best number since MARCH.  WXKS continued its downward spiral.  Though it remained at #2, the station has been down or flat for six straight books, and is currently over five shares lighter than it was a year ago.  GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) was flat but still moved up two spots to #3 – matching its highest ranking since the flip.  WZLX shed some share yet remained at #4 though it is now tied with WMJX, which followed RUDOLPH and moved up two squares.  WBZ-F ended a nice four-book run and dropped back three spots to #6.

After a one-month hiatus, WXKS was back to its customary #1 position 18-49 – though the station did post its lowest number in over a year.  WZLX dropped some share yet moved up a spot to #2 while WBZ-F took a tumble from the top spot to #3.  WMJX was feasting on fruit cake as it jumped two places to #4 with its best book since MARCH.  WJMN had its best book since JANUARY yet had the misfortune of falling a spot to #5.  WKLB ended a four-book slide but that was not enough to prevent the station from slipping from #5 to #6.

And thus ends round two of our ratings analysis of AMERICA’s largest markets.  Our next action-splattered tale will focus on DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE, PHOENIX, and MINNEAPOLIS.

In the meantime, feel free to opine on anything you have read here. You can reach us via the usual platforms listed below.

E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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