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

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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.

While you’ve been sifting through your gift receipts and dealing with tech support on your new device, the ratings elves at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. have been slaving away at our data analysis.  That SANTA is one stern taskmaster.  One thing we can say with a reasonable amount of certainty is that this whole CHRISTMAS music thing seems to have some legs – as you will soon see.

The DECEMBER survey covered 11/7 through 12/4 and besides the whole ho-ho-ho thing, the book was affected by the THANKSGIVING holiday.  Week 3 was the lead-up with everyone going over the river and through the traffic cones, while week 4 kicked off with the great American feast.  As a result, regular listening patterns could be affected.

DETROIT: We Three Kings Of Motown Are …

The MOTOR CITY has traditionally been a battleground market in the CHRISTMAS War (no, not the war on CHRISTMAS) as both CCM+E AC WNIC and erstwhile AC and current GREATER MEDIA Sports WMGC were duking it out.  While WMGC has opted for a different theatre of war, there were three stations that flipped to the all-jolly format during this survey.  The clear market leader – as has been its custom – was WNIC, which more than doubled its share (4.7-9.8) and moved from #8 to #1.  The station is a full three shares heftier than at this point a year ago.  It was also one of the earliest converts as it went full on FROSTY mode on the first day of the survey.  CBS RADIO Country WYCD received a new competitor – that immediately flipped to CHRISTMAS in the country – at the beginning of week two.  It would be difficult to tell which flavor of CHRISTMAS affected the station but something was afoot as it posted the lowest number since MAY (7.9-6.8) to slip to #2.  CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) had its lowest showing since JULY (7.6-6.1) to drop from #2 into a tie at #3 with cluster brother CBS RADIO News WWJ-A, which had its lowest book in exactly one year (6.8-6.1).  CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX) was up a tad (5.5-5.6) but slipped a spot to #5.  CUMULUS Talk WJR-A was off for the second straight survey (5.2-4.7) to fall two places to #7.  The tales of the “other” Christmas stations are probably yet to be told.  CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC flipped very late in the book (11/27) and saw a minimal share gain (5.0-5.1) and remained at #6 while CUMULUS Country WDRQ (NASH-FM) – which flipped on 11/13 – was flat (2.5-2.5) to remain at #18.

The folks at WNIC were sure conspiring by the fire as the station added almost four full shares to move from a tie at #9 to #1 25-54 with a number conspicuously larger than last year, when the station was #2.  WYCD remained at #2 but was a little lighter in the share department while WMXD had its bulkiest share in over a year to stay at #3.  Apparently, the LIONS and RED WINGS were not enough to make up for the loss of the TIGERS as WXYT-F dropped from #1 to #4 with its lowest number since MARCH.  CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 95.5) was off slightly to remain at #5 where it was matched by cluster mate CCM+E Urban WJLB, which moved up from #7.  CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD had its lowest score since AUGUST to drop three places into a tie at #7.

Talk about getting your CHRISTMAS wish – WNIC added over seven full shares as it moved from the 18-34 basement to the penthouse (a tie at #11 to #1).  This year’s score is three full shares beefier than last year’s.  WYCD was in double-digits for the seventh straight survey yet still moved back a step to #2.  WKQI and WJLB each also dropped back a square to #3 and #4, respectively.  WMXD scored its highest number since JUNE to move forward three places to #5 while WXYT-F dropped two to #6.  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF had its lowest output since JULY to drop from #5 to #8.

On the fourth demo of CHRISTMAS, WNIC unwrapped another enormous gift as it went from #11 to #1 18-49 and it is well ahead of its 2012 pace.  WYCD had its lowest number since JUNE to drop to #2 while WKQI held firm at #3.  WXYT-F continued the trend of the book and dropped two spots in the standings to #4.  WMXD continued its upward trend, moving from #6 to #5 with its best book since MAY.  WJLB was off slightly and dropped from #4 to #6 while WRIF was off a little more than slightly to move from #5 to #7.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: There Won’t Be Snow In F-L-A This Christmas Time

As we take the tour of SANTA CLAUS Lane, we go from a market bursting at its seams with CHRISTMAS stations to one that had a late entrant to the holiday revelry.  This is actually quite the development as last year no one took the format to heart.  COX RADIO Urban AC WQHT (HOT) continued its #1 streak (9.2-9.1) and leads the market by a wide margin.  UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) had its best book in over a year (6.1-6.7) to move from a tie at #3 to the second spot.  The pine-scented sounds coming out of LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE) were unmistakable as the station flipped late in the survey on 11/29.  Clearly, this did not lead to a ratings explosion as the station slipped a spot to #3 (6.4-5.8).  COX RADIO Urban WEDR scored its lowest total in over a year (6.1-5.6) to drop from a tie at #3 to #4.  Cluster sister COX RADIO WFEZ (EASY) remained at #5 with its best book since JULY (5.1-5.4) but is now tied with CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100), which moved up a spot on the strength of its best book in over a year (4.9-5.4).

A little movement but a lot of status quo 25-54 as the top five players remained unchanged.  WHQT was flat to remain at #1.  WAMR popped its biggest share in over a year to gain two spots to #2.  WEDR had its lowest share in over a year but only dropped one spot to #3 while WHYI had its best number in over a year to move up one to #4.  WLYF is searching for GOOD KING WENCESLAS as the station ended a two-book surge to fall from #3 to #5.

In the first two demos, we saw WEDR post some low (for it) numbers but the station continued to dominate 18-34.  Though it did post its lowest number in over a year here, too, it kept its double-digit share streak alive and kept its comfortable lead.  BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) remained at #2 though it has lost a couple of shares over the last two books.  WHYI bounced back from its lowest book of the year to remain at #3 while UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) did the same exact thing to move up three spots to #4.  WHQT ended a three-book slide to remain at #5.  CCM+E Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) shed quite a bit of share to drop from #4 to #8.  WLYF got the proverbial lump of anthracite to fall from a tie at #5 to #10.

WEDR was down 18-49 for the second straight month but remained at #1 though WHYI at #2 is the closest any station has been to the top in over a year.  This could be a story worth noting next month.  WAMR had its best number in over a year to move up three spots to #3 while WHQT stayed at #4 with an ever-so-slight loss of ratings pressure.  WPOW had its lowest number since AUGUST to drop from a tie at #2 to #5.  Meanwhile, WLYF is hoping to transfer to the nice list as it dropped two places to #7.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: All The Way Home I’ll Be Warm

This whole CHRISTMAS thing is truly inviting as this is a market where two different flavors of holiday-tinged tunes are available.  HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) is the mainstream choice and flipped during week 2 of the survey.  It certainly paid dividends, as the station – which was #1 in SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER – moved back on top from #6 (4.5-7.5).  This year’s total is not quite as robust as the 10.1 the station had a year ago.  CBS Classic Rock KZOK saw its five-book run on top come to an end (5.5-5.1) as it dropped to #2.  ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW saw its two-book surge cease to be as the station moved back one square to #3 (5.2-5.0).  UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW had its best book since JUNE (4.4-4.7) to move from a tie at #7 into a tie at #4 with CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS), which dropped out of a tie at #3 (4.8-4.7).  Two other stations were also sharing the #3 spotlight last month but have moved down the chart since.  BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F was off for the second straight survey (4.8-4.5) to land at #6 while ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT), which was quite literally the hottest station in the market the last two books, cooled off a bit (4.8-4.3) and ended up at #8.  The other station to step into CHRISTMAS was CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT).  It flipped late in the book (11/30) so it did not get the required holiday boost (4.1-4.0) and remained in a tie at #9.

The FROSTY phenomenon had little effect on KISW as it held on to the top spot 25-54 for the fifth straight book.  That’s not to say the station is not hearing the sound of hoof beats.  KRWM went from #10 to #2 though its share is well off the 2012 pace.  KZOK was off slightly, which caused it to slip to #3 while KHTP cooled off enough to drop a place to #4.  HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN’) was flat but had to relocate from #4 to #5.  Last month, two stations were tied in a bow at #5.  They remained in the same joint posture but down a notch to #6. KBKS was flat – which matched its best book of the year – while ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) did much the same, though the station’s share was not a record or anything.

Those roasting chestnuts were no hotter than KHTP as the station was #1 18-34 for the third straight book.  However, KRWM was nipping at HOT’s nose as WARM moved from #12 to #2 – though with a significantly smaller number than a year ago.  KQMV ended a five-book slide to remain at #3 while KKWF was howling about its lowest number since the last HOLIDAY book as it dipped from #2 to #4.  KBKS was down a bit but remained at #5.  KISW stopped a two-book surge and dropped from #4 into a tie at #6.

For the third straight month, KISW was the #1 station 18-49 but that streak is about to end as KRWM moved from #7 to #2 and it’s just this close to the top spot. KHTP had its lowest number since the flip but was still in a very strong position even though it slipped a spot to #3. KQMV was up slightly yet still fell one place to #4.  KKWF remained at #5 despite being off for the third straight survey. KBKS shed enough share to fall two places to #6.

PHOENIX: The New Old-Fashioned Way

Though there is no official record book that keeps track of such things, it is widely acknowledged that CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) was one of the first stations to experiment with the all-CHRISTMAS product.  The experiment seems to be working as the station, which flipped on 11/14, returned to the top spot (5.6-8.9) though its share was not quite as lofty as the 10.2 it had last year. HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was off a bit (5.1-5.0) yet moved up one rung to #2 while CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL landed its lowest number since FEBRUARY (6.1-4.9) to end its two-month stay at #1 – ending up at #3. CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) was down for the second straight month (4.6-4.3) but extended its stay at #4.  There was a three-way bottleneck at #5.  CCM+E Country KNIX remained in place after scoring its lowest total since FEBRUARY (4.5-4.2). HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD was flat (4.2-4.2) yet climbed up from #8.  BONNEVILLE Talk KTAR-F was up enough (4.1-4.2) to raise its profile from a tie at #9.  Alas, cheeks were not as rosy at CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX) as the station dropped from a tie at #5 into a tie at #9 (4.5-3.8).

That jolly old elf propelled KESZ up a spot to #1 25-54 as the station improved its ratings posture by over three shares.  This year’s total was not quite as full as 2012’s. KUPD was off slightly yet was able to move up a notch to #2.  Last month, KSLX and KZZP were tied at #4. This month, both stations were flat but were rewarded for their efforts by moving up to a tie at #3. Two stations moving in opposite directions were knotted at #5. BONNEVILLE Adult Hits KPKX (THE PEAK) landed its lowest number since MAY yet somehow managed to scale the chart from #8. Meanwhile, KOOL accepted its lowest score since MARCH to drop from #1.

CHRISTMAS is for kids, relatively speaking, and they delivered for KESZ as the station zoomed like a sabre jet from #9 to #1 18-34 with a share not far off from last year’s model. KUPD was flat and fell from the top to #2 while KZZP dropped one spot to #3 despite its third straight up book. RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER) had its best book since MAY but still moved down one place to #4. CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (LIVE 101.5) had its lowest showing since MARCH to fall from #4 into a tie at #5 with KNIX, which moved up from a tie at #6 despite a slight loss of share.  CBS RADIO Country KMLE was off enough to drop two spots to #7.

No shocker here, KESZ moved from #5 to #1 18-49 thanks to all that holly-jolly business. Its 2013 share was not quite the equal of 2012’s. KUPD and KZZP were both off slightly and each moved back one square to #2 and #3, respectively. KZON had its lowest total since MARCH but remained in place at #4. ENTRAVISION Regional Mexican KLNZ (LA TRICOLOR) was off but still moved up one spot to #5. KOOL raked in its lowest share since APRIL and fell down the chimney from #3 to #9.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL: Baby, It’s Kool Outside

You would think that a market that approximates the wintry conditions of the NORTH POLE would have, if not several CHRISTMAS contenders, at least an early adopter. More on that later in the paragraph. But first, we salute CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB, which remained #1 for the fourth straight month (8.8-8.7) and is a full share stronger than it was a year ago.  HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) posted its lowest number since FEBRUARY (7.7-7.4) to stay at #2. Last month, it looked like the country battle was really heating up. This month, CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) did its best to widen the gap as it moved up one spot to #3 ending a three-book slide in the process (6.6-7.0). CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS had its smallest book since MARCH (7.5-6.9) to drop a spot to #4. As it did last year, CCM+E Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108) turned into the radio home for the holidays by flipping during week 3 – 11/23 to be exact. As a result, the station moved from #10 to #5 (5.2-6.6) – a share somewhat off last year’s 7.4 showing. CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) dropped a spot into a tie at #6 (6.1-5.9) and moved a little farther behind K102.  Cluster brother CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM) slipped on the ice (6.1-5.7) and fell from a tie at #5 to #8.

KSTP has owned or shared the #1 spot 25-54 in every survey since MARCH and that trend continued as the station returned to double-digit land. KDWB was tied for the top last month but lost enough share to slip back to #2. CCM+E Sports KFXN (K-FAN) was off slightly but still moved up the ranks from #4 to #3. KQRS, despite its lowest number in over a year, managed to slip only one spot from #3 to #4. KQQL pulled its magic sleigh from #11 to #5, almost matching last year’s total. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) posted its lowest number since JULY and dropped a spot to #6.

Neither snow, nor sleet, nor corpulent elves can prevent KDWB from being the dominant 18-34 station. Though, this time, it had a new challenger as KMNB moved from #3 to #2 and posted double-digit shares for the first time. KXXR ended a four-book run in double digits to slip a spot to #3. KEEY was up in both share and rank (to #4) but trails KMNB by over two shares.  KSTP was flat but fell a spot to #5 while KFXN was hit a bit harder as it sunk from a tie at #5 to #6. KQQL experienced the miracle of Christmas with a solid ratings gain and a move from #10 to a tie at #8. Interestingly, the station performed much better with this demo – without the benefit of jingling bells – up until AUGUST.

A small loss of share did not prevent KDWB from its usual dominance 18-49. It is currently a share and a half stronger than at this point last year.  KSTP stayed put at #2 despite its second straight down book. KMNB was flat to remain at #3 while KXXR moved up a spot to #4 despite some share loss. KFXN also lost some share but also moved up one spot – to #5. KQQL showed a bit of traction, moving from #13 to #10 but it was well off last year’s pace.

Thank you for spending some of your holiday time with our analyses.  Here’s wishing you a happy new year and even more ratings in 2014.

We’ll be back in a month to examine the effectiveness of SANTA’S scorched-earth policy.  In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us on any of the following platforms (sorry, we’re not on Pinterest).

E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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