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

5 More Markets

Like sands of time through the hourglass, these are the ratings of our lives.  So begins round three of our ratings analysis, courtesy of XTRENDS and The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.  As with our previous two installments, we mix pure research-driven data analysis with a bit of snark.  For those keeping track at home, the AUGUST survey is partially correct as it covered 7/17 through 8/13.  A holiday-free zone but chock full of summertime distractions.  And, it looked something like this …

DETROIT: Love Is Just Like A Baseball Game

Especially when you’re the flagship for the TIGERS.  The woes of JUSTIN VERLANDER and the charge of the ROYALS only added fuel to the ratings fire of CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET).  The station was in first place for the fourth book in a row and ended a two-book slide (7.2-7.6).  Morale must be pretty high at the CBS cluster quarters as the next three spots featured stations that share the same parking lot.  CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC was flat (6.8-6.8) but also #2 for the fourth straight survey.  CBS RADIO News WWJ-A moved up a couple of spots to #3 (5.7-5.9) while CBS RADIO Country WYCD remained at #4 with its second consecutive down book (6.0-5.6).  In case you are wondering, the direct country competitor is CUMULUS Country WDRQ (NASH FM), which was flat (2.5-2.5) and did not move from #17.  There was a new addition to the top five – GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX – which moved up a slot despite a slight loss of share (5.6-5.5).  CCM+E Urban AC WMXD (MIX) had its lowest share in over a year (6.4-5.3) to drop three places to a tie at #6.  As recently as APRIL the station was #1 with a 6.9 share.

Ever since opening day, WXYT-F has been #1 25-54.  For the non-baseball fans out there, that would be starting in APRIL.  This time the station had its second highest share of the run.  Cluster brother WYCD lost a chunk of share but remained at #2.  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF picked up its best book since SEPTEMBER to move forward three spots to #3.  CCM+E Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) had its highest share in over a year and was rewarded with a step up to #4.  WMXD turned in its lowest book in over a year and, as a result, dropped two places to #5.  WCSX saw its strong four-book tear come to an end as it fell from #4 to #7.  RADIO ONE Urban AC WDMK (KISS) has a nice little run going.  It was up for the third book in a row – growing over a share during that time – and moved up two spots to #8.

This was the eighth #1 18-34 book for WKQI but it was not all rainbows and unicorns.  The station was down for the fifth time in a row and posted its lowest share in over a year.  Despite that, it still had a full share lead over the co-occupants of the #2 position.  WYCD remained in place despite losing some share, while WXYT-F gobbled up some extra numbers to move up from #4.  CCM+E Urban WJLB dropped to #4 with its lowest share in over a year while WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR (HOT) moved up two spots to #5 with its best book since OCTOBER.  WOMC drifted back to a tie at #6 with a modest share loss.  There were no gains in the country world as WDRQ posted its lowest number since the flip to drop from a tie at #12 into a tie at #15.

Pennant fever drove WXYT-F back into first place 18-49 as it was up for the second straight book.  WKQI also moved up a spot to #2 just by being flat for the second book in a row.  WYCD ended its two-book run at #1 and landed at #3.  WRIF ended a two-book slide to move up to #4 while WJLB ended a two-book surge to fall back to #5.  WOMC fell out of the top five and landed at #6 with a small share loss.

MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: We’re #2!

Book after book, the race is for second place because COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) is always #1.  This did not change even though HOT had its lowest share in over a year (8.2-7.7).  UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) saw its five-book run at #2 end (6.2-6.1) as it was supplanted by LINCOLN AC WLYF (LITE), which had its highest share since NOVEMBER (6.0-6.2).  COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) ended its four-book slide (4.6-5.3) and moved up a spot to #4.  CCM+E Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) dropped back one square to #5 (4.8-4.5).   LINCOLN Classic Hits WMXJ (MAGIC) made a strong bid to crack the top five (3.6-4.4) as it advanced four places to #6.  This was the station’s best book since MARCH.

WHQT continued its winning ways 25-54 but its down book made the race a little more interesting.  WLYF advanced a couple of places to #2.  The station has been on a three-book roll.  In MAY it was sitting in a tie at #9 and has added more than two shares to its total since then.  WAMR remained ensconced at #3 with a flat performance while WFEZ moved ahead two spots to #4 as it ended a two-book slide.  WHYI had its lowest share since APRIL and fell three places to #5.  SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL) was down for the third month in a row and fell out of the top five at #6.

All sorts of shakin’ goin’ on with 18-34.  COX RADIO Urban WEDR was #1 for the second book in a row.  However, it did post its lowest share in over a year and that enabled CCM+E Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) to tie for the lead because it had its best book in this format.  WHYI dropped a spot to #3 while BEASLEY Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) slipped a spot to #4.  CCM+E Spanish Contemporary WMGE (MEGA) remained at #5 despite posting its best share in over a year.  A couple of stations from the back of the pack made some strong moves.  WMXJ had its highest number in over a year to advance from #15 to #9.  It was tied there with CCM+E Hot AC WMIA (MY 93.9), which ascended from #16 with – you guessed it – its best book in over a year.

There was a true changing of the guard 18-49 as WLYF took over the top spot, leaping from #4 in the process.  To show how amazing this was, back in MAY the station was ranked #10.  WHYI had its smallest share in over a year and fell back to #2 while WHQT held steady at #3 with a slight increase.  WEDR also had its lowest number in over a year and dropped two spots to #4.  Last month, three stations were tied at #5.  Only one remained in that spot and it was joined by a new player.  WPOW was the stationary one as it had a small increase and it was paired with WFEZ, which charged in from #10 with its best book in over a year.  The two stations that vacated the position were WAMR, which landed in a tie at #8, and UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX), which ended up at #10.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Don’t Move

HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) did not budge from the top spot it took over last month (6.4-6.2) though its lead over #2 cluster mate HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) got a little smaller (5.7-5.8).  ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) was howling at the moon because it had its best book in over a year (4.9-5.0) to move forward a spot to #3.  Cluster bro’ ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW ended a three-book slide (4.2-4.9) and muscled its way up to #4 from #7.  CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT) remained at #5 (4.8-4.5).  CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK has been on a roller coaster recently going from #4 to #7 to #3 and now to #6 (5.1-4.4).  The combination of the MARINERS surprise season and the return of SUPER BOWL champs the SEAHAWKS likely combined to fuel the rise of BONNEVILLE Sports KIRO-A as it moved up eight spots to a tie at #9 (3.1-3.7).  This was the final book for BOB RIVERS on CCM+E Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET).  The station was flat (3.7-3.7) but dropped back into a tie at #9 with KIRO-A.

KISW had been on a pretty serious three-book slide 25-54, which took the station from #1 to #3.  Well, it came back strong this survey and took the lead with its best showing since APRIL.  KQMV abdicated the throne despite a small increase.  KKWF hunted down its best book in over a year to move up to #3.  It is also on a four-book surge that has elevated it from #10 and added more than two shares to its pack.  KZOK took the down escalator this time and landed in a tie at #4 with CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJAQ (JACK FM), which did what it wanted by moving up from #8 with its best share in over a year.  BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F – which also broadcasts the SEAHAWKS – had its biggest score since MARCH to move up five places to #6.  KCMS fell out of the top five, landing at #7 with its lowest share since FEBRUARY.

KQMV captured 18-34 honors for the fourth book in a row, landing its biggest share in over a year.  KKWF remained at #2 but its slight loss of share meant the gap grew to almost two points.  KISW ended a three-book slide here as well and moved up a spot to #3.  Last month was the first full survey for ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) and its #2MinutePromise.  The results were stunning as the station moved from #8 to #3.  This time, the numbers were off a bit as it slipped to #4.  Still, it is in a better position – with a bigger share – than the pre-promise days.  Three stations joined forces at #5.  CCM+E Top 40/M KBKS (KISS) remained in place with a small share decrease.  Cluster mate CCM+E Top 40/R KUBE moved up from #6 even though it, too, lost a bit of share.  They were joined by ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT), which bounced back from its lowest share since the flip to move up from a tie at #11.

Make it four in a row for KQMV 18-49 as it again had its best book in over a year.  KISW’s story remained the same – ending a dramatic three-book slide as it moved up to #2.  KKWF has been up or flat for six books in a row but it fell back to #3 even though it had its best number in over a year.  KHTP returned to more familiar turf.  The station had routinely been in the top five since it flipped.  That ended in APRIL but it bounced back this time – climbing from #11 to #4.  KJAQ was also hot as it gained four spots in the standings to #5.  KZOK’s woes continued as it fell from #4 to #8 while KBKS dropped from #5 to #9.

PHOENIX: #1 Is Pretty Cool

The folks at CBS must be pretty pleased with its stable of Classic Hits stations as we have seen them score top shares in several markets.  For the second month in a row, CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL was #1, scoring its highest share in exactly a year (5.9-6.2).  CCM+E AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) ended a three-book slide (5.3-5.5) to move up to #2.  This dropped cluster mate CCM+E Country KNIX back to #3 as it posted its lowest score since FEBRUARY (5.6-4.8).  CCM+E Hot AC KMXP (MIX) remained at #4 but landed its lowest share (5.0-4.7) since Grandma got run over.  HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was flat for the second book in a row (4.5-4.5) but managed to move up a notch to #5.  Last month’s ratings darling – RIVIERA Hot AC KMVA (HOT) – was not so happy this time.  The station dropped from #5 to #10 (4.6-3.8).

Last month’s tie atop the 25-54 leaderboard is now history.  HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD was the lone resident after it scored its best book in over a year.  KNIX was off slightly but that was enough to drop it back to #2.  Two stations improved their lot and ended up at #3.  KSLX was down for the third straight survey but still moved up from #5.  CCM+E Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) came up from a tie at #8 with its highest share since MARCH.  KMXP had its lowest share since JANUARY and dropped back to #5 while CCM+E Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) ended its eight-book run to drop back three paces to a tie at #6.

There was quite the shake-up 18-34.  One of the few constants was KUPD, which had its best book in over a year and was #1 for the fifth month in a row.  RIVIERA Top 40/M KKFR (POWER) also remained in place – at #2 – despite a small decrease.  Then, things got weird.  CBS RADIO Top 40/R KZON (LIVE 101.5) ended a two-book slide to move up three spots to #3.  Cluster mate CBS RADIO Country KMLE rebounded from a pretty lousy book to leap seven spots to #4.  KZZP had a small increase from its lowest book of the year to inch forward to #5.  If you’ve been following closely, you’ll note that three stations dropped out of the top five.  KMXP went from #3 into a tie at #6 with KNIX, which fell from #4.  KESZ fell from #5 to #9.

There was slightly less drama 18-49.  KUPD had its highest share since JANUARY to remain at #1 while KNIX took over sole possession of second place despite its lowest share since FEBRUARY.  KZZP ended a two-book slide and moved up three spots to #3 while KMXP fell two spots to #4 with its lowest total since the stockings were being hung.  KKFR moved forward two steps to #5 while two other stations dropped out of the top five and tied at #6.  KMVA fell from #4 while KYOT slipped back from #5.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: Flat Is Good

There were several examples of stations that improved their lot just by standing still.  It started at the top where CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS returned to the #1 spot after a two-month absence just by being flat (8.1-8.1).  CCM+E Top 40/M KDWB fell back to #2 because it landed its lowest share in over a year (8.4-7.9).  Then, we had CCM+E Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL 108).  It moved up a spot to #3 just by going with the hand it was dealt (7.0-7.0).  HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) fell back to #4 with its lowest share since we were rockin’ around an evergreen (7.1-6.8).  But wait, there’s more!  CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK FM) advanced two squares to #5 by being – yup – flat (6.4-6.4).  The two country competitors were knotted at #6.  CCM+E Country KEEY (K102) dropped from #5 (6.7-6.3) while CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) remained in place (6.6-6.3).

While flat shares were not the rule 25-54, the rankings remained unchanged.  KQRS was #1 for the second straight book even though it lost a chunk of share.  KDWB was #2 though it was down for the fourth straight survey.  KZJK remained at #3 with a small decrease while KSTP did the same in holding on to the #4 position.  KQQL came in at #5 as the only part of that group to actually add share.  It was at its highest FROSTY-free number in over a year.  Both country stations were down while maintaining the same gap.  KEEY came in at #9 followed by KMNB at #10.

Yes, KWDB was #1 18-34.  And, yes, it had another double-digit book.  However, it did land its lowest share in exactly a year.  CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) was off slightly but remained a very strong #2.  KZJK jumped up three spots to #3 with its best book in over a year.  The two country stations remained very close to each other and both were down this survey.  KMNB went from #3 to #4 while KEEY dropped a spot to #5.  KSTP fell to #6 with its lowest total since JANUARY.

For the first time in the last fourteen surveys, KDWB did not hit double digits 18-49.  The station was still #1 by a wide margin over #2 KZJK, which was down slightly.  KSTP maintained its grip on #3 despite a slight decrease while KXXR did the same at #4.  KMNB posted its lowest share since JANUARY but did not budge from #5, though it was joined at that location by KQRS, which moved up from #6.  KEEY remained at #7 with its smallest output since APRIL.

Thus concludes our look at the AUGUST book.  As always, we want to thank the team at XTrends for their assistance.  And you, for slogging through all of this.

If you are curious about your ratings, The Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. stand ready to help.  Feel free to chat us up via the platforms listed below.  Or, at least, like our FACEBOOK page.  We’d like that.

E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
TWITTER: @ResearchDirectr
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ResearchDirectorInc
Web: www.researchdirectorinc.com

« see more Net News