Research Director, Inc. Presents Exclusive November PPM Analysis For Houston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston

Markets #6-10

Welcome back for round two of our exclusive ratings analysis on this here website. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., along with the numbers gurus at XTRENDS, take a lingering look at five more markets. So we can set the scene, this particular survey covered OCTOBER 8th through NOVEMBER 4th. Why it is referred to as the NOVEMBER survey when fully 24 of the 28 days fell in the previous is one of the most profound mysteries of our time. Two other nuggets for this book. It is the final survey of 2015 that will not be contaminated by the sounds of sleigh bells ringing. And, for some markets, it marked the official roll out of NIELSEN’s enhanced CBET upgrades. Because of the staggered nature of that roll out, we have markets that could be a mixture of enhanced CBET and VOLTAIR. It is yet another mystery …

HOUSTON-GALVESTON: The Song Remains The Same

The top five stations 6+ remained unchanged and in the same order as the previous survey. iHEARTMEDIA AC KODA (SUNNY) continued to lead the way with another dominating performance (7.6-7.7). RADIO ONE Urban AC KMJQ (MAJIC) fell a little farther off the pace at #2 after posting its lowest total since JULY (6.6-6.2). UNIVISION Regional Mexican KLTN (ESTEREO LATINO) was at #3 for the seventh book in a row with a slight increase (5.6-5.7). COX RADIO Country KKBQ (93Q) was up for the second book in a row at #4 (5.4-5.6). RADIO ONE Top 40/R KBXX (THE BOX) was up a tick (5.2-5.3) to remain at #5.

KODA was #1 25-54 for the third month in a row and posted its best share since JANUARY. With Santa coming to town, things can only go up from here. KLTN bounced back from its lowest book of the year to remain at #2. Three stations were taking turns calling themselves #3. KMJQ remained stationary with a small decrease while iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (THE BUZZ) moved up from #4 just by being flat. KKBQ ended a three-book slide as it advanced from #5. Then, there were three stations all milling about at #6. These included CUMULUS Top 40/M KRBE, which moved up from #8 with its best book in over a year; KBXX, which remained in place with a small decrease; and COX RADIO Classic Rock KGLK (THE EAGLE), which was flat but did take one small step forward.

Though it has often been maligned for its performance in the previous demos, KBXX continued to be the dominant force 18-34. The station just landed its highest share since DECEMBER and opened up a commanding lead over the new #2. That would be KLTN, which moved up from #4 with a healthy increase but was still over two-and-a-half shares off the lead. KRBE slipped back to #3 while being flat while iHEARTMEDIA Urban KQBT (THE BEAT) slid to #4 with its smallest share in over a year. CBS RADIO Spanish Contemporary KLOL (MEGA) moved up to #5 with its best book in over a year – the third month in a row we’ve been able to write that about the station. KKBQ dropped back to #7 with its lowest total in exactly one year.

KODA took the 18-49 crown for the second straight survey. KLTN maintained its runner-up pose as the station ended a two-book slide. KBXX remained at #3 but did capture its best book in over a year. KTBZ was down for the third book in a row to hold steady at #4. Two stations were huddled together at #5. KKBQ had its lowest share since the swans were swimming to remain in place while KRBE took one step forward with a slight increase.

WASHINGTON, DC: The News That Fits

This was one of the first markets that signed on with NIELSEN’s new enhanced CBET system. As stated previously, while the first week of the survey was the target, only those in the know can say which stations were running the new box, VOLTAIR, both, or neither. That said, it was another 6+ win for HUBBARD News WTOP. The station was down (8.9-8.2) but still held a comfortable advantage over AMERICAN UNIVERSITY N/T WAMU, which was also down at #2 (7.8-7.4). iHEARTMEDIA AC WASH did well in its holiday tune up (5.9-6.1) to claim sole possession of the #3 slot. Sister station iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIHT (HOT) was flat (5.9-5.9) and slid back to #4. This marked the third survey in the return to the airwaves of legendary personality DONNIE SIMPSON. He patrols Afternoon Drive on RADIO ONE Urban AC WMMJ (MAJIC). While we only report on total week numbers, it is worth noting that by being flat, MAJIC matched its best book in the last year (4.7-4.7) to move up to #5. What’s more, the station was tied with its arch rival – HOWARD UNIVERSITY Urban AC WHUR, which inched up a spot despite posting its lowest number in over a year (4.8-4.7). Also joining the #5 party was CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPGC, which was there last month as well (4.9-4.7). It is a radio cliché that a station that changes formats usually has a good last book. This rang true for CUMULUS Hot AC WRQX (MIX). This survey rated the station’s previous incarnation and it was up (2.1-2.6) and rose to #15 – its highest rank in over a year.

The top two 25-54 stations were both down and grew a bit closer because #2 WIHT lost less share than #1 WTOP. WASH had its best month unaided by the likes of WHAM as it moved up to #3. WAMU remained at #4 with its best performance since JULY. WPGC posted its lowest score since JULY and fell two slots to #5. In the Urban AC battle, WHUR remained at #7 as it was down for the third straight survey while WMMJ moved up to a tie at #8 with its highest share in over a year.

This was the eleventh book of 2015 and, in each one, WIHT was #1 18-34 with double-digit shares. If history is any indication, this will be repeated one more time before all elves break loose. RADIO ONE Urban WKYS (KISS) was in its customary #2 position though it fell farther off the pace after landing its lowest share since JANUARY. The gap between the top two stations stretched to more than five shares. WPGC remained close behind at #3 despite posting its lowest total since JUNE. WASH jumped four slots to #4 with a nice, healthy increase. iHEARTMEDIA Country WMZQ remained at #5 with a flat performance while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock WBIG slid back to #6, ending a nice three-book run. WAMU dropped three slots to #7 as it took a bit of a hit. WRQX ended its previous format run by posting its best score since JUNE as it advanced four places to #8.

To the surprise of no one, WIHT was #1 18-49. Moving up three slots to #2 was WASH with its best number of the year. WPGC dropped back to #3 with a small loss while WKYS remained at #4 with its smallest share since APRIL. WTOP dropped three places to #5 with its lowest total since JUNE.

PHILADELPHIA: More More

As it heads in to the holiday season (already in progress), JERRY LEE RADIO AC WBEB (MORE) was #1 6+ for the fourth book in a row. What’s more, the station had its highest share of the year (7.3-8.0) and held a full two-share lead over this month’s new #2. That would be GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WMGK, which advanced from #6 with its highest share since APRIL (5.3-6.0). CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOGL – soon to be part of the Santa parade – bounced back from an uncharacteristically lousy book to move up five spots to #3 (4.6-5.9). GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WMMR was not able to emulate its older cluster brother as it fell two places to #4 (6.3-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WDAS was flat and happy at #5 (5.4-5.4). CBS RADIO News KYW-A dropped two spots to #6 (5.5-5.0) while its cluster partner – CBS RADIO Country WXTU – had its lowest score since APRIL (5.8-4.9) to drop four slots to #7.

Ever since Santa left town, the 25-54 demo was WMMR’s to use and abuse. With mere weeks left before the big guy’s return, it was time for WBEB to return to the #1 slot thanks to its best Frosty-free book in over a year. WMMR’s ten-book winning streak ground to a halt as the station lost a meaningful chunk of share and slid to #2. Two stations elevated their performances and moved up to #3. WMGK made a two-slot improvement with a small increase while iHEARTMEDIA Urban WUSL (POWER) moved up one slot thanks to a slight increase. WDAS also put one foot forward, moving up to #5 with its best showing since APRIL. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WIOQ (Q102) ended a three-book slide and advanced three squares to #6. WXTU again had its smallest share since APRIL as it fell four places to #7.

For the third book in a row, we have a new #1 station 18-34. WMMR took over this time as it advanced from #3 with its best book in over a year. WXTU ended a three-book surge as it fell back to #2. WUSL dropped back to #3 with its smallest share since MARCH while WBEB remained entrenched at #4 with a healthy increase. WIOQ returned to the top five thanks to its best performance in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Alternative WRFF (RADIO 104.5) was off slightly as it took a step back to #6. WMGK moved up to #7 with its highest share in over a year.

The top five 18-49 contained the same players but in mostly different places. WBEB moved back to #1 for the first time since the geese were laying, thanks to a rather large increase. WMMR stepped back to #2 as it could not get close to last month’s monster number. WIOQ moved up two slots to #3 with its highest score since JULY while WUSL remained at #4 with a flat performance. WXTU dropped three slots to #5 with its smallest number since JULY.

ATLANTA: The Flying V

Last month we were witnesses to an incredibly dominating performance by CBS RADIO Urban WVEE (V-103). This month, the station was merely mostly dominant. It was #1 6+ for the tenth book in a row (9.6-8.8) but its lead was down to a measly point over #2 COX RADIO Talk WSB-A (7.9-7.8). COX RADIO Urban AC WALR (KISS) maintained its #3 position despite posting its lowest score since JULY (7.6-7.0). And then there was a gap and then there was the rest of the market. RADIO ONE Urban AC WAMJ (MAJIC) remained at #4 while being flat (5.2-5.2). It was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WWPW (POWER), which moved up from a tie at #7 with its best performance since JUNE (4.8-5.2). SALEM Christian Contemporary WFSH (FISH) made that #4 spot a trinity thanks to a slight increase (5.1-5.2).

WVEE was not able to repeat last month’s double-digit share but still dominated the 25-54 arena. WSB-A moved up to a distant #2 with its highest share in over a year. WALR stepped back to #3 with its smallest number since APRIL. CUMULUS Top 40/M WWWQ (Q100) was firmly ensconced at #4 despite being down for the second straight survey. WAMJ was flat and held on at #5 but was forced to share because RADIO ONE Urban WHTA (HOT) ended a two-book slide and moved up one slot. Keep an eye on ENTERCOM Hot AC WSTR (STAR). Though the station only advanced one square to #8, it did have its highest share in over a year and is poised to advance further.

Seeing an Urban consistently hit double-digit shares 18-34 – and in a market this size – is a rare sight. WVEE was in the rarefied air for the fourth book in a row. WHTA bounced back from a down book to move up two slots to #2 but was still almost three shares off the pace. WWWQ stepped back to #3 as it lost a chunk of share while WWPW moved back to #4 thanks to a small loss. COX RADIO AC WSB-F (B98.5) had its highest share since JUNE to remain at #5 just ahead of the hard-charging iHEARTMEDIA Country WUBL (THE BULL) at #6.

This was the eighth book in a row that #1 WVEE was in double digits 18-49. WHTA moved up to #2 with a nice increase but it still trailed the leader by more than four shares. WWWQ ended its two-book surge and fell back to #3. WALR had its smallest share since JULY and dropped back into a tie at #4 with WWPW, which moved up a slot with its highest share since JUNE. WSB-F was flat but remained in the hunt at #6. It was tied with WAMJ, which moved up from #8, thanks to its best performance since DECEMBER.

BOSTON: The Magic’s In

We’re a bit early for that old silk hat routine but GREATER MEDIA AC WMJX (MAGIC) was once again #1 6+ with its best Frosty-free share in over a year (7.5-8.0). Cluster mate GREATER MEDIA Classic Hits WROR moved up to #2, thus ending a two-book slide (6.9-7.0). CBS RADIO Sports WBZ-F (THE SPORTS HUB) cooled off a bit from last month (7.1-6.7) and slid back to #3. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WXKS (KISS) scored its highest share since APRIL to move up two slots to #4 (5.6-6.1). ENTERCOM Sports WEEI-F was also in chill mode (6.3-5.5) as it fell back to #5. CBS RADIO News WBZ-A dropped out of the top five (to #6) for the first time in exactly one year (6.0-5.4).

It was all about the hoodie for WBZ-F as the station was #1 25-54 for the fifth book in a row. It’s not too often you see that kind of performance from a sports station. WMJX used its best book of the year to propel itself forward two places to #2. WXKS remained at #3 with its best performance since JUNE. WROR inched up to #4 with a small increase while WEEI-F fell three places to #5.

This one was a stunner. CBS RADIO Top 40/M WODS (AMP) lit the market on fire as it jumped from #7 to #1 18-34. This was easily the station’s best book in over a year and gave it a nice lead over WXKS, which dropped to #2 with a small decrease. GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WBQT (HOT) was off slightly as it stepped back to #3. Two stations became residents at #4. GREATER MEDIA Country WKLB came down from #3 with its smallest number in over a year. Just two months ago the station concluded its fourth straight stay at #1. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/R WJMN (JAM’N) moved up from #6 with its best total since JULY. The two stations previously tied at #4 fell farther off the pace. WMJX ended up at #6 while WBZ-F fell to #7.

Though it shed some share, WBZ-F remained the #1 18-49 station for the third month in a row. WXKS was a strong #2 with its best showing since MAY. WMJX could not leave the cozy confines of the #3 position despite posting its highest share of the year. WKLB was down for the fourth consecutive survey but held on at #4 while WROR was steady at #5 with a slight increase. WBQT stepped back to #6 with a slight increase and was joined by WODS, which advanced from a tie at #12 with a large and noticeable increase.

Another one is now in the record books. Thank you for taking the time to peruse our material. If you ever want more in-depth analysis of your numbers, the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. stand ready to serve. And, don’t despair – another action-splattered edition is coming shortly. We’ll set our sights on DETROIT, MIAMI, SEATTLE-TACOMA, PHOENIX, and MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL.

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