Research Director, Inc.: Exclusive December PPM Analysis For Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis

Markets #11-15

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care in hopes that good Saint NIELSEN soon will be there. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., along with the workshop wonders from XTRENDS, bring you the inappropriately titled DECEMBER survey. The label is misleading because the survey spanned 11/5 through 12/2. Keep in mind that three factors could have had an effect on this month’s results. First, there was the THANKSGIVING holiday. It began on the first day of week #4 but likely affected listening patterns in week #3. Second, most markets bore witness to the early arrival from the giant elf from the north. And, finally, all markets –- at some point –- were transmitting with the enhanced CBET system. Whew ...

DETROIT: Jolly Old Saint NIC

This was one of those markets that saw two major players make the Frosty flip. The first – and one of the earliest – was iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC, which made the move at the beginning of the book. It certainly seemed to be the right move as the station jumped from a tie at #10 to #1 6+ with a huge share increase (4.5-8.0). This was not quite as dramatic as last year’s 9.6 share. The second CHRISTMAS convert was CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC. It flipped towards the end of the book so most of its numbers were of the more secular variety. Still, it was a good month for the station. It remained at #2 (6.8-7.2). CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) posted its lowest share since MARCH (7.1-6.7) to drop from first place to third. CBS RADIO News WWJ-A and GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX carried over their third-place tie from last month but dropped down a notch to #4. Both went 6.7-6.2. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF fell two places to #7 with its lowest number since JULY (6.1-5.2).

In the 25-54 arena, WRIF also had its lowest share since JULY but that was enough to keep the station #1 for the sixth book in a row. However, it won by the slimmest of margins as WNIC nearly doubled its share as it rose from #11 to #2. WXYT-F dropped back to #3 while WCSX took a step back to #4 as both stations had modest decreases. CUMULUS AC WDVD moved up two slots to #5 with its best book in over a year. The two stations formerly known as #4 were unhitched and dropped down the chart. WOMC ended up at #7 with a small loss while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) dropped to #10 with its smallest share in over a year.

It wasn’t quite worst to first but WNIC did more than double its 18-34 share thanks to the Claus. The station moved from #11 to the top and easily outdistanced last year’s number. WRIF saw its five-book #1 streak grind to a halt as the station stepped back to #2. WGPR INC Urban AC WGPR (HOT) had its best performance since APRIL to move up a rung to #3. It was joined by WDVD, which advanced from #5 with its highest total since JULY. WKQI dropped to #5 with its smallest share in over a year while iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB fell four places to #6 after sustaining a rather large loss of share.

WRIF stretched its 18-49 winning streak to seven though it fell from the double-digit stratosphere. WNIC was on pace with last year as its huge holiday bulge drove the station from #8 to #2. WXYT-F took a step back to #3 while WDVD advanced to #4 – only the second time the station has been in the top five over the last 14 surveys. WCSX was down but stable at #5 where it was partnered with WKQI, which fell from #3. WJLB dropped to #7 – its first time out of the top five in over a year.

MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: That’s Not A Christmas Lite

This market must be on Santa’s naughty list as no major player made the jolly jump – and none likely will. As a result, the top five slots 6+ remained unchanged from last survey. ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) was #1 for the eighth book in a row (7.6-8.0) and widened its lead over #2 COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) (7.2-7.1). UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) had its highest share in over a year (5.8-6.0) to remain at #3. COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) was at #4 but down for the fourth book in a row (5.3-5.1). COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ) was #5 again but with its best performance since MAY (4.6-5.0). CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) also had its best showing in over a year (4.0-4.5) as it moved up three slots to #7.

As with the previous demo, the top five 25-54 remained unchanged. WHQT was #1 for the second book in a row while WLYF was just this far behind at #2. UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) had a solid increase at #3 while WEDR was in sole control at #4 with its best book in over a year. SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL) slid back to #5 with a slight decrease.

There were no new admittances to the top five 18-34 club but there was a slight alteration to their order. WEDR was #1 for the ninth straight survey and passed the double-digit threshold. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) was flat and motionless at #2. WPOW took one step forward to #3 with its best book since JUNE, which bumped WLYF back to #4. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) was up slightly and resolute at #5. WHQT was stable at #6 but did post its largest share since last year.

The two stations tied at #1 18-49 last month saw share increases but one was slightly bigger than the other. WLYF was on top for the third straight survey while WEDR slipped back to #2. WRTO was up at #3 while WHQT was off slightly at #4. WPOW moved into the top five with its second straight up book. This kept WMIB at #6 as the station was flat.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Move Over Santa

This was another dual-sleigh market. HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) is the perennial favorite and turned to the frosty side at the beginning of week #2. It worked handsomely as the station rose from #5 to … #2 6+ with a rather large increase (4.8-6.5). Blocking its path was HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN), which was off slightly (7.5-7.4) but remained #1 for the second book in a row. BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F slid back to #3 (6.8-6.1) while CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK took a step back to #4 (5.7-5.3). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET) glided down to #5 with its third straight down book (5.3-5.0). The market’s other CHRISTMAS station was CRISTA Christian Contemporary KCMS (SPIRIT). It did not flip until late in the book so most of its reported listening was based on regular format. As such, the station was off slightly (3.0-2.9) but moved one step forward to a tie at #16.

KQMV was #1 25-54 for the fourth book in a row and was off only the tiniest bit from last month’s monster share. ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW was also off slightly and was three shares distant at #2. Then came Santa Claus as KRWM moved up six slots to #3 with a number that was far higher than last year. KZOK was flat and entrenched at #4 while KIRO-F was down a tad at #5. SINCLAIR Hot AC KPLZ (STAR) was not being followed by any wise guys as the station slipped three places to a tie at #6, thus ending a strong two-book surge. KCMS moved up to a tie at #12 but lost share in the process.

There was no CHRISTMAS dip for KQMV as the station remained #1 for the second book in a row. Though it was flat, it was residing in heady territory. KISW moved into the trail position as it bounced back from last month’s big loss of share. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) had its lowest share since JULY and fell back to #3. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KJAQ (JACK) had its highest score in over a year to advance three squares to #4. KZOK dropped back to #5 after losing a chunk of share. KRWM was on pace with last year as it rose from #11 to #6. ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) dropped two places to #7. KCMS was well down the list though it did rise four places to #18.

For the second consecutive survey, KQMV crashed the double-digit barrier 18-49 and maintained a more than three-share lead over #2 KISW, which was up a bit. KRWM moved up four slots to #3 and was well ahead of last year’s number. KJAQ had its highest share in exactly a year to leap eight places to #4. KPLZ ended a two-book surge and slid back to #5 while KNDD dropped three places to a tie at #6 with its lowest total since JULY. KZOK also fell three spots and ended up at #8. KCMS remained at #14 with a small decrease.

PHOENIX: Easy Like Christmas Morning

Sometimes it’s just piling on. It’s like iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) needed an infusion of performance-enhancing music. The station has been #1 6+ for over a year. All Santa did was kick the station up several notches (6.0-9.5) and the station was well ahead of last year’s 7.8 pace. HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX moved up to #2 with its highest share in over a year (5.8-6.2). Last month, CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL had a share of first place. This month the station fell to third (6.0-5.7). iHEARTMEDIA Talk KFYI-A was off slightly but inched up to #4 (4.8-4.7) while iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX) did the same in moving up to #5 (4.7-4.6). HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD dropped two slots to #6 (4.9-4.5).

KESZ just exploded 25-54 as it rose from a tie at #4 to #1. As with the previous demo, it was well ahead of last year’s pace. KUPD dropped back to #2 with a small loss while KSLX moved up a spot to #3 with its best score since JUNE. iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) dropped two places to #4 with its lowest total since MAY. Two stations on opposite tracks met at #5. KOOL retreated from #3 – which ended a nice five-book run – and KMXP moved up from #7 as it bounced back from a down book.

Last month we witnessed a rare four-way tie atop the 18-34 leaderboard. This month, to quote a holiday classic: “As dry leaves before the hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.” In this case the obstacle was KESZ and any mounting being done was farther down the chart. KESZ moved from a tie at #6 to #1 with another huge increase. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KZON (LIVE 101.5) was up slightly but fell back one step to #2. iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX was flat but fell two places to #3. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) was off a bit and ended up at #4. CBS RADIO Country KMLE remained at #5 with a slight increase. The fourth member of the short-lived #1 club was KUPD and it ended up in a tie at #7 thanks to its lowest share in over a year.

Make it four for four for KESZ as the station moved up to the top of the 18-49 chart with another massive upgrade. KUPD was off a bit and dropped back to #2. KSLX moved up two slots to #3 with its highest share since JUNE while KYOT used its lowest number since MAY to drop two places to #4. It was tied with KNIX, which remained stationary despite a down book. KOOL was off slightly and took a step back to a tie at #6.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: Christmas Is KOOL

It wasn’t Frosty but it was definitely iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) that altered the playlist, causing the station to move up two slots to #1 (7.3-8.5). This was ahead of last year’s 7.7. One of last month’s co-leaders – HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) was off slightly as it slid back to #2 (8.0-7.9). How ‘bout dem VIKINGS? iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN) moved up to #3 with its best book in over a year (7.1-7.5). The other co-leader from last book – iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K-102) – fell back to #4 (8.0-7.1). CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS stepped back to #5, ending a strong two-book run (7.2-6.9). For the second straight survey, iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB established a 14-book low (6.4-6.3) to remain at #6.

There has been quite the 25-54 battle brewing over the last two books. Last month KEEY was #1 and in double digits while KFXN was about a share behind. This month the stations switched and KFAN ended up in double digits with a full share lead. KQRS had a small decrease but remained at #3 while KSTP held on at #4 despite posting its third down book in a row. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK) remained at #5 and posted its best score since APRIL. KQQL moved up two spots to #6 and was behind last year’s pace. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) hit a rather large pothole and fell three places to #8.

Last month, the underpinnings of our very existence were shaken to the core as KDWB fell from the top spot 18-34. This month order has been restored. Even though the station was off slightly, it passed #2 KEEY because K-102 had a bigger loss. Still both stations were above the double-digit barrier. KXXR was still #3 but with its lowest share in over a year. KSTP was down for the third straight survey but remained #4. KFXN took sole control of the #5 position with a small increase. Meanwhile, iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KTCZ (CITIES 97) exited that position and ended up in a tie at #7 with only the slightest of decreases. KQQL was up three spots to #9 and on pace with last year.

KFXN matched its best book of the year and climbed into first place 18-49. This sent KEEY packing to #2. KDWB was flat and happy at #3 while KSTP was stable at #4 though with its lowest total since MARCH. KZJK moved up to #5 with its best book since JUNE while KXXR stepped back to #6 with its smallest number in over a year. KQQL remained on pace with last year and moved up to #8.

This is the final time you’ll be hearing from the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. this year. Yes, there is still 2015 data to dig but that won’t happen until 2016. Thank you for enduring our diatribes every month. And, may you and your family have a warm and safe CHRISTMAS and a wonderful New Year.

E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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