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

Markets #11-15

Hot enough for ya? The FACEBOOK status that causes us to hide friends and the theme for the JULY survey. This one covered JUNE 16th through JULY 13th –- the pre-cursor to the true dog days. It also featured major lifestyle changes as schools were emptied and mini-vans were packed. Oh, and throw in the three-day Fourth of JULY weekend and we have the makings of some squirrely numbers. How squirrelly? That’s the job of the Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR INC. and the numbers crunchers from XTRENDS. We soldier on …

DETROIT: A Tiger In The Tank

That is not an affront to the hometown nine as the TIGERS are trying to make a run. And, one of the chief beneficiaries is CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET). The station was #1 6+ for the fourth straight survey (7.2-7.3). Cluster mate CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC moved up to #2 (5.6-5.8) while GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX slid up a spot to #3 while experiencing a slight decrease of share (5.5-5.4). CUMULUS Talk WJR-A ended a three-book slide with a slight gain (5.1-5.2), which thrust the station four paces forward to #4. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF fell three spots to #5 with its lowest share in precisely one year (5.7-5.1). iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) ended a two-book run (5.5-4.8) as it fell to a tie at #7. This next situation is guaranteed to blow your mind. On JULY 1 a station flipped from Sports to Rhythmic AC. That was GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WMGC (THE BOUNCE). After having less than two weeks in the survey, the station more than quadrupled its share (0.7-3.1) and moved from a tie at #24 to #15. That is impressive.

Though the station posted its lowest 25-54 share in over a year, WRIF remained in the top spot for the seventh straight survey. WXYT-F was off a bit but did move up to #2 while WKQI dropped a spot to #3 due to a noticeable loss of share. WCSX moved up to #4 as it ended a four-book slide. CBS RADIO Country WYCD dropped to #5 as it saw a strong four-book run come to a screeching halt. It was joined in that space by iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC, which advanced from #9 with its highest score since JANUARY. CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD lost a chunk of share and dropped from #5 to #7. And what of WMGC? It only rose from a tie at #24 to a tie at #11, that’s all.

Things became rather interesting in the 18-34 battle. First, iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB had its lowest score since the geese were laying yet managed to move up two places to #1. This halted WRIF’s six-book winning streak as it dropped back to #2 with its smallest share in over a year. WKQI also had its lowest total since we were rocking around an evergreen as it fell back to #3. So, the top three stations in this demo had big ratings losses. Maybe that was because WMGC made the seemingly impossible move from a tie at #25 to #4! WGPR INC. Urban AC WGPR (HOT) was up to #5 with a small increase while WDVD slipped back to #6 with a small decrease. It was tied with WXYT-F, which remained in stasis with a small loss. WYCD fell from #4 to #10 with a rather large loss of share.

Things were a little more settled 18-49. WRIF was #1 for the seventh book in a row but with – again – its lowest score in over a year. WKQI repeated at #2 though with its smallest share since JANUARY. WJLB gave an encore performance at #3 though it was down, as well. WDVD remained at #4 with a small loss and was paired with WXYT-F, which moved forward two spaces with a small increase. WYCD dropped back to #7 and was in a tie with WMGC, which moved up from a tie at #25.

MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: The Lite’s Back On

After a brief interlude, ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) was again the market leader 6+. This was something the station has accomplished for five books in 2016. The station rebounded to its customary top-dog spot as it ended a two-book slide (7.9-8.1). By the narrowest of margins, COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) went back to being #2 (8.2-8.0). The remainder of the top five went unscathed this time. COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) was #3 (6.4-6.3) while UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) was steady at #4 with its best mark since JANUARY (5.8-5.9). SBS Tropical WCMQ (Z92.3) rounded out the top-five group (4.9-4.8).

WHQT was #1 25-54 for the tenth book in a row but with its lowest score since DECEMBER. WLYF bounced back from last month’s big loss and, as a result, the station was tied for first with WHQT. UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) remained alone at #3 with its highest total since DECEMBER. WAMR repeated at #4 with its best showing in over a year. COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ) dropped back to #5 despite a slight increase.

The top four stations 18-34 were exactly as we saw them last month. Naturally, WEDR was #1 with a flat book and held the same share-and-a-half lead over #2 WLYF because, we’re sure you can infer, the LITE was flat. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) remained at #3 as it bounced back – a little – from last month’s big loss. WRTO was also flat and relatively secure at #4. CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) had its highest score since the halls were being decked and advanced to #5. WHQT had its lowest share since OCTOBER and fell back into a tie at #6 with iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100), which also had a down book.

There was some rearrangement among the top five 18-49. WLYF was up slightly to cop its fourth straight win. However, two stations moved up and into a tie at #2. WEDR took one step forward with a slight increase while WRTO had a two-step gain thanks to its highest share since DECEMBER. WHQT dropped two spots to #4 while SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL) slid back to #5 with its lowest mark since FEBRUARY. It was sharing the space with WAMR, which advanced from a tie at #8 with a small increase.

SEATTLE: A Movin’ Experience

If this weren’t data we were talking about, it would seem that HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) was just toying with the rest of the market. The station was #1 6+ for the seventh straight survey (6.1-6.3). But there’s more to come. BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F remained at #2 (5.8-5.7) but was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET), which moved up a spot (5.3-5.7). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) inched up to #4 (4.6-4.8) while two stations ended up in the same #5 space at the same time. CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK repeated from last month (4.6-4.4) while UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW was up from #7 (4.2-4.4). ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW landed its lowest share in over a year (4.7-3.9) and fell four places to a tie at #8.

Last month it appeared there might be a race in the 25-54 demo. How quickly things can change. KQMV was up slightly for its seventh win. KISW remained at #2 but fell well back of the leader as it ended a two-book run. KJR-F, on the other wing, was up to #3 as it ended a three-book slide. ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) slipped to #4 with a flat performance. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBKS (KISS) jumped five places to #5 with its best book in over a year. KRWM stepped back to #6 despite posting its biggest number since FEBRUARY.

For the first time since FEBRUARY, KQMV cracked the double-digit barrier 18-34. KHTP remained at #2 but even with its best book in over a year, the stations were separated by a share and a half. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) gave back almost all of last month’s huge gain but remained at #3. KISW was again #4 but was down for the fourth book in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KPWK (POWER) took a step up to #5 but was really flat. KBKS was close behind at #6 thanks to its largest share in over a year. KJR-F dove a couple of places to #7 with its lowest cruising altitude since JANUARY.

All KQMV did 18-49 was extend its already vast lead on the rest of the field by posting its best score since MARCH. KHTP was up to #2 with its highest mark in over a year but was still over two shares off the lead. KISW slid back to #3 with – once again – its lowest total in over a year. Two books ago KBKS was sitting at #11 but its recent surge landed it at #4. KNDD dropped back to #5 with a slight decrease while KJR-F landed at #6 with a very even performance.

PHOENIX: EZ Does It Again

You would think that since iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) had its lowest share since NOVEMBER (7.5-6.9) that 6+ things would tighten up. Didn’t happen. KESZ was #1, and #2 HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX had its lowest score since JANUARY (6.4-5.9). CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL wrested control of the #3 position despite its second down book in a row (5.5-5.1). Two stations elevated their respective games and moved up and into a tie at #4. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD rebounded a bit from last month’s loss (4.8-5.0) to advance from #6 while iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) rose four places with its best outing since MARCH (4.3-5.0). iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX) fell to #6 with its smallest share since JANUARY (5.5-4.5) while CBS RADIO Country KMLE ended a four-book surge (5.0-4.1) and dropped to a tie at #7.

After a short recess, KUPD was back to #1 25-54 as it regained all the share it lost last month. KYOT had its best book since MARCH and climbed four spots to #2. KESZ was up two places to #3 with a slight increase while last month’s market leader – KMXP – dropped to #4 as its six-book surge ground to a halt. KSLX stepped back to #5 with its lowest total since FEBRUARY while KOOL was up to #6 with a small increase. KMLE fell four places to #7, ending a four-book run. UNIVISION Regional Mexican KHOT (QUE BUENA) had its best performance in over a year and shot up from #15 to #8.

Based on the previous two demos, one could infer that KMXP was having an underwhelming month. Well, in the 18-34 world, it was merely flat but that was sufficient to keep the station at #1 for the second straight survey. KESZ was up a spot to #2 despite a small decrease while KUPD jumped five spots to #3 with its best book since NOVEMBER. Three stations were locked in mortal combat at #4. KMLE took a step forward, though it ended a four-book run and was joined by format rival iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX, which was up from #9 with its highest share since Grandma was a hit-and-run victim. The third member of the trio was RIVIERA Hot AC KMVA (HOT), which advanced from a tie at #11 with its most productive outing since DECEMBER. A couple of stations took big tumbles. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) fell from #2 to a tie at #9 with its lowest share in over a year. KSLX dropped from #4 to a tie at #11 with its smallest number since the chestnuts were ablaze.

KUPD bounced back from last month’s down book to recapture the lead 18-49. KESZ had a small gain but that was enough to move the station up to #2. Last month’s leader – KMXP – slid to #3, ending a three-book winning streak. There was, once again, a tie at #4. KSLX retained its share despite a modest decrease. It was joined by a new partner – KYOT – which moved up from #7 with its highest score since MARCH. KMLE abdicated its share of that position and dropped back to #6 as it lost a large chunk of share.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: KS Kicks … Stuff

Ever since the calendar changed to 2016, HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) has been #1 6+ and has always been above a nine share. The station was flat this time (9.1-9.1) but continued the trend. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB moved up to a slightly distant #2 with its highest score in exactly a year (7.6-7.9). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) fell back to #3 as its two-book run came to an end (8.0-7.5). CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS remained alone at #4 with a flat outing (7.1-7.1). iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K-102) repeated at #5 with its lowest share in over a year (6.3-5.8). However, it was no longer a solo act as CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) moved up from a tie at #9 with its highest score in over a year (5.0-5.8).

KSTP’s 25-54 advantage widened a bit this book as the station was up slightly for its seventh win in a row. KDWB was flat at #2 while KQRS was up slightly at #3. KXXR again posted its largest share in over a year to move up two slots to #4. CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK) had a small increase but did not budge from the #5 position. KEEY dropped two places to #6 with its lowest total in exactly one year.

For the second time this year – and fourth time in the last 14 surveys – two stations shattered the double-digit ceiling 18-34. Of course, KDWB was one of them as it remained #1 with its best showing since OCTOBER. KXXR rejoined the club after a one-month layoff and moved to #2. As large as both stations’ numbers are, the gap between the two is two-and-a-half shares! KSTP ended a two-book slide to move up to #3 while KEEY fell to #4 with its smallest share since OCTOBER. Three stations had the luxury of landing in the #5 space. CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) remained stationary but with its lowest total since the drummers were drumming (‘cause that’s what drummers do). KZJK was up from a tie at #6 despite a slight decrease while iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN) advanced from #8 with its highest scoring output since DECEMBER.

KDWB crashed the double-digit barrier 18-49 for the second book in a row and led new #2 KXXR by over two shares. This despite the fact that 93X had its best book in over a year. KSTP was up slightly but stepped back to #3. KFXN was up to #4 with a small increase while KZJK stepped up to #5 with a small gain. KEEY fell three places to #6 with its lowest total in over a year.

This concludes the analysis portion of today’s reading. The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR INC. will return in less than a month (be strong!) to do this all over again. If you need a ratings analysis fix for your station, feel free to reach out to us any way you can.

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