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

Exclusive Analysis From The Research Director

We’re back with our final AUGUST episode of “How The Numbers Turn.”  This particular survey covered 7/14 through 8/10.  The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., along with the data dervishes from XTRENDS, have been consuming mass quantities of caffeine and CHEETOS in order to bring this information to you.  (And now we have orange dust all over our keyboards …)

Detroit: The Big Bounce

There has been a bit of talk lately in the industry press concerning the reliability of the NIELSEN sample.  We have weighed in with our opinion and you can read it here.  However, despite all the back and forth, there is one thing we can be sure of – the meters pick up changes very quickly.

Submitted for your approval is the case of GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WMGC (THE BOUNCE). 

The station flipped from sports a little past the halfway point of the previous survey so this is the first full book for the new format.  And what a survey it was.  The station went from #15 to #1 (3.1-8.0).  This knocked CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) back to #2 even though it scored its best share in over a year (7.3-7.8).  CUMULUS Talk WJR-A moved up to #3 (5.2-5.8) while CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC dropped two places to #4 (5.8-5.4).  GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF held firm at #5 (5.1-5.2).  It appeared there were a few stations that took the brunt of WMGC’s sudden inflation.  iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX) dropped five places to #11 with its lowest share in over a year (4.9-4.0).  iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) also fell five spots – to #12 – with its smallest number since DECEMBER (4.8-3.9).  And, RADIO ONE Urban AC WDMK (KISS-FM) fell back to a tie at #14 with its lowest total in over a year (4.3-3.0).

WMGC more than doubled its 25-54 share, reaching double digits and moving from a tie at #11 to #1.  In its last full book under its previous format, the station was sitting tied at #24.  WRIF was off slightly and sent back to #2.  WXYT-F had its best book since DECEMBER yet dropped back to #3.  CBS RADIO Country WYCD was flat but moved up a spot to #4 while iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC remained at #5 despite a small decrease.  GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX fell two places to #6 with its least productive outing in over a year.  WKQI dropped from #3 to #8 with its smallest share since Santa was in town.  WDMK took a rather large hit and fell four places to a tie at #14.

All sorts of stuff happened 18-34.  First, let’s look at WMGC’s three-month line score: #25 (tie)-#4-#1. The station also crushed the double-digit barrier and led #2 WRIF – which had a healthy increase – by over seven shares!  iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB dropped from the lead to #3 with its lowest total since DECEMBER.  WXYT-F moved up a couple of places to #4 with its highest run total in over a year.  WKQI dropped to #5 where it was tied with CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD, which moved up a slot despite a down book.  WGPR INC. Urban AC WGPR (HOT) fell back to #7 with its lowest share in over a year.  It was tied with CUMULUS Country WDRQ (NASH), which advanced from #11 with its best book in over a year.  CBS RADIO Top 40/M WDZH (AMP) dropped four places to #13 with its least productive outing in over a year.

The song remained the same with the 18-49 demo.  WMGC more than doubled its share to move from a tie at #7 to #1.  WRIF stepped back to #2 despite a small increase. WXYT-F was up to #3 with a strong gain while WJLB slipped back to #4 with its lowest mark since the chestnuts were roasting.  WDVD stepped back to #5 as it was down for the second month in a row.  WKQI dropped from #2 to #7. 

Miami-Ft.Lauderdale-Hollywood: On The Lite Side

There wasn’t much change 6+ as the top five stations were frozen in last month’s positions. ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) did extend its lead as the top dog with its best in show since APRIL (8.1-8.4).  COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) fell in line at #2 but with its lowest number since DECEMBER (8.0-7.2).  COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) remained at #3 (6.3-6.2) while UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) repeated at #4 (5.9-5.6).  SBS Tropical WCMQ (ZETA) had its best book in over a year (4.8-5.3) yet was unable to dislodge itself from the #5 position.  SBS Tropical WXDJ (EL ZOL) also had its best outing in over a year (4.2-5.2) to advance two squares to #6.

Last month WLYF and WHQT were tied at #1 25-54.  This time the stations went their separate ways.  LITE remained in the lead with a small increase while HOT dropped back to #2 with its smallest share since OCTOBER.  UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) held steady at #3 with a flat performance.  WAMR was also flat and remained in place at #4.  However, it was forced to share with WXDJ, which moved up two places with its highest total since the HOLIDAY book (What, no stupid CHRISTMAS carol ref?  We must be slipping).  COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ) dropped back to #6 despite a slight increase.

WEDR had its lowest 18-34 share since our troubles were out of sight (ahh, back on track).  The station was still #1 but was joined by WLYF, which moved up thanks to its best book in over a year.  WXDJ also made a strong move, advancing from #8 to #3 with its highest share in over a year.  iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) was flat and fell back to #4.  WRTO dropped to #5 despite landing its best share in over a year.  CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) slipped back to #6 with a small decrease.

For the fifth book in a row, WLYF was #1 18-49 and the station had more than a share lead over WEDR, which remained at #2 with a slight increase.  WRTO slid back to #3 with a small decrease while WXDJ was up to #4 with its highest score in over a year.  WHQT dropped back to #5 with its lowest share since OCTOBER.  WMIB took one step back to #6 despite a slight increase and was tied with WAMR, which remained in place with a slightly larger increase.

Seattle-Tacoma: A Movin’ Moment

HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN) had its lowest 6+ share in over a year (6.3-5.7) yet still managed to win the demo for the eighth book in a row.  BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F took sole possession of second place (5.7-5.4) while CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK was up to #3 with its best book since FEBRUARY (4.4-5.1).  iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET) descended two levels to #4 with its lowest score since JANUARY (5.7-4.8).  Three stations were bundled together at #5.  HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) cooled off a bit as it dropped back from #4 (4.8-4.4).  ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW got back most of what it lost last month (3.9-4.4) to move up from a tie at #8.  ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) was at its highest share level in over a year (4.3-4.4) to advance from #7.  

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW just missed making the above a foursome as it dropped back to #8 (4.4-4.3).

The 25-54 race got considerably closer.  KQMV was #1 again but with a slight loss of share. KISW remained at #2 but it regained almost all the share it lost last month to narrow the gap between the two to less than half a share.  KHTP was up to #3 despite a small decrease. 

ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) had its highest share in over a year and moved up three places to #4.  KJR-F took a hit and descended to #5.  iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBKS (KISS) dropped to a tie at #7 as it returned almost all of last month’s big increase.  Though it was farther down the list, KZOK ended a six-book losing streak to jump from a tie at #17 to #9.

For the first time since Mommy was two-timing Dad, KQMV was not #1 18-34.  The honor went to KHTP, which took over thanks to its best book in over a year.  KQMV slipped back to #2 and was just barely off the lead.  KNDD held sway at #3 as it rebounded from last month’s big loss.

iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KPWK (POWER) was up to #4 with a slight increase while KISW slipped back to #5 with its fifth straight down book.  KZOK jumped three places to #6 with its best performance since JANUARY.  CBS RADIO Country KMPS was up to a tie at #7 thanks to its largest share since FEBRUARY.

KQMV made it eight 18-49 wins in a row.  Though it was off slightly, the station led #2 KHTP by more than a share and a half.  This despite the fact that HOT had its best book in over a year.

KISW was back in at #3 with a slight increase. KNDD and KBKS swapped places at #4 and #5.  The former had its highest score since NOVEMBER while the latter ended a strong two-book surge.

Phoenix: Soft And Hard

Kind of like the crunchy coating with the chewy center.  As per usual, iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (99.9KEZ) was #1 6+.  However, the station had its lowest share since NOVEMBER (6.9-6.4) and this opened up the door for HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX.  It forged a tie at the top as it bounced back from last month’s down book (5.9-6.4).  CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL was still a solid #3 as it ended a two-book slide (5.1-5.4).  There was no longer a tie at #4.  HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD remained alone with its lowest score since DECEMBER (5.0-4.7) while iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN) moved back to #5 as it returned most of last month’s big gain (5.0-4.5). 

For the second book in a row – and eleventh time in the last fourteen surveys – KUPD was #1 25-54 though the station did have its lowest share since DECEMBER.  KYOT was off slightly but remained at #2.  It was paired with KOOL, which advanced from #6 with its best book in over a year.  KESZ was flat and stepped back to #4 while KSLX was also flat and steady at #5.

iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX) dropped two slots to #6 with its least productive outing since MARCH.

After a two-month hiatus, KESZ was back to #1 18-34 thanks to a small increase and the fact that KMXP – which dropped back to #2 – had its lowest total since MARCH.  iHEARTMEDIA Country KNIX took one small step forward to #3 with its highest score since DECEMBER and was tied with the incumbent KUPD, which was flat.  CBS RADIO Country KMLE slipped back to #5 despite a small increase.   iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) moved up three slots to #6 as it tried to rebound from last month’s big loss.  RIVIERA Hot AC KMVA (HOT) dropped four places to a tie at #8 as it gave back most of last survey’s big increase.

The top two positions 18-49 were unaltered from last month.  KUPD was off a bit but #1 for the second straight survey while #2 KESZ was flat.  KSLX moved up to #3 with a slight increase.

KYOT was up slightly to remain tied at #4.  It had a new partner in KMXP, which slid back from #3.  There were five – count ‘em – five stations tied at #6.  KMLE was there last time and stayed with a small increase.  UNIVISION Regional Mexican KHOT (QUE BUENA) moved up from #10 with its mejor book in over a year.  The other three stations were tied at #7 last month.  KOOL ended a two-book slide while KZZP got back some of what it lost last month.  CBS RADIO Top 40/M KALV (LIVE 101.5) had its best outing since MAY.

Minneapolis-St.Paul: Another Dominant Performance

The top four stations 6+ all had down books but remained in their original positions.  HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) continued to dominate the market with its eighth win in a row (9.1-8.9).  

iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB fell a little farther off the pace (7.9-7.6) while cluster mate iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) held on at #3 (7.5-7.2).  CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS was again #4 (7.1-6.9).  CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) remained in a tie at #5 but had its best showing in over a year (5.8-5.9).  It had a new companion as UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN-ST.PAUL Christian Contemporary KTIS ascended from #9 with its biggest number since MARCH (5.1-5.9).  iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K-102) dropped back two places to a tie at #7 with its lowest total in over a year (5.8-5.5).

The top seven stations 25-54 were the same with one minor variation.  KSTP was #1 but with its lowest share since DECEMBER.  KDWB closed the gap at #2 but was off a little itself.  KXXR and KQRS traded spaces at #3 and #4.  The former, moving up with its best outing in over a year, and the latter, dropping back as it ended a three-book surge.  CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK) was up for the third book in a row to hold on at #5.  KEEY had its first up book since APRIL to continue at #6 while iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN) used its best score since MAY to hold on to seventh place.

For the second book in a row, both KDWB and KXXR hit double digits 18-34 to remain #1 and #2, respectively.  They were both well ahead of KEEY, which moved up to #3 as it tried to regain all the ground it lost last month.  KFXN stepped up to #4 with a huge increase.  It was the station’s best book in over a year.  KSTP dropped two places to #5 with its smallest share since JANUARY.

CBS RADIO Country KMNB (BUZ’N) had its highest share since APRIL but was still forced to take a step back to #6.

There was zero change in the 18-49 top five.  KDWB was down a bit but remained the runaway leader with its third double-digit book in a row.  KXXR did pull closer at #2 thanks to its highest mark in over a year.  Still, the gap was a share and a half.  KSTP remained at #3 but with its lowest share of the year.  KFXN had its best outing since MARCH and was a fixture at #4.  KZJK held on at #5 but with its best book since FEBRUARY.

As always, thank you for taking the time to peruse these analyses.  If you would like the more personal touch, please reach out to The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC.  We’re easily found via the platforms listed here.  What do you say we do this again next month?

Email: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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