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

Markets #11-15 ... Plus Denver

We know you have been anxiously anticipating our third installment of the OCTOBER survey analysis. We appreciate your patience (and eyeballs!). The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC., in a partnership agreement with the logarithm legends from XTRENDS, take you on another five-market journey.

This go-round covers SEPTEMBER 8th through OCTOBER 5th and is curiously referred to as the OCTOBER survey. It was a holiday-free time. It was also the first part of the NFL schedule, the ramping up of college football, and the culmination of baseball’s regular season. What did that result in? Read on …

DETROIT: Yeah, That’s The Ticket

The Tigers made a late run to help buoy the efforts of CBS RADIO Sports WXYT-F (THE TICKET) as the station was #1 6+ for the second book in a row (7.7-7.5). Moving up a little closer was #2 cluster mate CBS RADIO Classic Hits WOMC. The station had its best share since it was spinning the sounds of the season (6.0-6.4). Once again, the power of the shield was in full force as CUMULUS Talk WJR-A roared like a lion (4.9-5.9) and moved up four places to #3. GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF was up for the third book in a row (5.5-5.6) but still had to take a small step back to #4. GREATER MEDIA Classic Rock WCSX was up to #5 (5.2-5.3). CBS RADIO News WWJ-A returned all of last month’s ratings increase (5.5-5.0) as it fell back to #7. It was spending quality time with CBS RADIO Country WYCD, which was up from a tie at #9 as it ended a three-book slide (4.4-5.0). It was only two books ago that GREATER MEDIA Rhythmic AC WMGC (THE BOUNCE) took the market by storm and rocketed to #1 with an eight share. The station has moved backwards ever since and fell from #5 to #12 this month (5.3-4.1).

WRIF was back in sole possession of first place 25-54 after scoring its highest share since JUNE. WXYT-F had its best book since NOVEMBER (when it still carried the local NFL franchise) and moved up to #2. Last month’s co-leader – WMGC – was down again and fell to #3. iHEARTMEDIA AC WNIC remained at #4 but with its best showing since JANUARY. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WKQI (CHANNEL 955) held steady at #5 with a small increase. Last month’s two-way tie at #6 was expanded to include a third member. Both iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC WMXD (MIX) and WYCD had small increases to remain in place. WCSX had a slightly larger increase as it ascended from #10.

Check out the big book on WRIF. For the second month in a row, the station crashed the double-digit barrier – posting its largest share in over a year. Second place iHEARTMEDIA Urban WJLB was up slightly but still trailed by almost five shares. WMGC shed a big chunk of share for the second straight survey and slid back to #3. WKQI was steady at #4 with a slight increase while WXYT-F repeated at #5 with a small increase. WYCD ended a four-book slide as it rose from a tie at #10 to a tie at #7.

After a two-book hiatus, WRIF was back atop the 18-49 leaderboard with its best showing since MARCH. WXYT-F took a step forward to #2 as it regained all of last month’s share loss. WMGC – as you would imagine – lost a big chunk of share as it dropped from the lead to #3. WJLB was off slightly as it stepped back to #4. WKQI was flat and remained at #5 while CUMULUS Hot AC WDVD dropped back to a tie at #6 with a small decrease.

MIAMI-FT.LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD: The Race Heats Up

For the fourth book in a row, ENTERCOM AC WLYF (LITE) was #1 6+. However, the station’s usually dominant position was shaken as it posted its lowest share in over a year (8.4-7.0). This allowed UNIVISION Spanish Contemporary WAMR (AMOR) to move up right behind the leader at #2 as it landed its largest share in over a year (6.5-6.8). COX RADIO AC WFEZ (EASY) was right behind at #3 with its – yup – highest score in over a year (6.1-6.7). COX RADIO Urban AC WHQT (HOT) dropped two places to #4 with its lowest share in – wait for it – exactly a year. COX RADIO Urban WEDR (99JAMZ) was flat (4.9-4.9) and remained in a tie at #5 but with a new partner. That would be SBS Tropical WCMQ (ZETA), which took two steps forward (4.8-4.9). COX RADIO Top 40/M WFLC (HITS) gave up its share of the position and ended up at #7 as it gave back almost all of last month’s big gain (4.9-4.0).

The 25-54 race was also a little more contested but things were not as close as the previous demo. WLYF was #1 again but with its lowest share since JUNE. WAMR was up to #2 but it also had a down book. WHQT fell back to #3 with its smallest share in over a year and was tied with WEDR, which took a step forward with its fourth up book in a row. There was a threesome at #5. WFLC remained in place as it lost almost all of last month’s big gain. WFEZ was up from #8 with a slight increase while CBS RADIO Top 40/R WPOW (POWER) had its best book since DECEMBER to advance from #11.

Back in MAY, WEDR had just landed its third straight, double-digit 18-34 share. That big number has remained elusive since then and the station even dropped to #2 last month. That all changed this time as the station returned to hallowed turf and #1. WLYF dropped back to #2 and went from a small lead to an almost two-share deficit. iHEARTMEDIA Urban WMIB (THE BEAT) remained at #3 as it regained all of last month’s loss. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M WHYI (Y100) advanced two squares to #4 with its best book in over a year. WPOW stepped up to #5 with its highest score since the HOLIDAY book. WFLC slipped three places to #7 as it lost most of last month’s increase. UNIVISION Tropical WRTO (MIX) dropped five places to #9 with its smallest share since JANUARY.

For the first time since MARCH, WEDR was #1 18-49. This was partly due to a small increase and also because WLYF had its lowest total in over a year as it fell back to #2. WFLC remained at #3 even though it lost a large part of last month’s huge increase. WAMR repeated at #4 as it also returned the unused portion of the previous book’s gain. WMIB was up three places to #5 as it regained all of last month’s loss while WHYI took four steps forward to #6 with its best outing since DECEMBER. The two previous occupants of the #5 slot found themselves in new, and less tonier, digs. WHQT slid to #7 with its lowest share in over a year while WRTO ended up at #9 with its smallest number in over a year.

SEATTLE-TACOMA: Keep On Movin’

So far, it has been a pretty good year to be HUBBARD Top 40/M KQMV (MOVIN). The station has been #1 6+ in every survey (including this one) and just posted its best share since MARCH (6.4-6.9). BONNEVILLE Talk KIRO-F remained at #2 (5.8-5.7) while UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N/T KUOW hit its biggest number in over a year (4.1-5.5) to advance four paces to #3. CBS RADIO Classic Rock KZOK remained at #4 (4.8-4.6) while iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KJR-F (THE JET) inched its way up to #5 (4.3-4.4). HUBBARD AC KRWM (WARM) had visions of sugarplums as the station landed its lowest share in over a year (5.1-4.3) to drop three places to #6. ENTERCOM Active Rock KISW dropped to #7, thus ending a two-book run (4.5-3.9).

KQMV extended its dominance of the 25-54 demo. The station remained #1 with its best book since MARCH while #2 KISW was off for the second straight survey. The net result was a two-share gap. KJR-F got back almost all of what it lost last month and moved from a tie at #8 to a tie at #3. Its partner, KRWM, was stationary with a small decrease. ENTERCOM Rhythmic AC KHTP (HOT) slipped back to #5 with its third straight down book. KUOW jumped six places to a tie at #7 with its best performance in over a year. To put this in perspective, a year ago the station had about half its current share and was ranked at #20.

For the fourth time in the last ten surveys, KQMV cracked double digits 18-34. And, it was #1 for the second book in a row. KHTP – which was the #1 station two books ago – remained at #2. However, after landing its lowest number since APRIL, the station was about three and a half shares off the lead. ENTERCOM Alternative KNDD (THE END) held steady at #3 with a small decrease while fellow pack member ENTERCOM Country KKWF (THE WOLF) moved up to #4 with its best outing in exactly a year. KISW took a step back to #5 with a slight decrease. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KPWK (POWER) moved back to #7 with its lowest share since DECEMBER.

KQMV was so far ahead of the rest of the 18-49 group, the station was in a different dimension. It just scored its best book since FEBRUARY and led #2 KISW by over four shares. KHTP remained at #3 but with its lowest total since MARCH. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KBKS (KISS) was also stationary – at #4 – with a flat performance. HUBBARD Rock KVRQ (ROCK 98) had its best book since the format change earlier this year as it advanced four places to #5. KRWM dropped from a tie at #4 to a tie at #10 with its lowest total since AUGUST.

PHOENIX: It’s So Easy

While iHEARTMEDIA AC KESZ (KEZ 99.9) continued to lead the 6+ way (6.9-6.7), it certainly was a two-station race. HUBBARD Classic Rock KSLX was close behind at #2 as it was up for the third month in a row (6.5-6.6). There was a large gap between those two stations and the rest of the field. HUBBARD Active Rock KUPD was flat and steady at #3 (5.1-5.1) while CBS RADIO Classic Hits KOOL remained at #4 (4.7-4.8). Two cluster mates were spending more time together than usual as they were tied at #5. iHEARTMEDIA Hot AC KMXP (MIX) remained in place but with its lowest share in over a year (4.5-4.1). It was joined by iHEARTMEDIA Adult Hits KYOT (THE MOUNTAIN), which inched up from #6 (4.2-4.1).

The top of the 25-54 chart continued to have a harder edge. KUPD was off slightly but still #1 for the fourth book in a row. Not far behind was KSLX, which retained its #2 position while landing its largest share in over a year. KESZ became the sole occupant of the #3 slot with its best performance since MARCH. KOOL moved up to #4 with a small increase while UNIVISION Regional Mexican KHOT (QUE BUENA) advanced three places to #5 with its most productive outing in over a year. KYOT fell from a tie at #3 to #7 with its lowest total since MAY.

The 18-34 demo was both shaken and stirred. Oddly, for the format, KESZ was #1 for the third straight survey. However, since the station posted its lowest number since APRIL, a couple of other stations were close behind. RIVIERA Hot AC KMVA (HOT) moved from a tie at #6 to #2 with its highest share in exactly a year. Another member of the last month’s #6 draw was KHOT and it rose to #3 with a slight increase. Two stations moved up and into a tie at #4. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KZZP (KISS) actually came up a spot with a small decrease. CBS RADIO Top 40/M KALV (LIVE) rose two spots with a flat performance. This month’s three way at #6 featured three new players. CBS RADIO Country KMLE fell from #2 as its two-book run ended. KMXP dropped from #3 with its lowest share since JANUARY. And, KSLX moved up from #11 with its third up book in a row. To show how tight this demo is, these eight stations were separated by just over a half share. Finally, RIVIERA Top 40/R KKFR (POWER) dropped seven places to #11 as it returned almost all of last month’s big gain.

The 18-49 demo was also rock leaning as KUPD was #1 for the fourth straight survey despite a down book. KSLX moved up to #2 with its best performance in over a year. KESZ took a step back to #3 despite a small increase. KHOT zoomed from #8 to #4 with its highest share in over a year. The #5 position was the hot potato as three stations moved in while two exited. KALV remained in place with a slight loss while KMXP slipped back from #4 with its fourth straight down book. KOOL advanced from #9 as it regained most of last month’s loss. The two previous occupants of the position took up residence farther down the chart. KZZP ended up at #9 with its lowest score in over a year while KYOT landed at #10 with its smallest share since MAY.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL: A Vikings Invasion

As we have noted several times in this month’s analysis – beware the power of the shield. The NFL experience likely had a lot to do with the rise of iHEARTMEDIA Sports KFXN (KFAN) to #1 6+. The station had a huge share increase (6.7-8.9) and has more than doubled its total share since JUNE. HUBBARD Hot AC KSTP (KS95) remained a somewhat distant #2 (7.7-7.6) while iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KDWB fell from first to third with its lowest share since MAY (8.1-7.5). CUMULUS Classic Rock KQRS was up to #4 as it ended a two-book slide (6.2-7.1). iHEARTMEDIA Classic Hits KQQL (KOOL) was down for the fourth straight survey (6.8-6.5) and slid to #5.

For the second book in a row, KFXN was #1 25-54. However, this time the station crashed through the double-digit barrier. KDWB lost all of last month’s gain. The station remained at #2 but trailed the leader by well over two shares. KSTP was up slightly to hold on at #3. It was partnered with CBS RADIO Adult Hits KZJK (JACK), which took two steps forward thanks to its best book in over a year. KQRS regained most of last month’s loss to move back up to #5. CUMULUS Active Rock KXXR (93X) was off for the second month in a row and dropped to #6.

This was a rare sight -– three stations posted double digit shares 18-34. That’s old news for KDWB, which was still #1. And, KXXR accomplished that feat for the fourth book in a row. However, it slid back to #3 because KFXN moved up to #2 with a huge increase. Putting this in perspective, about a third of all the 18-34 listening was split among these three stations. Amazing. KSTP had its best outing since MAY but had to settle for remaining the #4 station. iHEARTMEDIA Country KEEY (K102) returned at #5 but with its highest share since JUNE.

This was the second book in a row that saw both KFXN and KDWB post double-digit scores 18-49. The difference this time was that KFAN moved to #1 with a large increase while KDWB lost some share and fell back to #2. KSTP was flat but edged up to #3 as KXXR dropped back to #4 with its lowest total since JUNE. KZJK remained in place at #5 as it regained all of last month’s share loss.

SPECIAL BONUS COVERAGE – Denver: On The Channel

It is a rare sight indeed to see a station with this format top the 6+ chart. But, for the third straight survey, iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTCL (CHANNEL 93.3) did just that as it matched its highest share of the year (6.6-6.6). KSE VENTURES Classic Hits KXKL (KOOL) got back some of last month’s lost share (5.4-5.7) to climb back up to second place. ENTERCOM Classic Rock KQMT (THE MOUNTAIN) was off for the fourth book in a row (6.0-5.5) to fall back to #3. BONNEVILLE AC KOSI slipped to #4 with its third straight down survey (5.7-5.4). BONNEVILLE Country KYGO moved back to #5 as it, too, experienced negative growth for the third consecutive month (5.6-5.3). Another sports station had a big book but this one did it without NFL flagship status. BONNEVILLE Sports KKFN (THE FAN) advanced eight places to #6 with its highest point total in over a year (3.6-4.9).

The 25-54 area was secure for the fourth month in a row as KTCL came in at #1 with its highest score in over a year. KXKL was all alone in second place as it experienced a slight recovery from last month’s big loss. KKFN jumped from #10 to #3 with easily its largest output in over a year. iHEARTMEDIA Classic Rock KRFX (THE FOX) was flat and slid back two places to #4. KOSI was up to #5 despite a slight decrease while KQMT dropped to #6 with its lowest score since JANUARY. ENTERCOM Top 40/R KQKS (KS1075) dropped five stories to #10 with its least productive outing in over a year.

For the second time in 2016, KTCL crossed the double-digit threshold in the 18-34 area. The last time was in JANUARY, and this one secured the station’s fourth win in a row. iHEARTMEDIA Active Rock KBPI remained at #2 but fell over four shares off the lead. iHEARTMEDIA Top 40/M KPTT (THE PARTY) was up to #3 despite posting its lowest number since DECEMBER. KQKS dropped back to #4 with its lowest share in over a year. KRFX moved up three spots to #5 with its best performance in over a year. Three stations were sharing quality time together at #6. KOSI took one step up while ENTERCOM Hot AC KALC (ALICE) moved up two places with its highest share since JANUARY. KKFN advanced from a tie at #14 with – once again – its best book in over a year. KYGO dropped four places to a tie at #9 as it was off for the second book in a row.

This was the tenth straight 18-49 win for KTCL. Again, the station had its largest share in over a year and outdistanced #2 KXKL – which moved up two slots despite a slight decrease – by well over three shares. KKFN made a ten-spot jump to #3 with another huge increase. This upward mobility forced two stations back into a tie at #4. KQKS came from #2 with its lowest total in over a year while KBPI took one step back with its smallest number since JUNE. KYGO slid back to #6 with its third down book in a row and was joined by KALC, which moved up from #11 with its highest score since MAY.

Like sands of time through the hourglass, these are the ratings of our lives. And, as inevitable as the sunrise, The Ratings Experts from RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. will return in a month to repeat the process – albeit with new numbers. In the meantime, let us know if we can help with your ratings performance. We are always available via the platforms listed below.

E-mail: sallan@researchdirectorinc.com
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